초록 ▼

An apparatus and method is provided that allows a user to record events in a vehicle via a vehicle data recorder in the latest communication protocols, such as Controller Area Network. The vehicle data recorder can record data from the event when a trigger button is actuated by the user and the CAN

An apparatus and method is provided that allows a user to record events in a vehicle via a vehicle data recorder in the latest communication protocols, such as Controller Area Network. The vehicle data recorder can record data from the event when a trigger button is actuated by the user and the CAN communication can be controlled by the CAN controller. After the data is recorded, it can transferred to a host workstation, where the user can analyze the data from the event and diagnose the problem causing the event.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle data recorder, comprising: a first connector that communicates with a vehicle's computer and relays data to and from a vehicle; a processor that controls vehicle data recorder functions; a memory in communication with the processor to store a recorded data; at least

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle data recorder, comprising: a first connector that communicates with a vehicle's computer and relays data to and from a vehicle; a processor that controls vehicle data recorder functions; a memory in communication with the processor to store a recorded data; at least one communication protocol controller, wherein the at least one communication protocol controller includes a CAN controller for CAN protocol communication with the vehicle's computer; a second connector that communicates with a host workstation to transfer the recorded data from the vehicle data recorder to the host workstation, wherein the processor controls the vehicle data recorder functions to at least one of recording data for a predetermined period of time, recording data when a trigger button is actuated by a user, and recording data for a period of time before and after the trigger is actuated by the user; an option card in communication with the at least one communication protocol controller and configured to enable the vehicle data recorder to support new communication protocols, wherein the option card further comprises new protocol transceivers which communicate in the new communications protocols; and a power source connector for receiving an external power to power the vehicle data recorder and to the option card. 2. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1, further comprising: a trigger button to initiate data recording by the vehicle data recorder, the trigger button communicates with the processor; a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that simulate circuits and communicates with the processor and memory, wherein the option card is configured to update configurations of the FPGA; a vehicle I/O that communicates in different communication protocols. 3. The vehicle data recorder of claim 2, further comprising: a first board having a vehicle I/O, a real time clock and at least one interface connector; and a second board having the processor, the FPGA, the memory and the at least one communication protocol controller, wherein the first and second boards communicate with each other via a board to board connector. 4. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a J1962 male connector. 5. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication protocol controller controls communication hardware selected from a group consisting of J1850, UART, ISO 9141, GMLAN, Vehicle SCI and other communication protocol hardware. 6. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1, wherein the second connector is a RJ-45 jack. 7. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1 further comprising a trigger button having a LED incorporated therein, wherein the trigger button can initiate and terminate the data recording. 8. The vehicle data recorder of claim 1, wherein the host workstation is a computing device that is one of personal computer, a personal digital assistant and a scan tool. 9. A method of communicating data from a vehicle, comprising: connecting a first connector of a vehicle data recorder to a vehicle's computer; controlling CAN communication protocol with a CAN controller; communicating data via CAN protocol; actuating a trigger button to start recording data from an event; recording the data of the event; illuminating the trigger button with a LED; actuating the trigger button a second time to stop recording data from the event; storing data of the event on a memory; updating the vehicle data recorder with new communication protocols using an option card in communication with the CAN controller, wherein the option card further comprises new protocol transceivers which communicate in the new communications protocols; and receiving external power to the vehicle data recorder and to the option card via a power source connector. 10. The method of communicating of claim 9, further comprising of connecting a second connector to a host workstation and transferring the data from the event to the host workstation for analysis by a user. 11. The method of communicating of claim 9, wherein controlling CAN communication is further done via GMLAN, a vehicle I/O, and a processor. 12. The method of communicating of claim 10 further comprising of analyzing the data from the event to diagnose a problem in the vehicle. 13. A vehicle data recorder system, comprising: means for connecting to a vehicle's computer and relaying data to and from a vehicle; means for processing that controls vehicle data recorder functions; means for storing data that communicates with the means for processing and stores recorded data; means for controlling communication protocol, wherein the means for controlling controls CAN communication protocol with the vehicle's computer; means for connecting to a computing means that transfer data from the vehicle data recorder to the computing means, wherein the means for processing is configured to control the vehicle data recorder functions to at least one of recording data for a predetermined period of time, recording data when a trigger button is actuated by a user, and recording data for a period of time before and after the trigger is actuated by the user; means for communicating with the means for controlling communication protocol, which enables the vehicle data recorder to support new communication protocols, wherein the means for communicating comprises new protocol transceivers which communicate in the new communications protocols; and means for power for receiving an external power to power the vehicle data recorder and to the means for communicating. 14. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13 further comprising: means for actuating that initiates data recording by the vehicle data recorder, the means for actuating communicates with the means for processing; programmable logic means that simulate circuits and communicates with the means for processing and means for storing; and means for interfacing that communicates in different communication protocols. 15. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13 further comprising: first means for connecting components having means for interfacing, a real time clock and at least one interface connector; and second means for connecting components having the means for processing, a programmable logic means, the means for storing data, and the means for controlling communication protocol, wherein the first and second means for connecting communicate with each other via a board to board connector. 16. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13, wherein the means for connecting to a vehicle's computer is a J1962 male connector. 17. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13, wherein means for controlling communication protocol controls communication hardware selected from a group consisting of J1850, UART, ISO 9141, GMLAN, Vehicle SCI and other communication protocol hardware. 18. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13, wherein the means for connecting to the computing means is a RJ-45 jack. 19. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13 further comprising means for actuating having a LED incorporated therein, wherein the means for actuating can initiate and terminate recoding of the data. 20. The vehicle data recorder system of claim 13, wherein the computing means is one of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant and a scan tool. 21. A vehicle data recorder, comprising: a first connector that communicates with a vehicle's computer and relays data to and from a vehicle; a processor that controls vehicle data recorder functions; a memory in communication with the processor to store a recorded data; a CAN controller for CAN protocol communication with the vehicle's computer; a second connector that communicates with a host workstation to transfer the data from the vehicle data recorder to the host workstation; a trigger button to initiate data recording by the vehicle data recorder, the trigger button communicates with the processor; a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that simulates circuits, assist in controlling the vehicle data recorder and communicates with the processor and the memory; a vehicle I/O that communicates in different communication protocols; and an option card that communicates with the CAN controller and enables the vehicle data recorder to support new communication protocols, wherein the option card further comprises new protocol transceivers which communicate in the new communications protocols; and a power source connector for receiving an external power to power the vehicle data recorder and to the option card.