Patent Application
20110230082
The present invention relates generally to a jumping connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a jumping connector that jump pins in an electrical device such as an data link connector in vehicle.
Many electrical devices includes pins for various connections. Once such connection is included in OBD-II (on-board diagnostic) which is present in vehicles that are 1996 or newer and is used to assist a technician to service as vehicle. The technician connects to the OBD-II through the data link connector (DLC) in the vehicle. The DLC has 16 pins that are used for a variety of function and signals from the various engine control unit (ECU) that are part of the BOD-II.
In order to test certain functionality in a vehicle, such as activating a tire pressure monitoring system, the technician must provide a connection to connect certain pins together in order to activate the desired functionality. However, the ECU's location makes it difficult for the technician to connect the proper pins together, thus can lead to errors in the diagnosis because the desired functionality was not activated.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus that will provide the correct jumper connections for the activation of the desired functionality in an electronic device such as a vehicle.
The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in some embodiments that allows for jumping of pin connections in an electrical device.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a jumper connector is provided, which can include a handle at a first end of the jumper connector, an interface at a second end of the jumper connector, a body positioned between the interface and the handle, and a wire located partially in the interface and configured to jump at least two pin connections in a vehicle data link connector.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of jumping pins in a vehicle data connector is provided, which can include the steps of determining a functionality of a vehicle to activate, determining which pins to jump in order to activate the functionality, attaching a jumper connector having a wire configured to jump the determined pins, and activating the functionality in the vehicle.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a jumper connector is provided, which can include a means for gripping at a first end of the jumper connector, a means for interfacing at a second end of the jumper connector, a means for housing positioned between the means for interfacing and the means for gripping, and a means for connecting located partially in the means for interfacing and configured to jump at least two pin connections in a vehicle data link connector.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a jumper connector is provided, which can include a handle at a first end of the jumper connector, an interface at a second end of the jumper connector, a body positioned between the interface and the handle, and a wire located partially in the interface and configured to jump at least two pin connections in an electrical device.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a jumper connector is provided, which can include a handle at a first end of the jumper connector, an interface at a second end of the jumper connector, a body positioned between the interface and the handle, and a plurality of dip switches located partially in the interface and the handle, the plurality of dip switches are configured to jump at least two pin connections in a vehicle data link connector.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method and apparatus that will correctly connect the desired pin connections in order to activate the desired functionality for testing by the technician. Although in the embodiments discussed below are for OBD-II pins connections, any desired jumper connection with pins or the like is also contemplated by the invention.
In another embodiment, the handle may be colored or otherwise designated by other conventions (numbered, handle shape) so that the technician will know what pins are being jumped by a particular jumper connector 100. A chart may be created for use with the convention so that the technician can know exactly the connections being jumped by the jumper connector 100. This way, the technician can easily scan a drawer (where the jumper connectors may be stored) full of jumper connectors 100 and quickly pick the desired jumper connector 100. In other embodiments, the convention desired can be applied to other portions of the jumper connector or to only that part, such as the body 120 or the interface 130.
In one embodiment, the body 120 is generally larger than the handle 110 and can contain a portion of or all of the jumper portion (see
The interface 130 is constructed and designed to fit a complementary interface to which it will be connected to. In this embodiment, the interface 130 is designed to connect to the DLC (not shown) of a vehicle. The interface 130 includes a tab portion 132 to assist the interface 130 to frictionally fit with the DLC.
The interface 130 includes a jumper connection in the form of male pins 134 and 136 connected together via a wire 138 (
Some examples of the functionality that can be activated can include jumping pins 4 & 8 to clear or check DTC (diagnostic trouble code) and pins 4 & 12 to activate test mode procedure for vehicle stability control system. Once the jumper connector is connected to the DLC, then the desired testing can take place.
In operation, the technician can determine which functionality in the vehicle he wants to test. Then he can determine which pins that need to be jumped in the DLC in order for that functionality to activate. He then can select the proper jumper connector designated by a convention such as a colored handle. Once the correct jumper connector is selected it can be connected with the DLC and the desired pins on the DLC is jumped. With the pins on the DLC is jumped, then the functionality is activated and can be tested.
When the dip switch is in the bottom portion or the inactive state, the corresponding pin in the interface 130 is not active or connected to another pin. When the dip switch is moved to the top portion or the active state, the corresponding pin is in position to be connected to another pin. Thus, in order to connect two pins in the DLC, the corresponding dip switch can be moved into the top portion of the handle while the remaining dip switches remain in the bottom portion of the handle. For example, if the technician wants to jump connections 11 and 15 in the DLC, then he can move the corresponding dip switches to make the jump.
In an alternative embodiment, the jumper connector 100 can have a preventive mechanism that only allows for two dip switches to move into the upper portion of the handle or the active state. With this preventive mechanism, only two pins can be jumped instead of three or more. This will prevent damage to the vehicle that can be caused by having more than two pins being jumped. In another embodiment, the dip switch in the upper portion can be the inactive state while the dip switch in the lower portion can be the active state.
In this embodiment with the dip switches, the jumper connector 100 can be made to be more universal so that less jumper connectors will be needed per garage or per garage bay.
In operation, as above, the technician can determine which functionality in the vehicle he wants to test. Then he can determine which pins that need to be jumped in the DLC in order for that functionality to activate. He then can select the proper dip switches to move into position in order to be active. Once the correct dip switches are moved into the active position, it can be connected with the DLC and the desired pins on the DLC is jumped. With the pins on the DLC is jumped, then the functionality is activated and can be tested.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
