Bar-shaped communication unit and tachograph system having a communication unit

Abstract

Bar-shaped communication unit and tachograph system having a communication unit The invention relates to a bar-shaped communication unit 1 having an interface adapter component 2 which can be connected to a tachograph 34 and having a communication component 4, the interface adapter component 2 and the communication component 4 being detachably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the communication unit 1 by means of a plug-in connection 6, the plug-in connection comprising an adapter interface 8 of the interface adapter component 2 and a communication component interface 10 of the communication component 4.To enable the communication component to be detached easily, it is proposed that the plug-in connection 6 comprises a magnetic connection 12 between the interface adapter component 2 and the communication component 4 and that the interface adapter comprises at least one first connection element 14 of the magnetic connection and, on an outer side of the communication unit and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit, a trapezoidal projection 18 which engages in a corresponding trapezoidal recess 20 in the communication component interface which is formed on the outer side of the communication unit, the communication component interface comprising at least one second connection element 16 of the magnetic connection which corresponds to the first connection element 14. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tachograph system 32 having such a communication unit. Figure for abstract: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Bar-shaped communication unit and tachograph system having a communication unit

[0001] The invention relates to a bar-shaped communication unit having an interface adapter component which can be connected to a tachograph and having a communication component, the interface adapter component and the communication component being detachably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the communication unit by means of a plug-in connection, the plug-in connection comprising an adapter interface of the interface adapter component and a communication component interface of the communication component. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tachograph system having such a communication unit and having a tachograph.

[0002] It is for example known to equip a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, with a tachograph in order to capture, among other things, driver data concerning activities of a driver of the motor vehicle and / or trip data concerning the motor vehicle and to make this data available for example for control activities. Tachographs can be prescribed, for example also depending on the country and / or region, at least for specific motor vehicle classes and / or motor vehicle types, in order to enable authorities to monitor compliance with regulations, for example compliance with prescribed driving and rest periods for the driver. The driver and trip data can also be used for example for the efficient and environmentally friendly operation of a vehicle fleet.For example, at least parts of the data captured by the tachograph may be transmitted for evaluation purposes via a radio link to a data processing device of a transport company using the motor vehicle. For example, for such a purpose, a communication unit may be connected to the tachograph.

[0003] A communication unit connected to an interface on the front side, called the front interface, of the tachograph is known. If the communication unit is not required, it is normally detached from the tachograph, for example to prevent theft or loss of the communication unit. Not only removal of the communication unit from the tachograph but also simple connection of the communication unit to the tachograph can lead to undesirable stress on the front interface of the tachograph if the communication unit is removed or connected inadvertently and using a force that exceeds an amount required. In the event of abrupt functional use of the tachograph and the communication unit, especially in commercial vehicles, however, such possibly abrupt use of force cannot be prevented in principle.

[0004] The invention therefore aims to provide a communication unit of the aforementioned type which facilitates good theft prevention while at the same time allowing the tachograph to be easily removed. The invention also aims to provide a tachograph system having such a communication unit.

[0005] The invention achieves the first-mentioned objective by means of a communication unit of the aforementioned type and by the fact that the plug-in connection comprises a magnetic connection between the interface adapter component and the communication component and by the fact that the interface adapter comprises at least one first connection element of the magnetic connection and, on an outer side of the communication unit and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit, a trapezoidal projection which engages in a corresponding trapezoidal recess in the communication component interface which is formed on the outer side of the communication unit, the communication component interface comprising at least one second connection element of the magnetic connection which corresponds to the first connection element.

[0006] A particular advantage of the communication unit according to the invention lies in the fact that the communication component, which comprises, for example, communication electronics and possibly a memory unit containing data, for example also containing data relating to the driver and / or the route of the tachograph, can be removed easily and without significant mechanical stress on the tachograph, in particular on the front interface of the tachograph. Therefore, it is possible that the communication component which, with its included communication electronics and with its possibly also included data memory, forms the essential value element of the communication unit can be easily protected against theft and, for example, kept securely on a driver of a motor vehicle comprising the tachograph.In principle, it is conceivable that the communication unit comprises, in addition to the interface adapter component and the communication component, one or more further elements. However, the communication unit preferably consists of the interface adapter component and the communication component.

