Protocol selection matrix for in-vehicle networks

• US 6,920,380 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Robert E., Such, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/666,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/04 Monitoring the functioning of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair

Abstract

A protocol selection matrix adapter that interfaces a host computer to multiple in-vehicle networks. The protocol selection matrix adapter is microprocessor controlled and provides a physical interface to the in-vehicle networks. Further, the control of the protocol selection matrix adapter automatically selects the in-vehicle networks, and the initiation of communications on the detected networks. The protocol selection matrix adapter also is able to reprogram an electronic control unit (ECU) that makes up the in-vehicle network.

Claims

1. A protocol selection matrix adapter for interfacing a host computer to multiple in-vehicle networks on a vehicle through a plurality of protocols, said adapter comprising:

a protocol central processing unit (CPU) circuit, said CPU circuit providing vehicle network protocol interactions, low level filtering of incoming messages, data and communications transfer to the host computer, time stamping and broadcast functionality operations;

a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) decoder circuit for decoding UART protocols; and

a plurality of transceiver circuits, said transceiver circuits providing a protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, wherein the adapter is capable of providing simultaneous support of at least two vehicle protocols.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter operates in a plurality of modes, including a vehicle configuration mode where the host computer configures the adapter to the vehicle, a stand-alone data collection mode where the adapter collects data from an in-vehicle network, a data upload to the host computer mode where the adapter uploads data collected from the vehicle to the host computer, and a pass-through mode where data and other information from an in-vehicle network passes directly from the vehicle to the host computer through the adapter.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter supports each of the following protocols:

SAE J1850, Ford Standard Corporate Protocol (SOP);

SAE J2284, Dual-wire Controller Area Network (CAN) Protocol;

ISO 9141 Ford, UART Protocol;

ISO 9141-2, CARB UART Protocol;

Key Word Protocol (KWP)-2000;

Ford Data Communications Link (DCL) UART Protocol;

Ford UART Based Protocol UBP; and

Nissan Diagnostic Data Link (DDL) UART Protocol.

4. The adapter according to claim 1 where one of the plurality of transceiver circuits is a controller area network (CAN) transceiver circuit for providing a CAN protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

5. The adapter according to claim 4 wherein the CAN transceiver circuit includes a high-speed mode transceiver and a medium-speed mode transceiver.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of transceiver circuits is a standard corporate protocol (SCP) transceiver circuit for providing a SCP protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

7. The adapter according to claim 6 wherein the SCP transceiver circuit includes a two wire differential protocol each having an output coupled to a resistor.

8. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of transceiver circuits is a UART based protocol (UBP) transceiver circuit that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said UBP transceiver circuit providing a UBP protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

9. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein one of the pluralities of transceiver circuits is a data communications link (DCL) transceiver circuit that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said DCL transceiver circuit providing a DCL protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

10. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of transceiver circuits is an ISO 9141 transceiver circuit that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit and supports all ISO 9141 type protocols in key word-2000.

11. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of transceiver circuits is a diagnostic data link (DDL) UART transceiver circuit that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said DCL transceiver circuit providing a DCL protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

12. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the UART decoder circuit employs five UART based physical layers, including UBP1/UBP2, DCL, DDL, 9141 Ford and ISO-9141.

13. The adapter according to claim 12 wherein the UART decoder circuit employs two quad bus buffered gate integrated circuits to route UART communications between the CPU circuit and the five UART based physical layers.

14. The adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a program voltage circuit for controlling the voltage of the adapter, said program voltage circuit including a voltage pump that outputs a voltage signal to a digital-to-analog converter, said converter being interfaced to the CPU to produce a programming voltage within a predetermined range.

15. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the CPU circuit employs a background debug mode connector that programs a flash memory.

16. The adapter according to claim 1 further comprising two first-in/first-out memory circuits providing a host data read and a host data write between the adapter and the host computer.

17. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter reprograms electronic control units within the vehicle.

18. A protocol selection matrix adapter for interfacing a host computer to multiple in-vehicle networks on a vehicle through a plurality of protocols, said adapter comprising:

a protocol central processing unit (CPU) circuit, said CPU circuit providing vehicle network protocol interactions, low level filtering of incoming messages, data and communications transfer to the host computer, time stamping and broadcast functionality operations;

a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) decoder circuit for decoding UART protocols; and

a plurality of transceivers, said transceivers providing a protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, wherein the adapter is capable of providing simultaneous support of at least two vehicle protocols, said plurality of transceivers including a controller area network (CAN) transceiver for providing a CAN protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, a standard corporate protocol (SCP) transceiver for providing a SOP protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, a UART based protocol (UBP) transceiver that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said UBP transceiver providing a UBP protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, a data communications link (DCL) transceiver that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said DCL transceiver providing a DCL protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer, an ISO 9141 transceiver that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit and supports all ISO 9141 type protocols in key word-200, and a diagnostic data link (DDL) UART transceiver that is controlled by the UART decoder circuit, said DCL transceiver providing a DCL protocol interface between the vehicle and the host computer.

19. The adapter according to claim 18 wherein the adapter operates in a plurality of modes, including a vehicle configuration mode where the host computer configures the adapter to the vehicle, a stand-alone data collection mode where the adapter collects data from an in-vehicle network, a data upload to the host computer mode where the adapter uploads data collected from the vehicle to the host computer, and a pass-through mode where data and other information from an in-vehicle network passes directly from the vehicle to the host computer through the adapter.

20. The adapter according to claim 18 wherein the UART decoder circuit employs five UART based physical layers, including UBP1/UBP2, DCL, DDL, 9141 Ford and ISO-9141.