Multi-protocol wireless communication module

• US 20020070851A1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Reul, David A., Raichle, Kurt R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,603,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A wireless communication module communicates with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units that implement at least two different communication protocols within a single motor vehicle. The wireless communication module includes an RF interface, a processor and a selectable multiple protocol interface. The processor communicates with the RF interface and thereby communicates with the remote station. The processor executes translation routines and thereby provides requests to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units. The selectable multiple protocol interface is coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor. The selectable multiple protocol interface converts processor requests into a format that is readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converts received diagnostic information into a format that is readable by the processor. If desired, both the selectable multiple protocol interface and the processor functionality can be incorporated within the FPGA.

Claims

1. A wireless communication module for communicating with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the wireless communication module comprising:

an RF interface for communicating with the remote station;

a processor for communicating with the RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of translation routines and thereby providing requests to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of translation routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the requests from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor.

2. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented within a field programmable gate array FPGA).

3. The wireless communication module of claim 1, further comprising:

a selectable signal translator coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the selectable multiple protocol interface, the selectable signal translator changing a voltage level of the requests from the processor or the diagnostic information from the selected motor vehicle control unit to a voltage level compatible with the selected motor vehicle control unit or the processor, respectively.

4. The wireless communication module of claim 1, further comprising:

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor, the non-volatile memory storing the translation routines for the selected motor vehicle control unit which responds to receive the requests from the processor and to transmit the diagnostic information to the processor in response to the requests.

5. The wireless communication module of claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory is a flash ROM.

6. The wireless communication module of claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

7. The wireless communication module of claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory is provided external to the wireless communication module as a plug-in module.

8. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the processor is integrated within the FPGA.

9. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a J1850 channel module that includes conversion circuitry for J1850 variable pulse width modulation (VPWM) and J1850 pulse width modulation (PWM) communication protocols.

10. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a pulse code decoder (PCD) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for GM slow baud pulse width modulation (PWM), Ford fast and slow pulse codes and Import pulse code communication protocols.

11. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for generic GM, Chrysler and Import SCI communication protocols.

12. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes conversion circuitry for Chrysler collision detection (CCD), Ford data communication links (DCL), heavy duty J1708 and RS232 communication protocols.

13. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for ISO 9141, Ford 9141, Keyword 2000 and Harley-Davidson SCI communication protocols.

14. The wireless communication module of claim 2, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter, a controller area network (CAN) and an Import serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol.

16. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 15, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented within a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

17. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 15, further comprising:

a selectable signal translator coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the selectable multiple protocol interface, the selectable signal translator changing a voltage level of the requests from the processor or the diagnostic information from the selected motor vehicle control unit to a voltage level compatible with the selected motor vehicle control unit or the processor, respectively.

18. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 15, further comprising:

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor, the non-volatile memory storing the translation routines for the selected motor vehicle control unit which responds to receive the requests from the processor and to transmit the diagnostic information to the processor in response to the requests.

19. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 18, wherein the non-volatile memory is a flash ROM.

20. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 18, wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

21. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 18, wherein the non-volatile memory is provided external to the wireless communication module as a plug-in module.

22. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the processor is integrated within the FPGA.

23. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a J1850 channel module that includes conversion circuitry for J1850 variable pulse width modulation (VPWM) and J1850 pulse width modulation (PWM) communication protocols.

24. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a pulse code decoder (PCD) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for GM slow baud pulse width modulation (PWM), Ford fast and slow pulse codes and Import pulse code communication protocols.

25. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for generic GM, Chrysler and Import SCI communication protocols.

26. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes conversion circuitry for Chrysler collision detection (CCD), Ford data communication links (DCL), heavy duty J1708 and RS232 communication protocols.

27. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for ISO 9141, Ford 9141, Keyword 2000 and Harley-Davidson SCI communication protocols.

28. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 16, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter, a controller area network (CAN) and an Import serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol.

29. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 15, wherein the remote station further includes:

an antenna;

a second RF interface coupled to the antenna;

a workstation, the workstation receiving an input from a user and displaying an output to the user; and

a local area network (LAN) coupling the workstation to the second RF interface.

30. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 15, wherein the remote station further includes:

an antenna;

a second RF interface coupled to the antenna;

a processor coupled to the second RF interface, the processor further receiving an input from a user and displaying an output to the user;

a keypad providing the processor with the input from the user; and

a display for displaying the output from the processor to the user.

15. A wireless diagnostic system for communicating with a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the wireless diagnostic system comprising:

a wireless communication module, including;

a first RF interface providing for communication;

a processor for communicating with the first RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of translation routines and thereby providing requests to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the first RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of translation routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the requests from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor; and

a remote station for communicating with the first RF interface and providing a user interface.

31. A method for providing a wireless communication module for communicating with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an RF interface for communicating with the remote station;

providing a processor for communicating with the RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of translation routines and thereby providing requests to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of translation routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

providing a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the requests from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented within a field programmable gate array (FPGA).