[0007] The invention easily enables the interface adapter component, which is used primarily to enable the communication unit and in particular the communication component to be connected to the tachograph easily and simply, to remain permanently on the tachograph as desired or necessary (and for example to be removed only in the case of shipments of dangerous goods during so-called ADR operation (=European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road)). The interface adapter component is, for example, plugged into the front interface of the tachograph, which can be, for example, a six-pin interface on the front. The interface adapter component and, with it, the communication unit, are thus connected to the tachograph directly. However, it is also conceivable, for example, to connect the interface adapter component to the tachograph by means of an electrical connection cable comprising, for example, a plug connector that can be plugged into the front interface of the tachograph; in such a case, the interface adapter component and, with it, the communication unit, are connected to the tachograph indirectly.

[0008] The communication unit according to the invention is rod-shaped (the term "rod-shaped" is also conceivable as an alternative name for "bar-shaped"), i.e. is elongated in shape and comprises a longitudinal axis and therefore also a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The communication unit is therefore particularly easy to handle and therefore advantageously contributes to making the communication component easier to remove. This is enhanced by the fact that, according to the invention, the interface adapter component and the communication component are detachably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the communication unit, i.e. in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit, by means of the plug-in connection.The adapter interface and the communication component interface are preferably arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit.

[0009] The magnetic connection present according to the invention as part of the plug-in connection ensures, together with the trapezoidal projection on the outer side of the communication unit which engages in the trapezoidal recess, that the plug-in connection connecting the communication component to the interface adapter component is held together reliably while at the same time allowing this plug-in connection to be detached easily and in a manner which prevents damage when the communication component is removed.

[0010] Advantageous improvements of the invention may include the following features.

[0011] A further increased stability of the connection between the interface adapter component and the communication component, which is particularly advantageous especially during abrupt functional use of commercial vehicles, can preferably be achieved by the fact that, according to an improvement of the invention, the adapter interface comprises a second projection at a distance from the outer side of the communication unit and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit, which second projection is covered by the communication component interface in the form of a socket. The communication component interface can cover the second projection completely, i.e. over its entire extent, or only partially. According to this improvement, the communication component interface is therefore plugged and / or pushed onto the adapter interface.

[0012] According to an advantageous improvement of the invention, the communication component interface abuts against the second projection without play in one, i.e. in at least one, direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit. Furthermore, increased stability and the ability of the communication component and the interface adapter component to be assembled more easily and in a guided manner are thus achieved between the communication component interface and the adapter interface.

[0013] According to a further advantageous improvement of the invention, the adapter interface and the communication component interface each comprise electrical connection elements which correspond to each other and are arranged non-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit. By way of example, the corresponding electrical connection elements each form a plug contact. For example, the adapter interface comprises a plurality of electrical connection elements which are each in the form of a pin and form a multi-pole male connector, and the communication component interface comprises a plurality of electrical connection elements which are each in the form of a socket and form a multi-pole female connector corresponding to the multi-pole male connector.Instead of the sockets, or the multi-pole female connector, respective electrical contact surfaces can also be provided on the communication component interface as electrical connection elements, for example. For example, electrical pins on the adapter interface can correspond to these contact surfaces, said pins then preferably being arranged on the adapter interface in a resilient manner. Due to the non-symmetrical arrangement of the electrical connection elements with respect to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit, a rotation-proof fixation is guaranteed when the communication component and the interface adapter component are assembled.

[0014] To enable the communication unit to be connected to a tachograph in a space-saving manner, it is particularly advantageous that, according to a further improvement of the invention, the interface adapter component comprises a tachograph connection element arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the communication unit. Preferably, the tachograph connection element is also arranged perpendicular to the adapter interface.

[0015] In particular, in order to enable the communication component to be easily removed when the communication unit is connected to the tachograph, it is advantageous that, according to an improvement of the invention, the tachograph connection element is arranged perpendicular to the trapezoidal projection of the adapter interface.

[0016] According to a further advantageous improvement of the invention, the second projection of the adapter interface comprises a bevel facing the tachograph connection element. This makes it possible and facilitates tilting or removal by tilting of the communication component from the interface adapter component without mechanical stress on the tachograph and the tachograph connection element when the communication unit is connected to the tachograph.

[0017] According to a further advantageous improvement of the invention, the cross-section of the communication unit is in the form of a rectangle having unequal sides, i.e. as a rectangle having two long sides and two short sides, and the trapezoidal projection of the adapter interface is arranged on one longitudinal side of the rectangle. Preferably, corresponding trapezoidal projections are arranged on both longitudinal sides of the rectangle. This makes it easier to separate and assemble the communication component and the interface adapter component in comparison with an arrangement, also conceivable in principle, of the trapezoidal projection or the trapezoidal projections on one short side or on both short sides of the rectangle.

