Apparatus for electrically controlling device, and a method of operating it

• US 20040030459A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diana Rodriguez, Jim Henson, Michael Edmond Wilson, Richard J. Davis
• Original Assignee: Diana Rodriguez, Jim Henson, Michael Edmond Wilson, Richard J. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Richard J, Henson, Jim, Wilson, Michael Edmond, Rodriguez, Diana
• Granted Patent: US 6,826,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34436 Interface circuit build into connector, dongle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A control system for electrical devices in a vehicle has solid state output/relay (12) modules with processing and memory capability. The output/relay module (12) is programmable to store configuration data corresponding to predetermined states for the various devices to be controlled. The output/relay (12) module has memory capability including a non-volatile component (EEROM, 47). A solid state input module also has processing capability, and includes memory capability. The input module has selector switches for preselecting a variety of device states. The input module further provides a visual indication of the states for these devices. A data bus (203) provides communication between said input and output modules, and a dongle (201) is selectively connected to said relay module data bus (203) for allowing changes to the configuration data (217) stored therein. The dongale (201) is programmable from a personal computer or work station.

Claims

1. A control system for electrical devices in a vehicle and comprising:

at least one solid state output/relay module with processing and memory capability, said output relay module being programmable to store configuration data corresponding to predetermined states for the various devices to be controlled, and said memory capability including a non-volatile component (EEROM),

at least one solid state input module with processing capability, said input module having selector switches for preselecting a variety of device states, and said input module further providing a visual indication of the states for these devices,

a data bus to provide communication between said input and output modules,

at least one dongle for selective connection to said relay module data bus connection, said dongle having a dongle memory accessible by an internal identification pattern for storing configuration data, said dongle being capable when connected to said data bus of altering the configuration data stored in said non-volatile memory of said output/relay module.

2. The control system according to claim 1 further characterized by a computer selectively connected to with said dongle to vary the configuration data stored in the dongle memory, said computer including a program capable of communicating with said dongle memory via an identification procedure so that the dongle can only be so reprogrammed by on authorized computer capable of conducting a proper identification of the dongle'"'"'s identification pattern.