EP4128172A1

EP4128172A1 - An integrated electrical enclosure

Info

Publication number: EP4128172A1
Application number: EP21774275.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thatavarthi PRAKASAM SURESH; Kamali SENTHINATHAN; Datta RAJARAM SAGARAE; Babu Rengarajan
Original assignee: TVS Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: TVS Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-27
Filing date: 2021-03-26
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: EP4128172A4; CN115335875A; CN115335875B; BR112022019507A2; WO2021191931A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses an integrated electrical enclosure for a vehicle. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) has a housing (110) having a first chamber (110a) to house a diagnostic port (120), and a second chamber (110b) to house a low voltage power socket (130). Thus, the first chamber (110a) has a first opening (112a) to receive a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port (120) and a second opening to receive a multi-wire cable (160) from a vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the diagnostic port (120). Further, the second chamber (110b) has a first inlet (114a) to receive a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket (130); and a second inlet (114b) to receive at least a pair of wires from the vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the low voltage socket (120).

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

An Integrated Electrical Enclosure

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The invention relates to an integrated electrical enclosure for a diagnostic port and a low voltage power socket of a vehicle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Vehicles, such as two-wheelers, light-duty cars, trucks etc, generally include on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems provided by respective manufacturers. These diagnostic systems monitor various parameters that affect overall functioning of the vehicle and generate data for further processing.

[003] Typically, OBD systems feature a network of in-vehicle sensors that monitor the vehicle's electrical, mechanical, and emissions systems, and in response generate data that are processed by the vehicle's control unit. The data is used, for example, to detect malfunctions or deterioration in the vehicle's performance.

[004] Accordingly, the OBD systems include a standardized connector, referred to as an OBD connector’ which provides access to the data processed by the control unit. In this regard, the OBD connector is connected to a part side connector which is further connected to the vehicle wiring system. The vehicle wiring system allows data communication from the control unit to the OBD connector. A conventional scan tool can be plugged into the OBD connector to retrieve diagnostic data from the vehicle's control unit.

[005] The OBD connector is typically positioned near an engine of the vehicle. As such, ready accessibility of the OBD connector during a repair process is a persistent concern. Further, replacement and servicing of the OBD connectors requires dis-assembling multiple parts of the vehicle to gain access. Vehicles provided with electronic fuel injection (EFI) system require frequent diagnosis for correction of any faulty codes that may occur. Typically, such data are stored in electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. However, it is not always possible and preferable to access the ECU directly, which makes the positioning of the OBD connector critical in the vehicle layout. Moreover, the positioning of the OBD connector should be such that it should prevent entry of foreign particles like dust, moisture, water and pollutants.

[006] Further, advent in technology has led to a multifold increase in the number of electronic gadgets a person uses at a time. In today’s times it is highly possible that a vehicle user uses multiple electronic gadgets like, a mobile phone, an electronic watch, a tablet, an electronic book reader, etc. Since such devices run on electricity, they require frequent charging. Thus, vehicle manufacturers started providing USB chargers on the vehicles in order for the users to charge their gadgets/ devices. A typical USB charging device is separately mounted on the vehicle and connected to a part side connector. The part side connector is further connected to the vehicle wiring system to obtain and provide power supply to the USB charging device. [007] In view of the above, adding another port on the vehicle would incur additional wiring to be drawn out of the main wiring system of the vehicle. This would also require further part side connector to facilitate the connection of the port. Moreover, an additional port would also require an additional mounting structure thereby increasing manufacturing costs, assembly time etc.

[008] Hence, there is a need in the art to address at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[009] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides an integrated electrical enclosure. The integrated electrical enclosure has a housing having a first chamber to house a diagnostic port, and a second chamber to house a low voltage power socket. [010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first chamber has a first opening to receive a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port and a second opening to receive a multi-wire cable from a vehicle wiring system and connected to the diagnostic port.

[Oil] In another embodiment of the invention, the second chamber has a first inlet to receive a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket; and a second inlet to receive at least a pair of wires from the vehicle wiring system and connected to the low voltage socket.

