Method and apparatus for non-contact extraction of on-board vehicle trip recorders

• US 5,224,211 A
• Filed: 04/12/1990
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MiX Telematics North America, Inc. (MiX Telematics Limited)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Roe, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US07/508,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200
• US Class Current: 398/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4295 coupling with semiconductor devices activated by light through the light guide, e.g. thyristors, phototransistors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

The present invention includes an optical interface accomplished by physically securing mating male and female portions of extractor/extractee members so as to accomplish alignment of respectively interacting infrared light emitting diodes with photo diodes. A total of four transmit and receive pairs are used. Two pairs are used for friend-foe recognition. A second pair transmit and receive data collected by the trip recorder to the host computer (and visa versa). The physical secureness of the mating male and female portions of extractor/extractee modules includes a mechanical fuse (in the form of a breakable tab) which is provided to fail structurally in the event of forces resulting from the vehicle leaving the extraction area with the extractor and extractee still connected.

Claims

1. An optical interface for interconnecting the recorder data port of an on-board vehicle trip recorder to the host data port of a host computer, comprising:

an extractor member having first connection means for attaching to said host computer;

an extractee member having a second connection means for attaching to said trip recorder;

said extractor and extractee members having means for nestably interfitting with one another;

a means for establishing a bidirectional data path disposed on said extractor and extractee members;

said means for establishing a bidirectional data path comprising first optical coupling means for alignment when extractor and extractee members are nestably interfitted to selectively couple and thereby define data communication between said recorder data port and said host data port;

a friend/foe means comprising second optical coupling means disposed on said extractor and extractee members for alignment when extractor and extractee members are nestably interfitted to acknowledge the presence of a condition in which data communication between said recorder port and said host port is possible;

said friend/foe means including a transmitting means for transmitting a first signal in a first direction and an echo means for transmitting a second signal in a second direction in response to said first signal;

security means responsive to said friend/foe means for selectively enabling and disabling data communication between said recorder and host ports;

said first and second optical coupling means having a predefined geometric relationship established at least in part by said extractor and extractee members whereby alignment of said first optical coupling means insures alignment of said second optical coupling means; and

a break away member defined on at least one of said extractor and extractee members for providing a mechanical fuse between extractor and extractee members in the event of failure to disassociate said members from the nestably interfitted relationship before moving the vehicle.

2. The interface of claim 1 wherein said break away member is a breakable tab.

3. An optical interface for interconnecting the recorder data port on an on-board vehicle trip recorder to the data port of a host computer, comprising:

a full duplex data path between said recorder data port and said host data port comprising a first optical transmit/receive pair for data communication in a first direction and a second optical transmit/receive pair for data communication in a second direction;

said first and second optical coupling means disposed in a first predefined geometric relationship on physically couplable extractor and extractee means;

a friend/foe means comprising a third optical transmit/receive pair for transmitting a quaere signal in a first direction and a fourth optical transmit/receive pair for transmitting an echoes signal in a second direction in response to said quaere signal;

said third and said fourth optical coupling means disposed in a second predefined geometric relationship on said physically couplable extractor and extractee means;

said first and second predefined geometric relationship having a predefined relationship whereby alignment of said third and fourth optical coupling means insures alignment of said second optical coupling means;

said quaere signal comprising a substantially continuously transmitting fixed frequency continuous wave (CW) signal;

said echoed signal comprising a signal having frequency equal to the frequency of said quaere signal;

security means responsive to said friend/foe means for continuously selectively enabling and disabling data communication between said recorder and host ports;

said couplable extractor and extractee members having means for nestably interfitting with one another which defines a physical interrelationship between said extractor and extractee which enable alignment of said first and second geometric relationships; and

a breakaway member defined on at least one of said extractor and extractee members for providing a mechanical fuse between extractor and extractee members in the event of failure to disassociate said members from the nestably interfitted relationship before moving the vehicle.

4. The interface of claim 3 wherein said breakaway member is a breakable tab.