Embedded automotive latch communications protocol

• US 20050195068A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Curtis B., Vaidhyanathan, Ajaykumar, Suknaich, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

A latch communications method and system are disclosed herein, which generally includes a communications receiver and transmitter unit associated with a latch. Additionally, an interface component is provided for interfacing with the communications receiver and transmitter unit, wherein the interface component is co-located with the communications receiver and transmitter unit in association with the latch. Also, an interpreter is associated with the interface component and the communications and transmitter unit, wherein the interpreter processes information received from the communications receiver and transmitter unit in order to provide latch diagnostics and functionalities.

Claims

1. A latch communications system, comprising:

a communications receiver and transmitter unit associated with a latch;

an interface component for interfacing with said communications receiver and transmitter unit, wherein said interface component is co-located with said communications receiver and transmitter unit in association with said latch;

an interpreter associated with said interface component and said communications and transmitter unit, wherein said interpreter processes information received from said communications receiver and transmitter unit in order to provide latch diagnostics and functionalities.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications receiver and transmitter unit comprises a wireless communications component for wirelessly communicating with a host computer.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said wireless communications component includes an antenna and associated wireless communications circuitry for receiving and transmitting data per a desired frequency.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications receiver and transmitter unit comprises a direct wire connection for communicating data to and from said interpreter.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said direct wire connection comprises a voltage level shifter for transforming voltage levels for communication with said interface component.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface component comprises a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) which can receive and transmit data serially from said communications receiver and transmitter unit and receive and transmit data in parallel with said interpreter.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said UART comprises a hardware component separate from said interpreter.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said UART is integrated with said interpreter.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said interpreter comprises a microprocessor that processes data received from said UART.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said interpreter comprises a logic array that performs a particular function based on particular data received from said UART.

11. A latch communications system, comprising:

a communications receiver and transmitter unit associated with a latch;

an interface component for interfacing with said communications receiver and transmitter unit, wherein said interface component is co-located with said communications receiver and transmitter unit in association with said latch;

an interpreter associated with said interface component and said communications and transmitter unit, wherein said interpreter processes information received from said communications receiver and transmitter unit in order to provide latch diagnostics and functionalities, 8 wherein said interpreter comprises a logic array that performs a particular function based on particular data received from said interface component; and

a wireless communications component for wirelessly communicating data between said communications receiver and transmitter unit and a host computer.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said interface component comprises a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) which can receive and transmit data serially from said communications receiver and transmitter unit and receive and transmit data in parallel with said interpreter.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said latch comprises a vehicle door latch.

14. A latch communications method, comprising the steps of:

associating a communications receiver and transmitter unit with a latch;

establishing an interface component for interfacing with said communications receiver and transmitter unit, wherein said interface component is co-located with said communications receiver and transmitter unit in association with said latch; and

associating an interpreter with said interface component and said communications and transmitter unit, wherein said interpreter processes information received from said communications receiver and transmitter unit in order to provide latch diagnostics and functionalities.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of configuring said communications receiver and transmitter unit to comprise a wireless communications component for wirelessly communicating with a host computer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of configuring said wireless communications component to include an antenna and associated wireless communications circuitry for receiving and transmitting data per a desired frequency.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein further comprising the step of configuring said communications receiver and transmitter unit to comprise a direct wire connection for communicating data to and from said interpreter.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of configuring said direct wire connection to comprise a voltage level shifter for transforming voltage levels for communication with said interface component.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of configuring said interface component to comprise a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) which can receive and transmit data serially from said communications receiver and transmitter unit and receive and transmit data in parallel with said interpreter.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of embedding said interpreter, said UART, and said communications receiver and transmitter unit within said latch, wherein said comprises a vehicle door latch.