[012] In yet another embodiment of the invention, low voltage power socket receives the pair of wires drawn from the multi-wire cable. Further, the low voltage power socket has a USB port having a buck converter connected to the pair of wires, and a USB receptacle connected to the buck converter and connectable to the plug.

[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the second chamber is configured to house the USB receptacle and the buck converter.

[014] In another embodiment of the invention, the multi-wire cable has plurality of wires, each having a first end connected to the diagnostic port, and a second end connected to a part side connector connected to the vehicle wiring system.

[015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a selectively openable and closable protection cap for the first opening of the first chamber. In another embodiment, the housing comprises a selectively openable and closable protection cap for the first opening of the second chamber. [016] In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, and a vehicle wiring system extending between the front end and the rear end. The vehicle has an integrated electrical enclosure. The enclosure has a housing and the housing has a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to house the diagnostic port and the first chamber has a first opening to receive a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port and a second opening to receive a multi-wire cable from the vehicle wiring system and connected to the diagnostic port. The second chamber configured to house the low voltage power socket and the second chamber has a first inlet to receive a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket and a second inlet to receive at least a pair of wires from the vehicle wiring system and connected to the low voltage socket.

[017] In an embodiment of the invention, the enclosure is positioned in a utility box of the vehicle or in a glove box of the vehicle or in a speedometer casing of the vehicle or on a body of the vehicle below a handle of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[018] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments. Figure 1 shows a body of a saddle type two wheeler vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2a shows positioning of an integrated electrical enclosure inside a utility box of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2b shows positioning of the enclosure below a handle of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2c shows positioning of the integrated electrical enclosure inside a glove box of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2d shows positioning of the integrated electrical enclosure inside a speedometer casing of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the integrated electrical enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows an assembled view of the integrated electrical enclosure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the wiring of the integrated electrical enclosure connected to the vehicle wiring system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the wiring of the integrated electrical enclosure connected to the vehicle wiring system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[019] The present invention discloses an integrated electrical enclosure for a diagnostic port and a low voltage power socket for a vehicle.

[020] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a saddle type vehicle 500. The vehicle 500 is a two wheeler motor vehicle which seats two persons. The vehicle 500 has a front end 200 and a rear end 300, and between the front end 200 and the rear end 300 extends a wiring system (not shown in

Figure 1) of the vehicle 500. The vehicle 500 has a floor board 540 which acts as a foot rest for a rider. On rear end 300, the vehicle 500 has a rear tail light 530. As shown in Figures 1 and 2b, in an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle 500 has an integrated electrical enclosure 100 positioned on rear side of the front cover 510 of the vehicle 500, typically below a handle (not shown) of the vehicle 500. In various embodiments of the present invention, and as shown in Figures 2a, 2c and 2d, the enclosure 100 is positioned in a utility box of the vehicle 500, or in a glove box of the vehicle 500, or on a speedometer casing of the vehicle 500.

[021] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the integrated electrical enclosure 100 has a housing 110. The housing 110 is configured to house a diagnostic port 120 and a low voltage power socket 130. In this regard, the housing has a first chamber 110a configured to receive the diagnostic port 120 and a second chamber 110b configured to receive the low voltage power socket 130. The first chamber 110a and the second chamber 110b are configured in accordance with respective morphologies of the components being housed in each of the chambers. Thus, the components being housed in the housing 110, completely reside inside the respective chambers of the housing 110. Therefore, as seen in the Figures 3, 4 and 6, the outer morphologies of the first chamber 110a and the second chamber 110b are also different from each other.

[022] The diagnostic port 120 housed in the first chamber 110a of the housing 110 is connected to a control unit of the vehicle 500 by a vehicle wiring system 400. The control unit monitors various performance parameters of the vehicle and provides related data to the diagnostic port 120 through the vehicle wiring system 400. In this regard, the diagnostic port 130 is connected to the vehicle wiring system 400 by a multi-wire cable 160. Accordingly, the first chamber 110a has a first opening 112a and a second opening (not shown). The first opening 112a receives a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port 120 and the second opening receives the multi-wire cable 160 from the vehicle wiring system 400.

