Universal Transceiver for Vehicle Diagnostic Port Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnostic tools face challenges in adapting to the diverse electrical properties and protocols of vehicle diagnostic sockets, requiring numerous connection configurations and interfaces, which leads to complexity and potential interference, especially with the need for flexible and high-frequency signal handling.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostic tool equipped with a universal transceiver connected to a digital multiplexer and data communication control block, allowing for direct signal processing and adaptable configuration via programmable function blocks, such as driver, load, filter, and trigger blocks, to manage different communication interfaces efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple individual transceivers are provided for different physical interfaces, then compatibility with various vehicle interfaces is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of transceivers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal transceiver that can be configured to support multiple different physical interfaces (ISO9141-K-Line, CAN, J1850 Bus, LIN) through programmable function blocks. Instead of providing separate dedicated transceivers for each interface type, a single universal transceiver is used that can adapt its electrical characteristics and communication protocols via software configuration, thereby reducing the total number of transceiver components while maintaining broad interface compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The universal transceiver achieves interface adaptation by dynamically changing its electrical parameters through configurable function blocks. The driver block adjusts voltage levels and signal characteristics, the load block modifies electrical resistance, and the filter block tunes frequency responses to match different interface specifications. This parameter-based configuration allows one transceiver to emulate multiple interface types without requiring hardware changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If an analog multiplexer is used to switch signal paths between OBD pins and transceivers, then flexibility in interface assignment is improved, but signal loss and parasitic capacitance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal path flexibilityVSAvoidsignal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the analog multiplexer with a digital multiplexer that operates in the digital domain rather than the analog domain. This substitution eliminates the signal path through analog switches and their associated parasitic capacitances and resistances. The digital multiplexer routes digital signals between the universal transceiver and data communication control blocks without introducing the signal degradation problems inherent in analog switching, thereby improving signal quality while maintaining routing flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional switches are added to the multiplexer for each interface, then interface coverage is improved, but parallel capacitance and frequency response degradation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface coverageVSAvoidfrequency response

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the switching function from the analog signal path and relocates it to the digital domain. By removing the analog multiplexer and its associated switches from the signal path, the harmful parallel capacitances are eliminated. The switching function is retained but implemented digitally, where it does not introduce the same parasitic effects that degrade frequency response, thus maintaining interface coverage without sacrificing speed performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2605230B1Diagnosis tool for connection to a vehicle diagnosis port

Publication Date: 2020.02.19 AVL DITEST

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AI summary

The tool has a universal transceiver (USTn) connected with a pin of a diagnosis plug (2) through a signal line (15), where the tool is realized as a communication interface. The transceiver comprises a configurable driver block (11) for adjusting an electrical high level and/or an electrical low level of the signal line. The transceiver comprises a configurable load block (12) for adjusting electrical resistance between the signal line and the reference voltage and/or between the signal line and the ground.