The present invention generally refers to an On-board diagnostic device for vehicles.

More particularly, the invention relates to an on-board diagnostic device of the type comprising an OBD ("On-Board Diagnostics") connector, which is suitable to be coupled, in use, to an OBD diagnostic socket present aboard of a motor vehicle, for example a car, a boat or the like.

The abovementioned on-board diagnostic devices are typically referred to as OBD or E-OBD or OBD-II or JOBD diagnostic modules as they are configured to meet certain technical-functional specifications established by noted vehicle diagnostic standards such as General On-Board Diagnostic Standard OBD (OBD), European On-Board Diagnostic Specification (E-OBD), OBD-II Specification Standard adopted in the USA or the JOBD Specific Diagnostic Standard adopted in Asia.

The OBD diagnostic device is generally placed below the instrument panel and steering wheel and is used for connecting an external electronic vehicle diagnostic instrument, which is able to access, through an OBD diagnostic port, various information and/or data of the vehicle based on the signals generated by the various sensors and/or control devices present in the vehicle; such instruments acquire and/or store vehicle data contained in the on-board electronic control unit and, if necessary, transmit them to an electronic diagnosis system located outside the vehicle via a wireless communication.

The on-board diagnostic port is built according to the standard OBD data communication standard, which establishes the shape and dimensions of the connector casing, the number and positioning of the pins in the connector and the communication protocols to be used to communicate with the electronic control system of the vehicle, through the pins of the OBD port itself.

Portable diagnostic devices are also known, which are miniaturized devices, having a small size compared to the traditional vehicle diagnostic instruments described above.

Figure 1 shows an OBD diagnostic device of a known type substantially of a mono-block 1 , which comprises an outer casing 2, an electronic module 3 arranged inside the casing 2 to perform diagnostic functions for acquisition, storage and communication of vehicle data and an OBD connector 4 capable of being connected to a vehicle OBD port (not shown); the OBD connector 4 is provided with a socket 5 transversely to a reference axis W and a series of pins 6 that are disposed on the socket 5 and inside a trapezoidal collar 8 so as to form two parallel rows and which are lying on a common plane in equidistant positions between them.

The electronic module 3 comprises one or more electronic board 10 that extends from the inner face 9 of the socket 5 and that they are disposed on respective parallel planes corresponding to the planes of arrangement of the rows of pins 6, in such a way that the perimeter each side of the electronic board 10 is placed on the inner face 9 of the socket 5.

However, the management of a number always increasing of services determines the necessity to insert in the OBD device a whole series of equipment, such as a data collecting module, a power supply, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a data processing unit, a SIM module and a series of antennas for remote data communication.

This results in considerable OBD problems, considering further that the device in question should be placed at a certain and limited distance from the steering of the vehicle in accordance with the regulations in force. In particular, the critical components constituted by the transmission antennas (GPS, Bluetooth®, GPRS, etc.) cause significant problems of space, with the consequence that it is more problematic to individualize a convenient seat and accessible within the vehicle for the installation of said OBD device.

Additionally, the increased of the volume of size inside the vehicle's cabin may result in damage due to accidental shocks caused by the driver and/or vibrations or stresses generated by the vehicle during motion.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an On-board diagnostic device for vehicles, which has a reduced overall size while retaining all the required features.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an On-board diagnostic device for vehicles, particularly efficient and reliable vehicles as well as robust and multifunctional.

These and other purposes are achieved by means of an On-board diagnostic device for vehicles according to claim 1 ; other detail features of the an On-board diagnostic device for vehicles, according to the present invention, are present in the further dependent claims.

The objects and advantages mentioned above will be more apparent from the following description, relating to a preferred embodiment of the on- board diagnostic device, which is the object of the present invention, provided by way of illustration and by way of example, but not limitative, and on the basis of the attached drawings , in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of an On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles of a known type;

- figure 2 is a first perspective view of an On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles according to the present invention;

- figure 3 is a second perspective view of the On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles according to the present invention;

- figure 4 is a first exploded perspective view of the On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles according to the present invention;

- figure 5 is a second exploded perspective view of the On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles according to the present invention.

With particular reference to figures 2 to 5, the On-board diagnostic device OBD for vehicles according to the present invention is composed of a first portion 11 which is electrically coupled to a second portion 12.

In particular, the first portion 11 presents a connector with a determined number of pins to be inserted in an OBD port of the vehicle for communicating with the electronic control system of said vehicle; such that, the portion 11 is connected directly to the control units of the vehicle from which the signals to be detected and to be processed come and can be positioned within an appropriate OBD port provided in the vehicle's cabin (via a series of spring loaded 17).

In addition, the second portion 12 can be mechanically and electrically associated to the first portion 11 or can be separated from the first portion 11 and connected to said first portion 11 by means of a power supply and data transmission cable.

In specific, the first portion 11 contains the data collecting circuits from the control units of the vehicle, a power supply device, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope, while the second portion 12 comprises data processing units and signals from the vehicle and the signal transmission antennas, such as telephone antennas, GPS, GPRS and / or Bluetooth® communication antennas.

In the case where the housing seat provided within the vehicle cabin allows it, it is possible to assemble the two portions 11 , 12 together by means of lateral(tabs) mechanical snap connections 13, provided in the second portion 12, which are inserted in respective lateral housings 14 of the first portion 11.

In this case, the electrical connection and the transmission of the data between the two portions 11 , 12 is ensured by a series of contacts spring 15 provided in the lower surface of the portion 12 and adapted to engage in respective seats 16 of the portion 11.

Alternatively, in the case of size problems in the assembling together the two portions 11 , 12, said portions 11 , 12 can be separated and interconnected between each other by means of a cable able to transmit the power supply and data from the portion 11 to the portion 12.

In this way, it is possible to house the portion 11 in the appropriate seat provided within the vehicle's cabin and systemize the portion 12 even at a distance using the connecting cable in supply; moreover, in this case, the portion 12 can be housed and/or secured in correspondence to another seat of the vehicle's cabin (also located remotely from the housing of the portion 11) by means of any device and/or system fastening, adhesive, Velcro®, etc.

By virtue of the foregoing, it is understood that the on-board diagnostic device for vehicles, which is the object of the present invention, achieves the aims and realizes the above-mentioned advantages.

In particular, the subdivision of the device (which is traditionally constituted by a mono-block) in two portions, which can be assembled and joined, in a way removable between them, as well as separated between them and electrically connected via a cable of transmission of the power supply and data, consents to house the entire device within an appropriate OBD port provided in the vehicle's cabin (in the case the seat is capable of accommodating the device) or, in the case in which it encounters problems of size in the inserting of the entire device within said OBD port, to house a first portion of the device within the OBD port, and to systemize another portion of the device (electrically connected to the first one) in other seats and/or neighboring housing of the cabin.

Finally, it is clear that numerous other variants can be made to the diagnostic device in question without departing from the principles of novelty embodied in the inventive idea herein, as is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the materials, shapes and the dimensions of the illustrated details can be any, as needed, and replaced with other equivalents.