Hardware reconfigurable vehicle on-board diagnostic interface and telematic system
View Patent ↗A telematic system interfaces with a vehicle diagnostic interface to provide access to vehicle health and performance related information. The telematic system includes a primary gateway connector and various subsystem modules that connect to the primary gateway connector to provide functions in addition to those provided by the primary gateway connector.
1. A vehicle telematic system comprising:
a primary gateway including an enclosure defining a first connector for forming a primary communication connection with an on-board diagnostic interface of a vehicle and a second connector with at least one circuit board disposed within the enclosure and in communication with the on-board diagnostic interface of the vehicle, the second connector defining a secondary communication interface; and
at least one secondary system housed within a module separate from the primary gateway and mounted to the second connector and in communication with the on-board diagnostic interface of the vehicle through the secondary communication interface of the primary gateway.
2. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second connector includes a mechanical and electrical connection that is selectively connectable to a corresponding secondary connector included with the secondary system.
3. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the second connector includes a plurality of electrical connectors and a slot for receiving a corresponding tab formed on the secondary system.
4. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 2 , including a linking cable connectable at a first end to the second connector and at a second end to the secondary connector of the secondary system.
5. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the primary gateway includes a wireless communication device for forming a wireless communication link with the secondary system.
6. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the primary gateway includes a logic interface for analyzing information indicative of vehicle operation.
7. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the secondary system comprises a device capable of communication with a global network.
8. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the secondary system includes a radio frequency transmitter capable of both sending and receiving information.
9. A vehicle telematic system comprising:
a primary gateway module disposed within an enclosure, wherein the enclosure defines a first connector connectable to an on-board diagnostics interface for holding the primary gateway module in place and engaged to the on-board diagnostic interface, the primary gateway module including a logic interface for receiving information through the on-board diagnostics interface indicative of vehicle operation and a secondary communications link; and
at least one subsystem module selectively engageable to the primary gateway through the secondary communications link, the subsystem module forming a communications link with the on-board diagnostics interface through engagement with the primary gateway module.
10. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the subsystem module comprises elements providing communications with a global network.
11. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the enclosure includes a second connector integrally formed in the housing that includes a plurality of electrical connectors and a first mating part that receives a corresponding mating part formed on the subsystem module.
12. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 11 , including a cable having a first end engageable with the first mating part formed by the housing and a second end including a second mating part engageable with the subsystem module.
13. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the primary gateway module includes a transceiver for forming a wireless link with at least one subsystem module.
14. The vehicle telematic system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one subsystem comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyro and a global positioning device.
15. A method of linking vehicle telemetric system to a vehicle comprising:
connecting a first connector defined by an enclosure supporting a primary gateway module to an on-board diagnostics interface of a vehicle, wherein the enclosure defines a first connector for physically and electrically connecting to the on-board diagnostics interface; and
establishing a communication link with the on-board diagnostics interface through a second connector defined by the enclosure of the primary gateway module with a subsystem module supported on the vehicle.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein establishing the communication link comprises connecting the subsystem module to the second connector of the primary gateway module.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the primary gateway includes a transceiver and establishing the communication link comprises communicating between the subsystem module and the transceiver over a wireless link.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 , including communicating with a global network with the subsystem module.