OBD Port Expansion Device for Vehicle Antenna Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication and safety systems face challenges in accessing pre-existing vehicle antenna, power, and data resources without interfering with onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) operations, due to regulatory restrictions on using OBD-II for proprietary signals.
Innovation Solution
A plug-in communication system that includes an onboard diagnostics (OBD) port-expansion device and connection lines to access existing vehicle components, allowing for secure and convenient sharing of antenna, power, and data resources, while ensuring non-interference with OBD-II operations through frequency-selective circuitry and authentication mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the OBD-II connector is used to provide power and antenna access to communication systems, then convenience and ease of access are improved, but regulatory restrictions prohibit using it for proprietary signals to avoid interfering with diagnostic functions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the OBD-II connector functionality by providing separate access paths: one for diagnostic functions through the original OBD-II port, and another for communication system power and antenna access through dedicated terminals and connection lines. This segmentation allows both diagnostic tools and communication systems to share vehicle resources without interfering with each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate components including a connection line that bridges the OBD-II port expansion device and the communication system, and an inline terminal that mediates between the antenna and the communication device. These intermediaries enable proprietary signal transmission while maintaining compatibility with diagnostic functions.
2Reliability
If a separate power source and antenna are provided for communication systems, then signal interference with diagnostics is avoided, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The OBD-II port expansion device serves multiple functions: it provides power access to communication systems, enables antenna connection, and maintains compatibility with diagnostic tools. By making this single component multi-functional, the invention eliminates the need for separate power sources and antenna installations that would otherwise be required.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to automatically draw power and access antenna resources through the existing OBD-II infrastructure without requiring separate power wiring or additional antenna installations. The system self-configures to use available vehicle resources through the port expansion device.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing vehicle antenna and power resources are shared with plug-in communication systems, then ease of installation and cost are improved, but interference with OBD-II diagnostic operations may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The OBD-II port expansion device is pre-configured with dedicated terminals and connection lines for power and antenna access before the communication system is installed. This preliminary preparation enables plug-in communication systems to be easily installed without complex wiring modifications, while the pre-established separate signal paths ensure diagnostic functions remain unaffected.
Data Source
AI summary
A plug-in communication system, for implementation with a vehicle. The system in one aspect includes an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured for mounting in the vehicle to, or adjacent, an onboard diagnostics port, and an onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line extending from the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, the connection line being configured to connect the port-expansion device to one or more vehicle components. In another aspect, the system includes an inline remote-services terminal configured for wired connection inline, via a plurality of connection lines, to a remote-services module of the vehicle, a first connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the remote-services module, and a second connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the remote-services module.