Converter/multiplexer for serial bus

• US 9,258,170 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Morey Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Morey Corporation
• Inventors: Isaac, Emad S., Champa, Jeff A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohebbi, Kouroush
• Application Number:
  US14/243,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20140219292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a converter/multiplexer and associated method of use therefor or converting and multiplexing parallel inputs, a modem, a GPS, or even modem information into a single multimaster broadcast serial bus standard for connecting electronic control units, and more specifically, to a multiplexer for transforming analog, digital, frequency, GPS, or modem inputs into a CAN bus data transmittal over LAN and/or PAN and interrelation with a similarly equipped receiving module. Further, the converter/multiplexer is used alone or in a group as part of a larger system for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals for serial bus processing and also for guidance when the converters are cabled by operators using stored configurations.

Claims

1. A method of converting a plurality of parallel inputs to a plurality of buses, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting a plurality of parallel inputs at a first multiplexer/converter;

converting the plurality of parallel inputs into a first serial bus output;

converting the plurality of parallel inputs into a second serial bus output;

transmitting using a first transceiver the first serial bus output to a serial bus;

transmitting using a second transceiver the second serial bus output to a Controller-Area Network (CAN) bus over either of a local area network protocol, a personal area network protocol, a low-power digital radio protocol, or a hypertext transfer protocol either over a hardwire or a wireless connection,

receiving at a second multiplexer/converter the first serial bus output; and

converting the first serial bus output back to multiple parallel inputs,

wherein between the first multiplexer/converter and the second multiplexer/converter is a hardware connection and a wireless connection for the transmission step, and the method further includes the step of selecting a mode of transmission based on a programmed default configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the first serial bus output includes a step of selecting a mode of transmission based on an existence of a hardwire connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parallel inputs are further converted by the first multiplexer/converter into other formats using device driver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of converting the first serial bus output back to multiple parallel inputs includes a step of further converting the inputs into other formats using device drivers.