[0018] This advantage can be further enhanced by the fact that, according to an advantageous improvement of the invention, the trapezoidal base of the trapezoidal projection is greater than the trapezoidal height and by the fact that the trapezoidal base is greater than half the length of the longitudinal side of the rectangle.

[0019] Furthermore, a tachograph system having an aforementioned communication unit and having a tachograph is provided, wherein the communication unit is rigidly coupled to the tachograph, the longitudinal axis of the communication unit being arranged parallel to a front face of the tachograph. The front face preferably comprises control elements. It is accessible to an operator in the installed state of the tachograph. The installed state of the tachograph is a state of the tachograph in which it is installed in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle. The tachograph is therefore a device installed in the vehicle, i.e. a device intended to be installed in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The tachograph may have, for example, example the so-called compartment format for single DIN car radios.

[0020] Preferably, the communication unit does not protrude beyond the front face of the tachograph, i.e. the communication unit does not protrude laterally beyond the tachograph. More preferably, the communication unit does not conceal a display unit that may be present in the front face of the tachograph. That is, the communication unit also does not partially conceal the display unit preferably.

[0021] Due to the rigid coupling, the communication unit is coupled in a stationary and permanent manner to the tachograph. This provides a reliable hold of the communication unit on the tachograph, which is of particular importance during the abrupt running operation of a tachograph system installed in a commercial vehicle, for example. Preferably, the tachograph comprises a front interface into which the communication unit, more precisely the interface adapter component of the communication unit, and more particularly a tachograph connection element, for example designed as a plug connector and integrated in the interface adapter component, of the interface adapter component is plugged.When the communication component is removed or detached from the interface adapter component, the front interface is not under mechanical stress, due to the specific design of the communication unit which is described above. Thus, permanent reliability of the tachograph is guaranteed.

[0022] According to an advantageous improvement of the tachograph system, the tachograph has a printer device having a print material container that can be removed from the front side of the tachograph, and the interface adapter component of the communication unit is designed such that the print material container can be removed from the communication unit without obstruction, i.e. without obstruction by the communication unit or its elements, when the communication component of the communication unit is detached from the interface adapter component. Therefore, the communication unit does not hinder a removal of the print material container. The print material container is also called a printer tray.Due to the interface adapter component designed according to this improvement of the invention, which is the element of the communication unit that is coupled directly to the tachograph, the printing material container can be removed from the tachograph, i.e. from the front side thereof, freely and without hindrance. This ensures a simple replenishment of printing material, which is a consumable of the tachograph, even in the case of the tachograph system comprising the communication unit in principle. The interface adapter component can remain permanently on the tachograph.

[0023] The invention also comprises improvements to the tachograph system according to the invention which have features which have already been described in connection with the communication unit according to the invention and its improvements. For this reason, the corresponding improvements to the tachograph system according to the invention are not described again here.

[0024] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described improvements and embodiments.

[0025] Illustrative embodiments of a communication unit and a tachograph system are illustrated in a sketched and schematic manner in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

[0026] In the drawing,

[0027] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a front view of a communication unit,

[0028] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a side view of the communication unit of the [Fig.l],

[0029] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a communication component interface of the communication unit shown in [Fig.l],

[0030] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents an adapter interface of the communication unit shown in [Fig.l],

[0031] [Fig.5], [Fig.6] Figures 5 and 6 show a rear view of an interface adapter component and a communication component of the communication unit shown in [Fig.l],

[0032] [Fig.7], [Fig.8] Figures 7 and 8 show a bottom view of the interface adapter component and the communication component of Figures 5 and 6,

[0033] [Fig.9], [Fig. 10] Figures 9 and 10 show a front view of the interface adapter component and the communication component of Figures 5 and 6,

[0034] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] shows a tachograph system having a tachograph and a communication unit,

[0035] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] shows a front view of the tachograph shown in [Fig.l 1] with an interface adapter component of the communication unit,

[0036] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] shows a detail of a side view of the tachograph and interface adapter component shown in [Fig. 12],

[0037] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] shows another tachograph system having a tachograph and a communication unit, and

[0038] [Fig. 15] [Fig. 15] shows a variant of a tachograph system having a tachograph and a communication unit.

[0039] In all the figures, respectively corresponding parts and elements are designated by the same reference signs.

[0040] [Fig.l] shows a front view of a communication unit in the form of bar 1 having an interface adapter component 2 which can be connected to a tachograph and having a communication component 4. By way of example, the communication component 4 comprises communication electronics, e.g. for data transmission between the tachograph and a server, and also a memory unit for data buffering.

