System, apparatus and methods for data communication between vehicle and remote data communication terminal, between portions of vehicle and other portions of vehicle, between two or more vehicles, and between vehicle and communications network

• US 7,015,800 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan, Weant, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/842,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/435, 340/928, 340/933, 340/42, 340/944, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 280/441.1, 280/232, 303/7, 303/122.1
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system, an apparatus, and methods are provided for data communications associated with a vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle. A vehicle data communications protocol converter is preferably connected to the plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol such as an infrared, an RF data, an Internet, or other network communications protocol. The apparatus also preferably includes a transceiver connected to the data communications protocol converter for transmitting the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receiving the data communications protocol from another portion of the vehicle, a remote data communications terminal, another vehicle, or another communications network.

Claims

1. vehicle comprising:

a tractor and a trailer connected thereto; and

a data communications apparatus connected to said tractor and said trailer to communicate data to and from said tractor and said trailer, said data communications apparatus comprising;

at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and related to the operation of the heavy duty vehicle;

at least one electrical conductor connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle;

a connector connected to the at least one electrical conductor;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second RF data communications protocol; and

a first RF transceiver associated with said connector and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means to transmit and receive the second RF data communications protocol.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a remote data communications terminal including a second RF transceiver to transmit the second RF data communications protocol to said first RF transceiver and receiving the second RF data communications protocol from said first RF transceiver.

3. A vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing.

4. A vehicle as defined in claim 2, further comprising a controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

6. A vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein said third data communications comprises at least one of the following:

RS-232, RS-422, and RS-423.

7. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector and positioned within the cab of the tractor, and wherein said first transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

8. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a substantially cylindrical or a substantially rectangular shape.

9. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

10. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by at least one of the following:

SAE J1708, SAE J1939, and RS-485.

11. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one electronic subsystem comprises an anti-locking brake system, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

12. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

at least one electrical conductor associated with the vehicle;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said at least one electrical conductor for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second RF data communications protocol; and

an RF transceiver associated with said vehicle data communications protocol converting means to transmit the second RF data communications protocol and receive the second RF data communications protocol from a data communications terminal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a connector connected in series with said at least one electrical conductor, wherein said transceiver is associated with said connector, and wherein said transceiver is positioned to transmit and receive the second RF data communications protocol to the communications terminal.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector, and wherein said RF transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and related to operation of the vehicle, the at least one electronic subsystem including an anti-locking brake system connected to the vehicle, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector positioned within a passenger area of a vehicle having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portions defines said transceiver housing.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said RF transceiver comprises a first RF transceiver, and wherein the data communication terminal includes a second RF transceiver in communication with said first RF transceiver to transmit the second RF data communications protocol to said first RF transceiver and receive the second RF data communications protocol from said first RF transceiver.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the first and second RF transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second local-area data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing and not a data link layer to thereby simplify coding or, alternatively, conversion schemes.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said data communications terminal comprises a remote computer not connected to the vehicle and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second the second RF data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a vehicle light housing connected to an outer surface of the vehicle for housing a vehicle light, and wherein said RF transceiver is positioned in said vehicle light housing.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said RF transceiver comprises a first RF transceiver, and wherein the data communication terminal includes a second RF transceiver to transmit the second data communications protocol to said first RF transceiver and receive the second RF data communications protocol from said first RF transceiver.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the first and second RF transceivers each include a physical layer, and wherein the second local-are data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers and not a data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

25. A method of data communications associated with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one electrical conductor associated with a vehicle;

converting a first vehicle data communications protocol associated with data communications along the at least one electrical conductor to a second RF data communications protocol; and

transmitting the second RF data communications protocol to a data communications terminal.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, further comprising receiving the second RF data communications protocol from the data communications terminal, controlling data communications along the at least one electrical conductor, and generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

27. A method as defined in claim 25, further comprising positioning a connector so as to be connected in series with the at least one electrical conductor and positioning an RF transceiver in association with the connector.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising detachably connecting a transceiver housing to the connector and positioning the transceiver within the transceiver housing, the connector being positioned within a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

29. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the step of transmitting includes providing a first RF transceiver, and wherein the data communication terminal includes a second RF transceiver positioned in communication with the first transceiver, the method further comprising transmitting a second RF data communications protocol to the first RF transceiver and receiving the second RF data communications protocol from the first RF transceiver.

30. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the step of transmitting includes providing a first RF transceiver, and wherein the data communication terminal includes a second RF transceiver positioned in communication with the first transceiver, the method further comprising transmitting a second RF data communications protocol to the first RF transceiver and receiving the second RF data communications protocol from the first RF transceiver.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first and second RF transceivers each include a physical layer, and the method further comprising transmitting and receiving the second RF data communications protocol only using the physical layer of the first and second RF transceivers and not the data link layer to thereby simplify coding or, alternatively, conversion schemes.

32. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the data communications terminal comprises a computer, and the method further comprises converting the second RF data communications protocol received by the data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with the computer.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein said third data communications protocol comprises at least one of the following:

RS-232, RS-422, and RS-423.

34. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by at least one of the following:

SAE J1708, SAE J1939, and RS-485.