Method and apparatus for integration of factory and aftermarket vehicle components

• US 8,825,289 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Original Assignee: Metra Electronics
• Inventors: Daly, Charles David, Jones, William H Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US13/826,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20130197753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 702/57, 702/66, 370/252, 370/254, 370/257, 370/416, 370/512, 340/259, 375/240, 705/75, 705/95, 705/93, 709/224
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25068 Check correct configuration of device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

An interface and corresponding method, where the interface is connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of a vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, and further connected via a second connection to a data channel of the aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format. The interface identifies a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types. The interface receives digital signals from the aftermarket component via the second connection, the digital signals being in the second data format which corresponds to the aftermarket component. The interface translates the digital signals into the first data format which corresponds to the identified factory bus type. The interface transmits the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.

Claims

1. A method of connecting an aftermarket component with a vehicle using an interface apparatus in order to provide communication between said vehicle and said aftermarket component, said interface apparatus connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of the vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, the interface apparatus further connected via a USB port to a data channel of the aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format, the interface apparatus including at least one processor, the method comprising:

auto-detecting, via the at least one processor, a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types, wherein said auto-detecting of said factory data bus type includes,

(i) performing a first measurement on said factor data bus, said first measurement being performed by said interface apparatus, and

(ii) identifying said factory data bus type among a plurality of possible types of said factory data buses;

receiving digital signals from the aftermarket component via said USB port, the digital signals being in the second data format, the second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component;

auto-detecting, via the at least one processor, an aftermarket component type of said aftermarket component, wherein said auto-detecting of said aftermarket component type includes,

(i) receiving said digital signals from said aftermarket component over said USB port, and

(ii) using said digital signals to identify an aftermarket component type among a plurality of possible types;

identifying said first data format according to said factory data bus type;

identifying said second data format according to said aftermarket component type;

translating the digital signals from the second data format into the first data format according to the type of factory data bus and the aftermarket component type; and

transmitting the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aftermarket component is an aftermarket stereo that has replaced a factory-installed stereo.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aftermarket component is a cellular telephone or a tablet.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving analog signals from the vehicle via a third connection between the interface apparatus and the vehicle;

digitizing the analog signals;

translating the digitized analog signals into the second data format; and

transmitting the translated digitized analog signals to the aftermarket component via the second connection.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying step for said factory data bus includes:

identifying a frame rate of the factory data bus;

identifying the factory data bus type out of the plurality of potential factory data bus types,

based at least partially on the identified frame rate.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed display on the vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed satellite radio module on the vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed Bluetooth module on the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a heating and air-conditioning module on the vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed amplifier on the vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed navigation module on the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed speech module on the vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 4, wherein the analog signals received from the vehicle via the third connection include video signals from a factory-installed camera.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving digital signals from the vehicle via the first connection, the digital signals being in the first data format;

translating the digital signals into the second data format; and

transmitting the translated digital signals in the second data format to the aftermarket component via the second connection.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the aftermarket component include status signals from a factory-installed heating and air-conditioning module on the vehicle.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the aftermarket component include control signals from factory-installed steering wheel controls or from a factory-installed central control module.

18. A method according to claim 4, wherein the analog signals received from the vehicle via the third connection include audio signals from a factory-installed satellite radio module or a factory-installed Bluetooth module.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle-interface unit electrically connectable to a factory data bus of a vehicle via a first connection, the vehicle-interface unit being adapted to identify a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types, and transmit and receive digital signals via the first connection according to a first data format corresponding to the identified factory data bus type;

an aftermarket-component-interface unit electrically connectable to a data channel of an aftermarket component via a USB Port, the aftermarket-component-interface unit being adapted to transmit and receive digital signals via the USB Port according to a second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component; and

a signal processing unit,

said vehicle interface unit adapted to auto-detect a type of said factory data bus, by,

(i) performing a first measurement on said factory data bus, and

(ii) identifying said type of said factory data bus among a plurality of possible types of said factory data buses;

said aftermarket-component-interface adapted to auto-detect a type of said aftermarket component, by,

(i) receiving digital signals from said aftermarket component over said USB Port, and

(ii) using said digital signals received to identify an aftermarket component type among a plurality of possible types;

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to identify said first data format according to said factory data bus type;

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to identify said second data format according to said aftermarket component type;

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the first data format, received by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection, into signals of the second data format, and the aftermarket-component-interface unit is adapted to transmit, to the aftermarket component via the second connection, the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the first data format to the second data format, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the second data format, received by the aftermarket-component-interface unit via the second connection, into signals of the first data format, and the vehicle-interface unit is adapted to transmit, to a vehicle component via the first connection, the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the second data format to the first data format.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle-interface unit is further electrically connectable to the vehicle via a third connection, and is adapted to receive audio or video signals via the third connection from a factory-installed vehicle module,

wherein the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the first data format to the second data format and transmitted by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection include signals to control the aftermarket component, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate the audio or video signals, received by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection, into signals of the second data format, for transmission by the aftermarket-component-interface unit to the aftermarket component.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the factory-installed vehicle module includes at least one of a factory-installed satellite radio module, a factory-installed backup camera, a factory-installed navigation module, and a factory-installed speech module.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the aftermarket component is an aftermarket stereo that has replaced a factory-installed stereo.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the aftermarket component is a cellular telephone or a tablet.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle-interface unit is further electrically connectable to the vehicle via a third connection, and is adapted to transmit audio or video signals via the third connection to a factory-installed vehicle module, wherein the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the second data format to the first data format and transmitted by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection include signals to control the factory-installed vehicle module, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the second data format, received by the aftermarket-component-interface unit via the second connection, into the audio or video signals for transmission by the vehicle-interface unit to the factory-installed vehicle module.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the audio or video signals are of a third format, the third format being different from the first data format and the second data format.

25. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the factory-installed vehicle module includes at least one of a factory audio amplifier interface module and a factory video display module.

26. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the audio or video signals are of a third format, the third format being different from the first data format and the second data format.