[0041] The communication unit 1 comprises a longitudinal axis L. The interface adapter component 2 and the communication component 4 are detachably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the communication unit 1, i.e. in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the communication unit 1, by means of a plug-in connection 6. The plug-in connection 6 comprises an adapter interface 8 of the interface adapter component 2 (see [Fig. 4]) and a communication component interface 10 of the communication component 4 (see [Fig. 3]).

[0042] The plug-in connection 6 comprises a magnetic connection 12 (see Figures 14 and 15) between the interface adapter component 2 and the communication component 4. The adapter interface 8 comprises two first connection elements 14 (see [Fig. 4]) of the magnetic connection 12. The communication component interface 10 comprises two second connection elements 16 (see [Fig. 3]) of the magnetic connection 12 which correspond to the two first connection elements 14. The connection elements 14, 16 may be, for example, paired permanent magnets having opposite polarities or, for example, permanent magnets and elements having ferromagnetic properties.

[0043] Furthermore, the adapter interface 8 comprises a trapezoidal projection 18 oriented in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit 1. The trapezoidal projection 18 engages in a corresponding trapezoidal recess 20 in the communication component interface 10 which is formed on the outer side of the communication unit 1.

[0044] In the side view of the communication unit 1 shown in [Fig. 2], it can be seen in conjunction with [Fig. 4] that the interface adapter component 2 comprises a tachograph connection element 22 which is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the communication unit 1 and is integrated into the interface adapter component 2 (i.e. forms a single part with the interface adapter component 2). The tachograph connection element 22 is also arranged perpendicular to the trapezoidal projection 18 of the adapter interface 8.

[0045] The adapter interface 8 has a second projection 24 at a distance from the outer side of the communication unit 1 and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit 1 (see Figures 5, 7 and 9). This second projection 24, which is provided on the interface adapter component 2 in addition to the first trapezoidal projection 18 described above, is covered by the communication component interface 10 (see [Fig. 3]) of the communication component 4 (see Figures 6, 8 and 10) in the form of a socket.

[0046] In a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the communication unit 1, the communication component interface 10 abuts against the second projection 24 without play. The communication unit 1 thus comprises a stable unit when the interface adapter component 2 and the communication component 4 are in the assembled state. In the illustrative embodiment shown here, the communication component interface 10 further covers the second projection 24 substantially completely, i.e., substantially over the entire extent of the projection 24, without play.

[0047] The adapter interface 8 and the communication component interface 10 each comprise electrical connection elements 26, 28 which correspond to each other and are arranged non-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the communication unit 1. In the illustrative embodiment shown here, the adapter interface 8 comprises six such electrical connection elements 26 and the communication component interface 10 comprises six electrical connection elements 28 corresponding thereto.

[0048] As is particularly evident from Figures 5 and 7, the second projection 24 of the adapter interface 8 comprises a bevel 30 facing the tachograph connection element 22. The bevel 30 facilitates removal of the communication component 4 from the interface adapter component 2 in particular when the interface adapter component 2 is connected to a tachograph, i.e. when, in the present illustrative embodiment, the tachograph connection element 22 is plugged, for example, into a front interface of a tachograph.

[0049] The communication unit 1 and, with it, the adapter interface 8 and also the communication component interface 10 are in the form of a rectangle having unequal sides in cross-section (see, for example, FIGS. 3 and 4). The trapezoidal projection 18 of the adapter interface 8 is arranged on one longitudinal side of the rectangle (see [Fig. 4] in conjunction with [Fig. 1]). The trapezoidal projection 18 is a flat and wide projection, which is reflected by the fact that the trapezoidal base a of the trapezoidal projection 18 is larger than the trapezoidal height h and by the fact that the trapezoidal base a is larger than the half-length b / 2 of the longitudinal side of the rectangle (the total length is designated by the reference sign b in [Fig. 1]).

[0050] [Fig. 11] shows a tachograph system 32 having a communication unit 1 and having a tachograph 34. The communication unit 1 is coupled ri firmly to the tachograph 34, the longitudinal axis L of the communication unit 1 being arranged parallel to a front face 36 (see [Fig. 13]) of the tachograph 34. An interface adapter component 2 of the communication unit 1, and more particularly a tachograph connection element, which is hidden in this representation, of the interface adapter component 2, is plugged into a front interface of the tachograph 34 in order to couple the communication unit 1 to the tachograph 34.

