Aftermarket wireless gateway adaptation for internal combustion engine control module connection
A compact wireless Internet of Things (IOT) gateway for use with industrial internal combustion engines having an engine control module (ECM). The IOT gateway incorporates components, such as a cellular modem and cellular antenna, that enable the IOT gateway to receive, process, and transmit data, particularly performance data related to the engine on which the IOT gateway is mounted. The IOT gateway includes both male and female connectors for connecting to both an ECM and a wire harness assembly on the internal combustion engine. Features of the IOT gateway enable remote monitoring of electronic performance data of the internal combustion engine, as well as updating and reconfiguring control software of the internal combustion engine.
1 . An Internet of Things (IOT) gateway for use with an engine control module (ECM) and a wire harness assembly connector (WHAC), the ECM being operatively mounted on an internal combustion industrial engine, the IOT gateway comprising:
an enclosure;
an IOT female connector configured for first operative connection to a corresponding ECM male connector of the ECM, wherein the IOT female connector is the same as a WHAC female connector of the WHAC such that each of the IOT female connector and the WHAC female connector are configured for operative connection with the ECM male connector;
an IOT male connector configured for second operative connection to the corresponding WHAC female connector, wherein the IOT male connector is the same as the ECM male connector such that each of the IOT male connector and the ECM male connector are configured for operative connection with the WHAC female connector, wherein the IOT female connector and the IOT male connector are disposed on different sides of the enclosure such that the IOT gateway is configured to be disposed between and operatively connect the ECM and the WHAC, wherein the WHAC is configured for connection with one or more other components of the internal combustion industrial engine;
a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within the enclosure;
an electromagnetic (EM) shield positioned inside the enclosure of the IOT gateway, wherein the EM shield is disposed between the ECM and the PCB and is configured to direct EM radiation from the ECM away from the PCB; and
a cellular modem, wherein the cellular modem enables the IOT gateway to receive, process, and transmit performance data received by the IOT gateway from the ECM mounted on the internal combustion industrial engine.
2 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the total surface area of the IOT gateway is less than twice the total area consumed by the WHAC when the IOT gateway is operatively attached to the WHAC.
3 . The IOT gateway of claim 2 , wherein dimensions of the enclosure are one inch or less in height, two inches or less in width, or one inch or less in depth.
4 . The IOT gateway of claim 2 , wherein dimensions of the enclosure are less than two inches in height, less than four inches wide, or less than two inches in depth.
5 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , comprising:
an internal cellular antenna configured and arranged to receive and transmit cellular data; and
an antenna port configured and arranged for operative connection to an external antenna.
6 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the cellular modem comprises a cellular modem having an embedded Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) module.
7 . The IOT gateway of claim 6 , wherein the LPWA module uses a cellular protocol, the cellular protocol comprising one or more of Long Term Evolution Category 1 (LTE Cat 1), LTE-M (Cat M1), or Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IOT).
8 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the EM shield is positioned across a bottom section of the IOT gateway.
9 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the IOT male connector includes two horizontal guides configured to guide male pins of the IOT male connector, wherein the two horizontal guides ensure the male pins are properly seated within the WHAC female connector.
10 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein:
the IOT female connector is disposed on a first side of the enclosure facing the ECM; and
the IOT male connector is disposed on a second side of the enclosure, opposite the first side, facing the WHAC.
11 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the IOT female connector and the IOT male connector are disposed on different sides of the enclosure such that a connection between ECM and WHAC is configured to be retrofit by operatively disposing the IOT gateway between, and operatively connecting, the ECM and the WHAC.
12 . The IOT gateway of claim 1 , wherein the EM shield is disposed entirely between the ECM and the PCB and is configured to direct EM radiation from the ECM away from the PCB.
13 . A system comprising:
an internal combustion industrial engine;
an engine control module (ECM) operatively mounted on the internal combustion industrial engine;
a wire harness assembly connector (WHAC) coupled to one or more other components of the internal combustion industrial engine; and
an Internet of Things (IOT) gateway for use with the ECM, the IOT gateway comprising:
an enclosure;
an IOT female connector configured for first operative connection to a corresponding ECM male connector of the ECM, wherein the IOT female connector is the same as a WHAC female connector of the WHAC such that each of the IOT female connector and the WHAC female connector are configured for operative connection with the ECM male connector;
an IOT male connector configured for second operative connection to the corresponding WHAC female connector, wherein the IOT male connector is the same as the ECM male connector such that each of the IOT male connector and the ECM male connector are configured for operative connection with the WHAC female connector, wherein the IOT female connector and the IOT male connector are disposed on different sides of the enclosure such that the IOT gateway is configured to be disposed between and operatively connect the ECM and the WHAC, wherein the WHAC is coupled with one or more other components of the internal combustion industrial engine;
a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within the enclosure;
an electromagnetic (EM) shield positioned inside the enclosure of the IOT gateway, wherein the EM shield is disposed between the ECM and the PCB and is configured to direct EM radiation from the ECM away from the PCB; and
a cellular modem, wherein the cellular modem enables the IOT gateway to receive, process, and transmit performance data received by the IOT gateway from the ECM mounted on the internal combustion industrial engine.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein dimensions of the enclosure are less than two inches in height, less than four inches wide, and less than two inches in depth.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the total surface area of the IOT gateway is less than twice the total area consumed by the WHAC when the IOT gateway is operatively attached to the WHAC.