[023] Typically and as shown in Figure 5, a main network of wirings comprising of multi-wire cables which is harnessed, referred to as the vehicle wiring system 400, extends from the front end 200 of the vehicle 500 to the rear end 300 of the vehicle 500. This harnessed vehicle wiring system 400 is then made to desirably branch out, i.e. a plurality of wires from the vehicle wiring system 400 are made to branch out and further harnessed and connected to the various components of the vehicle 500. In an embodiment of the invention, the wires branching out from the vehicle wiring system is a multi-wire cable. Accordingly, the branched out main wiring 400 is connected to wiring side connectors 410. Typically, vehicles have multiple wiring side connecters. Thus, the wiring side connector 410 essentially is a group of multiple ports. The various components of the vehicle 500 are thus connected to these ports of the wiring side connector 410 through their respective part side connectors, in order to be connected to the main wiring 400. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a first end 160a of the multi-wire cable 160 is connected to the diagnostic port 120 and a second end 160b of the multi-wire cable 160 is connected to a part side connector 170. Thus the diagnostic connector 130 is connected to the vehicle wiring system 400 of the vehicle.

[024] In order to retrieve the vehicle performance data, the diagnostic adaptor is received through the first opening 112a of the first chamber 110a, and is connected to the diagnostic port 120. The diagnostic port 120 would then transmit all data received from the control unit of the vehicle 500. In an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnostic port 120 is an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) connector. In another embodiment, the OBD connector uses a 6-pole connector being, a power supply, a ground line, a CAN high line, a CAN low line, a test switch and a K-Line.

[025] Further, referring to Figure 3, the enclosure 100 has a low voltage power socket 130.

Accordingly, the low voltage power socket 130 completely resides in the second chamber 110b of the housing 110. The user would typically connect a plug to the low voltage power socket 130. In this regard, the second chamber 110b has a first inlet 114a and a second inlet 114b. The first inlet 114a receives a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket. In an embodiment of the present invention, the low voltage power socket 130 is a USB port. Accordingly, as seen in Figure 3, the USB port 130 has a USB receptacle 130a and a buck converter 130b. The USB receptacle 130a is essentially a female connecter and has a front end and a rear end. The front end receives a male USB connector, wherein the male USB connector is connected to an external electronic device. The rear end of the USB receptacle 130a is connected to the buck converter 130b. The buck converter 130b receives a high DC voltage from wires connected to it (explained hereinunder) and steps down to a lower DC voltage. The lower DC voltage is desired in order to charge the external electronic device. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the USB receptacle 130a receives power from the buck converter 130b and transmits the power to the male USB connector of the external electronic device thereby charging the external electronic device. In a further embodiment, the buck converter steps down 12V (received from battery of the vehicle 500) to 5V in order to charge the external electronic device plugged into the USB receptacle 130a. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply and ground line are common for both the diagnostic port 120 of the ON Board Diagnostic (OBD) connector and the USB port 130.

[026] In an embodiment of the invention, the USB port 130 is connected to the part side connector 170 (and subsequently to the main wiring 400 of the vehicle) by the multi-wire cable 160. Thus, the second inlet 114b of the second chamber 110b receives at least a pair / plurality of wires from the vehicle wiring system 400 and connected to the low voltage power socket 130. In an embodiment of the invention, the low voltage power socket 130 receives the pair of wires drawn from the multi wire cable 160. In another embodiment, the plurality of wires required to power the USB port 130 are drawn out of the multi-wire cable 160 which is connected to the diagnostic port 120 and are connected to the USB port 130. Further, in an embodiment, the placement of the diagnostic port 120 and the USB port 130 adjacent to each other within the enclosure 100 ensures that the data transfer through wireless communication between the diagnostic port 120 and any external electronic device can be achieved while, the external electronic device is being charged through the USB port 130. [027] Referring to Figure 3, the enclosure 100 has a masking member 140. The masking member 140 is received on the first chamber 110a and the second chamber 110b of the housing 100. The masking member 140 is configured to circumferentially mask each of the components residing inside the housing 110, i.e. the diagnostic port 120 and the low voltage power socket 130; thereby having a hollow space for each of the aforementioned components allowing an access by a user. The masking member 140 thus prevents undesired external matter like dust, moisture, pollutants, etc. from entering the housing 110. [028] Further, in an embodiment of the invention, the housing 110 has a protection cap 150. The protection cap 150 has a bushing 150a which receives the protection cap 150. Accordingly, the bushing 150a sits circumferentially around the masking member 140 in order to receive the protection cap 150. The protection cap 150 is thus received on top of the housing 110 and thereby completely covers the respective components of the enclosure 100 i.e. the diagnostic port 120 or the low voltage power socket 130 or both. In an embodiment of the invention, the housing 110 has a selectively openable and closeable protection cap for the first opening 112a of the first chamber 110a. In another embodiment, the housing 110 has a selectively openable and closeable protection cap 150 for the first inlet 114a of the second chamber 110b. Thus, the protection cap 150 further prevents the undesired external matter like dust, moisture, pollutants, etc. from entering the housing 110.