[0051] It can be seen that the communication unit 1 does not protrude beyond the front face 36 of the tachograph 34, i.e. does not protrude laterally beyond said face. Furthermore, the communication unit 1 does not conceal a display unit 38 arranged in the front face 36 of the tachograph 34 and also does not conceal control elements of the tachograph 34, which are arranged below the display unit 38 in the illustrative embodiment shown here.

[0052] The tachograph 34 has a printer device having a print material container 40 which can be removed from the front side 36 (see [Fig. 12]). [Fig. 12] shows the tachograph system 32, the communication component 4 of the communication unit 1 having been removed. Only the interface adapter component 2 of the communication unit 1 continues to be connected to the tachograph 34, more particularly here plugged into a front interface (which is hidden by the interface adapter component 2 in the views of FIGS. 11 and 12) of the tachograph 34. It is clear from [Fig.12] that the interface adapter component 2 of the communication unit 1 is designed in such a way that, when the communication component 4 of the communication unit 1 is detached from the interface adapter component 2, the printing material container 40 is freely accessible and therefore can be removed from the tachograph 34 without hindrance.

[0053] A similar tachograph system 32 is also shown in [Fig. 14]. [Fig. 15] shows a variant of a tachograph system 32 in which a communication unit 1 with its interface adapter component 2 is not plugged into a front interface of a tachograph 34 directly, but rather in which the interface adapter component 2 and thus the communication unit 1 are connected to the tachograph 34 in such a way that the interface adapter component 2 is connected to a male connector 44 via a cable connection 42. The male connector 44 is plugged into the front interface of the tachograph 34.

[0054] Generally speaking, the examples show how the invention easily forms a communication unit which offers the possibility of easily removing its communication component, the essential valuable part of the communication unit, without risking damage to its interface adapter component as well than a front-end interface of a tachograph.

Claims

Claims

1. Bar-shaped communication unit (1) having an interface adapter component (2) which can be connected to a tachograph (34) and having a communication component (4), the interface adapter component (2) and the communication component (4) being detachably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the communication unit (1) by means of a plug-in connection (6), the plug-in connection (6) comprising an adapter interface (8) of the interface adapter component (2) and a communication component interface (10) of the communication component (4), characterized in that the plug-in connection (6) comprises a magnetic connection (12) between the interface adapter component (2) and the communication component (4) and in that the interface adapter (8) comprises at least one first connection element (14) of the magnetic connection (12) and,on an outer side of the communication unit (1) and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit (1), a trapezoidal projection (18) which engages in a corresponding trapezoidal recess (20) in the communication component interface (10) which is formed on the outer side of the communication unit (1), the communication component interface (10) comprising at least one second connection element (16) of the magnetic connection (12) which corresponds to the first connection element (14).,

2. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the adapter interface (4) comprises a second projection (24) at a distance from the outer side of the communication unit (1) and in the longitudinal direction of the communication unit (1), which second projection is covered by the communication component interface (10) in the form of a socket.

3. A communication unit according to claim 2, wherein the communication component interface (10) abuts against the second projection (24) without play in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the communication unit (1).

4. A communication unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the adapter interface (8) and the communication component interface (10) each comprise electrical connection elements (26, 28) which correspond to each other and are arranged non-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the communication unit (1).

5. A communication unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the interface adapter component (2) comprises a tachograph connection element (22) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the communication unit (1).

6. Communication unit according to claim 5, wherein the tachograph connection element (22) is arranged perpendicular to the trapezoidal projection (18) of the adapter interface (8).

7. A communication unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the second projection (24) of the adapter interface (8) comprises a bevel (30) facing the tachograph connection element (22).

8. A communication unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the cross-section of the communication unit (1) is in the shape of a rectangle having unequal sides and wherein the trapezoidal projection (18) of the adapter interface (8) is arranged on a longitudinal side of the rectangle.

9. A communication unit according to claim 8, wherein the trapezoidal base (a) of the trapezoidal projection (18) is greater than the trapezoidal height (h) and wherein the trapezoidal base (a) is greater than the half length (b / 2) of the longitudinal side of the rectangle.

10. Tachograph system (32) having a communication unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and having a tachograph (34), characterized in that the communication unit (1) is rigidly coupled to the tachograph (34), the longitudinal axis (L) of the communication unit (1) being arranged parallel to a front face (36) of the tachograph (34).

11. A tachograph system according to claim 10, wherein the tachograph (34) comprises a printer device having a print material container (40) which can be removed from the front face (36) of the tachograph (34) and wherein the interface adapter component (2) of the communication unit (1) is designed such that the print material container (40) can be removed from the communication unit (1) without obstruction when the communication component (4) of the communication unit (1) is detached from the interface adapter component (2).

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