Mobile CAN-Bus Gateway for Wireless Machinery Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
CAN-Bus based systems face incompatibility with standard communication protocols like Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB, leading to inefficient and costly monitoring and control, reliance on expert operators, antiquated user interfaces, and vulnerabilities in data security and communication complexity.
Innovation Solution
A mobile control system that converts CAN-Bus communication signals into compatible wireless data streams using a simple and reliable communication schema, enabling bi-directional communication, secure data transmission, and real-time system parameter analysis, with a mobile controller capable of processing and modifying data to control machinery operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If CAN-Bus communication signals are converted using complex communication schemas, then compatibility with wireless protocols is achieved, but system complexity increases and error rate rises
Solution Approach 1:
The communication schema is segmented into distinct functional layers: a data link layer handling CAN-Bus to wireless protocol conversion, and an application layer for high-level communication. This segmentation isolates conversion complexity to a dedicated layer, simplifying overall system architecture and reducing error rates while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A gateway device acts as an intermediary between CAN-Bus based machinery and wireless communication networks. The gateway handles all protocol conversion and data formatting, shielding the main control system from conversion complexity while enabling compatibility with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other wireless protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard communication protocols are used for CAN-Bus systems, then integration with modern platforms is improved, but voltage incompatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as a voltage-adapted intermediary, receiving CAN-Bus signals at floating voltages through optocouplers or differential receivers, then converting them to fixed voltage levels required by wireless protocols. This intermediary approach resolves voltage incompatibility while enabling seamless integration with modern platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical connections with optocouplers or wireless communication interfaces, substituting the mechanical/electrical voltage-matching problem with optical or electromagnetic field-based transmission that is inherently isolated from voltage level conflicts.
3Productivity
If manual monitoring and control of CAN-Bus systems is performed, then system operation is maintained, but labor intensity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation through automated wireless interfaces. Mobile devices or remote systems can independently monitor and control CAN-Bus machinery without requiring expert operators, as the gateway automatically handles protocol conversion and data formatting, making the system self-sufficient and reducing labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway implements automated feedback loops, continuously monitoring CAN-Bus signals and automatically adjusting control parameters based on received data. This closed-loop automation eliminates the need for manual intervention, reducing labor intensity while maintaining operational efficiency.
4Productivity
If existing CAN-Bus communication methods are used, then system operation is maintained, but data security vulnerabilities persist
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as a security intermediary, implementing encryption and authentication mechanisms between CAN-Bus machinery and wireless networks. It can filter, validate, and secure data transmissions, maintaining operational continuity while addressing security vulnerabilities through layered security protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile CAN-Bus control system is provided, in which a CAN-Bus based machinery converts CAN control signals to a data stream based on a communication schema. At least a portion of the converted data stream includes an index lookup identifier, which, together with a locally stored index loop table, permits the receiving device to extract the control signal. The data stream, which is compatible with communication protocols such as Bluetooth™ and/or Wi-Fi, is transmitted to a mobile controller, which in turn parses the data stream and translates it into useable data points based on a locally stored index lookup table. The mobile controller may upload the received data stream to a server for data storage and retrieval, and is capable of remotely accessing the CAN-Bus based system to modify system parameter values and bumping them to the CAN-Bus system to achieved desired operational state of the machinery.