[029] Advantageously, the enclosure of the present invention requires a single part side connector to be connected to the main wiring of the vehicle, thereby saving the use of additional part side connectors. Further, owing to the configuration of the enclosure, the enclosure and thus the diagnostic port and the low voltage power socket can be positioned on any desired location of the vehicle thereby saving space. Furthermore, owing to the configuration and the position of the enclosure of the present invention, the enclosure provides easy accessibility to user. Additionally, the enclosure of the present invention also provides an easy access to the vehicle manufacturers at the time of servicing and / or replacement. Also, owing to a single integrated electrical enclosure for the diagnostic port and the low voltage power socket, assembly time for mounting such port and socket will be reduced.

[030] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An integrated electrical enclosure (100) comprising: a housing (110) having a first chamber (110a) to house a diagnostic port (120), said housing (110) having a second chamber (110b) to house a low voltage power socket (130).

2. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first chamber (110a) comprises a first opening (112a) to receive a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port (120) and a second opening to receive a multi-wire cable (160) from a vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the diagnostic port (120).

3. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second chamber (110b) comprises a first inlet (114a) to receive a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket (130); and a second inlet (114b) to receive at least a pair of wires from the vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the low voltage socket (120).

4. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the low voltage power socket (130) receives the pair of wires drawn from the multi-wire cable (160).

5. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the low voltage power socket (130) comprises a USB port having a buck converter (130b) connected to the pair of wires, and a USB receptacle (130a) connected to the buck converter (130b) and connectable to the plug.

6. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second chamber (110b) is configured to house (110) the USB receptacle (130a) and the buck converter (130b).

7. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the multi-wire cable (160) comprises plurality of wires, each having a first end (160a) connected to the diagnostic port (120), and a second end (160b) connected to a part side connector (170) connected to the vehicle wiring system (400).

8. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (110) comprises a selectively openable and closable protection cap (150) for the first opening (112a) of the first chamber (110a).

9. The integrated electrical enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (110) comprises a selectively openable and closable protection cap (150) for the first inlet (114a) of the second chamber (110b).

10. A motor vehicle (500) having a front end (200), a rear end (300), and a vehicle wiring system (400) extending between the front end (200) and the rear end (300), the vehicle (500) comprising an integrated electrical enclosure (100), the enclosure (100) comprising: a housing (110) having a first chamber (110a) to house the diagnostic port (120), the first chamber (110a) having a first opening (112a) to receive a diagnostic adapter connectable to the diagnostic port (120) and a second opening to receive a multi-wire cable (160) from the vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the diagnostic port (120); said housing (110) having a second chamber (110b) to house the low voltage power socket (130), the second chamber (110b) having a first inlet (114a) to receive a plug connectable to the low voltage power socket (130) and a second inlet (114b) to receive at least a pair of wires from the vehicle wiring system (400) and connected to the low voltage socket (120).

11. The motor vehicle (500) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the enclosure (100) is positioned in a utility box of the vehicle (500).

12. The motor vehicle (500) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the enclosure (100) is positioned in a glove box of the vehicle (500).

13. The motor vehicle (500) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the enclosure (100) is positioned in a speedometer casing of the vehicle (500).