Modular power control apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle assembly for use with a modular power control apparatus and a plurality of peripheral devices with the peripheral devices controlling one or more features of the vehicle assembly, said vehicle assembly comprising;
- a support structure adapted to be mounted within said vehicle assembly;
a housing secured to said support structure;
a plurality of modules supported by said housing;
a connection port extending from each of said modules for electrically connecting each module to an associated peripheral device;
an interface module supported by said housing and having a communication processor to selectively interface with said plurality of modules for routing data to an appropriate module and peripheral device;
a data communication cable connected to said interface module and disposed outside of said housing for transferring data between said interface module and anyone of a variety of devices within said vehicle assembly; and
a power source connected to said housing;
said vehicle assembly characterized by a modular connector supported by said housing and electrically connected to said power source, said modular connector including a plurality of identical slots, said plurality of modules and said interface module being electrically connected to any one of said identical slots to transfer data between said modules and to provide electrical power to at least one of said modules, thereby facilitating communication with the peripheral devices and providing electrical power to at least one of the peripheral devices within said vehicle assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular power control apparatus for use with a plurality of peripheral devices. A plurality of modules, which connect to the peripheral devices, are supported by a housing. An interface module is supported by the housing to selectively interface with the plurality of modules for routing data to an appropriate module and peripheral device. A data communication cable is connected to the interface module for transferring data between the interface module and anyone of a variety of devices. A power source is also connected to the housing. The vehicle assembly is characterized by a modular connector supported by the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The modular connector includes a plurality of identical slots with the plurality of modules and the interface module being electrically connected to any one of the identical slots to transfer data between the modules and to provide electrical power to at least one of the modules, thereby facilitating communication with the peripheral devices and providing electrical power to at least one of the peripheral devices within the vehicle assembly.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A vehicle assembly for use with a modular power control apparatus and a plurality of peripheral devices with the peripheral devices controlling one or more features of the vehicle assembly, said vehicle assembly comprising;
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a support structure adapted to be mounted within said vehicle assembly;
a housing secured to said support structure;
a plurality of modules supported by said housing;
a connection port extending from each of said modules for electrically connecting each module to an associated peripheral device;
an interface module supported by said housing and having a communication processor to selectively interface with said plurality of modules for routing data to an appropriate module and peripheral device;
a data communication cable connected to said interface module and disposed outside of said housing for transferring data between said interface module and anyone of a variety of devices within said vehicle assembly; and
a power source connected to said housing;
said vehicle assembly characterized by a modular connector supported by said housing and electrically connected to said power source, said modular connector including a plurality of identical slots, said plurality of modules and said interface module being electrically connected to any one of said identical slots to transfer data between said modules and to provide electrical power to at least one of said modules, thereby facilitating communication with the peripheral devices and providing electrical power to at least one of the peripheral devices within said vehicle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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29. A modular power control apparatus for use with a plurality of peripheral devices, said apparatus comprising;
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a housing;
a plurality of modules supported by said housing;
a connection port extending from each of said modules for electrically connecting each module to an associated peripheral device;
an interface module supported by said housing and having a communication processor to selectively interface with said plurality of modules for routing data to an appropriate module and peripheral device;
a data communication cable connected to said interface module and disposed outside of said housing for transferring data between said interface module and anyone of a variety of devices; and
a power source connected to said housing;
said apparatus characterized by a modular connector supported by said housing and electrically connected to said power source, said modular connector including a plurality of identical slots, said plurality of modules and said interface module being electrically connected to any one of said identical slots to transfer data between said modules and to provide electrical power to at least one of said modules, thereby facilitating communication with the peripheral devices and providing electrical power to at least one of the peripheral devices.
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41. A modular data communication system comprising;
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a housing;
a plurality of modules supported by said housing;
a connection port extending from each of said modules;
an interface module supported by said housing and having a communication processor to selectively interface with said plurality of modules for routing data to an appropriate module;
a modular connector supported by said housing and electrically connected to each of said modules for transferring data between said modules;
a data communication cable connected to said interface module and disposed outside of said housing for transferring data between said interface module and anyone of a variety of devices; and
a plurality of peripheral devices with each of said peripheral devices electrically connected to said connection port of an associated module wherein said peripheral devices communicate with said interface module through said associated module and said modular connector;
said system characterized by at least one of said peripheral devices also being directly connected to said data communication cable independent from said connection to said associated module such that said at least one peripheral device communicates directly with said data communication cable outside of said housing independent of said interface module. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification