Wireless protocol adapter assembly with interchangeable connectors

• US 8,489,796 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Blanton, Robin, Van Elslander, Roger Leon, Such, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): COX, NATISHA D
• Application Number:
  US12/460,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250
• US Class Current: 710/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless protocol adapter assembly for diagnostics, analysis, and monitoring. The wireless protocol adapter assembly provides a common connection interface between a sealed common electronics package and a plurality of vehicle connectors that access a plurality of vehicle networks respectively for translating and transferring signals between the plurality of in-vehicle networks and a host computer. The common connection interface allows the vehicle connector compatible with a particular vehicle type to be coupled to the common electronics package. The common electronics package can recognizes when it is connected to a vehicle network running a particular protocol and automatically switch to that protocol. A wireless protocol adapter board having a standard connection pinning arrangement allows wireless links to be changed or altered as wireless standards change and evolve.

Claims

1. A wireless protocol adapter assembly for transferring signals between a host computer and a plurality of in-vehicle networks, said wireless protocol adapter assembly comprising:

a common electronics package for translating and transferring signals between said plurality of in-vehicle networks and said host computer for a plurality of different protocols, said common electronics package having an attachment portion;

a vehicle connector assembly having a common connector plate operably connectable to said attachment portion for selectively coupling a plurality of vehicle connectors to said common electronics package, said plurality of vehicle connectors operable to selectively access said plurality of in-vehicle networks;

a wireless adapter board partially disposed within said common electronics package, said wireless adapter board having a plurality of wireless adapters;

a standard connection pinning arrangement of said wireless adapters; and

a microcontroller PCB assembly connected to said wireless adapter board by using said standard connection pin arrangement, wherein said microcontroller PCB assembly is selectively mated with said plurality of wireless adapters, through said standard connection pin arrangement and said microcontroller PCB assembly receives and formats signals transmitted between said host computer and said plurality of vehicle networks.

2. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common electronics package has an outer casing that is sealed to prevent the ingress of fluid material inside said common electronics package.

3. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common electronics package has an outer casing with at least one slot formed in said outer casing that functions as manual reset switch input feature for manually creating a switch input to said common electronics package.

4. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of different protocols is selected from the group consisting of an J1708, J1587, J1939, CAN, GM UART, ALDL, J1850 protocol, and combinations thereof.

5. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of vehicle connectors is selected from the group consisting of a 9-pin Deutsch, 6-pin Deutsch, 4-pin Haldex, 6-pin GM UART, DMM/TK, and 12-pin ALDL.

6. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common connector plate has at least one flange to slidably engage at least one engagement channel of said attachment portion, wherein said at least one engagement channel and flange are adapted to allow said common connector plate to operably couple to said attachment portion in a predetermined orientation.

7. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common connector plate has an extension portion that is selectively coupled to said plurality of vehicle connectors to allow the angle of said plurality of vehicle connectors to selectively vary with respect to said common electronics package.

8. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common electronics package further comprises a visual indicator panel having at least one LED to visually indicate which of said plurality of different protocols is being used.

9. A wireless protocol adapter assembly for interfacing between a host computer and a plurality of in-vehicle networks, said wireless protocol adapter assembly comprising:

a common electronics package for translating and transferring signals between said plurality of in-vehicle networks and said host computer for a plurality of different protocols, said common electronics package having an attachment portion;

a vehicle connector assembly having a common connector plate operably connectable to said attachment portion for selectively coupling a plurality of vehicle connectors to said common electronics package, said plurality of vehicle connectors operable to selectively access said plurality of in-vehicle networks;

a wireless adapter board partially disposed within said common electronics package, said wireless adapter board having a plurality of wireless adapters;

a standard connection pinning arrangement of said wireless adapters; and

a microcontroller PCB assembly connected to said wireless adapter board by using said standard connection pin arrangement, wherein said microcontroller PCB assembly is selectively mated with said plurality of wireless adapters, through said standard connection pin arrangement and said microcontroller PCB assembly receives and formats signals transmitted between said host computer and said plurality of vehicle networks.

10. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said common electronics package has an outer casing that is sealed to prevent the ingress of fluid material inside said common electronics package.

11. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said common electronics package has an outer casing with at least one slot formed in said outer casing that functions as manual reset switch input feature for manually creating a switch input to said common electronics package.

12. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of different protocols is selected from the group consisting of an J1708, J1587, J1939, CAN, GM UART, ALDL, J1850 protocol, and combinations thereof.

13. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of vehicle connectors is selected from the group consisting of a 9-pin Deutsch, 6-pin Deutsch, 4-pin Haldex, 6-pin GM UART, DMM/TK, and 12-pin ALDL.

14. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said common connector plate has at least one flange to slidably engage at least one engagement channel of said attachment portion, wherein said at least one engagement channel and flange are adapted and configured to allow said common connector plate to operably couple to said attachment portion in a predetermined orientation.

15. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said common connector plate has an extension portion that is selectively coupled to said plurality of vehicle connectors to allow an angle of said plurality of vehicle connectors to selectively vary with respect to said common electronics package.

16. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 9, wherein said common electronics package further comprises a visual indicator panel having at least one LED to visually indicate which of said plurality of different protocols is being used.

17. A wireless protocol adapter assembly for interfacing between a host computer and a plurality of in-vehicle networks, said wireless protocol adapter assembly comprising:

a common electronics package for processing and transferring signals between said plurality of in-vehicle networks and said host computer for a plurality of different protocols, said common electronics package having an attachment portion;

a vehicle connector assembly having a common connector plate operably connectable to said attachment portion for selectively coupling a plurality of vehicle connectors to said common electronics package, said plurality of vehicle connectors operable to selectively access said plurality of in-vehicle networks;

a wireless adapter board partially disposed within said common electronics package, said wireless adapter board having a plurality of wireless adapters;

a standard connection pinning arrangement of said wireless adapters;

a microcontroller PCB assembly connected to said wireless adapter board by using said standard connection pin arrangement, wherein said microcontroller PCB assembly is selectively mated with said plurality of wireless adapters, through said standard connection pin arrangement and said microcontroller PCB assembly receives and formats signals transmitted between said host computer and said plurality of vehicle networks;

wherein said wireless protocol adapter assembly recognizes when it is coupled to any of said plurality of in-vehicle network running any of said plurality of different protocols and automatically switches to a protocol;

an outer casing of said common electronics package that is sealed to prevent the ingress of fluid material inside said common electronics package;

at least one slot that is a manual reset switch input feature formed on at least one outside surface of said common electronics package for manually creating a switch input to said common electronics package; and

at least one engagement channel formed in said attachment portion adapted and configured to slidably receive at least one flange formed on said common connector plate, wherein said at least one engagement channel and said at least one flange are adapted to allow said common connector plate to operably couple to said attachment portion in a predetermined orientation.

18. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 17, wherein said at least one engagement channel has an open end for slidably receiving said at least one flange and a stop formed in said engagement channel to contact an end of said at least one flange to allow said common connector plate to operably couple to said attachment portion in said predetermined orientation.

19. The wireless protocol adapter assembly according to claim 17, wherein said at least one flange is held within said at least one engagement channel by friction and by at least one fastening element extending through a first aperture of said common connector plate into a second aperture of a planar surface of said attachment portion of said common electronics package.