Methods and systems for integrating after-market components into a pre-existing vehicle system
A system for integration and communication of aftermarket vehicle components with existing vehicle components through methods comprising an apparatus receiving an input signal comprising a raw data set, and engaging a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions and communicate with an existing motion control system. The methods also include the apparatus communicating, or alternately generating, a vehicle identification sequence derived from the vehicle identification data set. Finally, the methods include the apparatus communicating a calibration data set comprising computer-executable instructions including a vehicle calibration sequence, executing the vehicle identification sequence, and executing the vehicle calibration sequence.
1. An integration system, for retrofitting a pre-existing vehicle with an aftermarket sensor-input device, comprising:
an interface connector configured to communicate with the aftermarket sensor-input device and receive an aftermarket sensor output signal that is not compatible with a pre-existing vehicle output device; and
an integration device comprising a processing unit configured to, in operation of the integration system:
receive, from the interface connector, the aftermarket-sensor output signal;
translate the aftermarket-sensor output signal to a pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal executable by the pre-existing vehicle output device; and
transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the interface connector for transmission to the pre-existing vehicle output device.
2. The integration system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises a pre-existing-vehicle motion control system.
3. The integration system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises a vehicle-user communication component.
4. The integration system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit, in being configured to transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the interface connector, is configured to transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the interface connector by way of a pre-existing vehicle input-output system in communication with the integration system.
5. The integration system of claim 4 , wherein the pre-existing-vehicle input-output system comprises a pre-existing vehicle wiring assembly.
6. The integration system of claim 1 , wherein the aftermarket sensor-input device comprises an aftermarket camera added to the pre-existing vehicle.
7. The integration system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pre-existing vehicle is a first pre-existing vehicle; and
the integration system is portable, being configured to be readily removed from and reattached to the first pre-existing vehicle, for performing operations with respect to the first pre-existing vehicle during operation of the integration system, and a second pre-existing vehicle for performing operations with respect to the second pre-existing vehicle during operation of the integration system.
8. A portable integration system, for retrofitting a pre-existing vehicle with an aftermarket sensor-input device, comprising:
a vehicle-system interface configured to be readily connected to and disconnected from a pre-existing vehicle interface; and
an integration device configured to communicate with the aftermarket sensor-input device and comprising a processing unit configured to, in operation of the portable integration system:
receive, from the portable integration system, an aftermarket-sensor output signal that is not compatible with a pre-existing vehicle output device;
translate the aftermarket-sensor output signal to a pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal executable by the pre-existing vehicle output device; and
transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle interface by way of the vehicle-system interface for transmission to the pre-existing vehicle output device.
9. The integration system of claim 8 , wherein:
the pre-existing-vehicle interface comprises a pre-existing-vehicle plug-in port; and
the vehicle-system plug-in interface comprises a vehicle-system plug-in port sized and shaped to match the plug-in port.
10. The integration system of claim 9 , wherein the pre-existing-vehicle plug-in port comprises an on-board diagnostic port.
11. The integration system of claim 9 , wherein the pre-existing-vehicle plug-in port comprises an on-board diagnostic port expansion.
12. The integration system of claim 8 wherein:
the vehicle-system interface comprises an on-board diagnostic port and a pre-existing-vehicle plug-in port comprises an on-board diagnostic port expansion; and
the processing unit, in being configured to transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing-vehicle interface, is configured to transmit the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing-vehicle interface by way of one or both of the on-board diagnostic port and the on-board diagnostic port expansion.
13. A method, for retrofitting a pre-existing vehicle with an aftermarket sensor-input device using an aftermarket integration system, comprising:
receiving, by a processing unit of an aftermarket integration system, from the aftermarket sensor-input device, an aftermarket-sensor output signal being incompatible with a pre-existing vehicle output device;
translating the aftermarket-sensor output signal to a pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal executable by the pre-existing vehicle output device; and
transmitting the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the aftermarket integration system comprises an interface connector; and
receiving the aftermarket-sensor output signal comprises receiving the aftermarket-sensor output signal from the interface connector.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the aftermarket integration system comprises an interface connector; and
transmitting the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises sending the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device by way of the interface connector.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises at least one system selected from a group consisting of:
a pre-existing-vehicle motion control system; and
a pre-existing vehicle-user communication component.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aftermarket sensor-input device comprises an aftermarket camera added to the pre-existing vehicle.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the integration system further comprises an interface connector configured to communicate with the aftermarket sensor-input device; and
receiving the aftermarket sensor output signal comprises receiving the aftermarket sensor output signal by way of the interface connector.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the integration system further comprises an interface connector configured to communicate with the aftermarket sensor-input device; and
transmitting the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises sending the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device by way of the interface connector.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the integration system further comprises a vehicle-system plug-in interface sized and shaped to allow ready connection to and disconnection from a pre-existing-vehicle plug-in interface; and
sending the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device comprises sending the pre-existing-vehicle-compatible signal to the pre-existing vehicle output device by way of the vehicle-system plug-in interface and the pre-existing-vehicle plug-in interface.