System and method of detecting and particularly identifying controlled devices

• US 20040224557A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Wight, Barbara Jane
• Application Number:
  US10/701,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224557A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21039 Slaves, modules in daisy chain, each handles control data, transmits to next
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21049 Poll and detect connected I-O modules, address terminator, address line high

Abstract

A system and method of ensuring multiple devices, which are connected in series with a controller, can be detected by and particularly identified by the controller.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a controller;

a wiring harness including a first plurality of electrical couplings connected in series with the controller, a first one of the first plurality of electrical couplings being located along the harness closest to the controller, and a last one of the first plurality of electrical couplings being located along the harness furthest from the controller; and

a plurality of devices electrically connected via the wiring harness to the controller, each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to a respective one of the first plurality of electrical couplings via a corresponding one of a second plurality of electrical couplings;

wherein sequential electrical connection of the corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical couplings with the first through the last ones of the first plurality of electrical couplings increases a closed path of detected and identified devices, as recognized with the controller.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a non-sequential electrical connection of the corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical couplings with the first through the last ones of the first plurality of electrical couplings opens the closed path.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the devices are neither detected nor identified by the controller.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of electrical couplings are substantially identical, and each of the second plurality of electrical couplings are substantially identical.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices are substantially identical.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the controller uniquely identifies each of the plurality of devices based on the position in the sequence of electrical connections between each of the second plurality of electrical couplings with the first through the last ones of the first plurality of electrical couplings.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first plurality of electrical couplings and each corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical couplings comprise at least three electrical contacts arranged in a common pattern.

8. A climate control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller directing airflow to at least one of a footwell, interior vents and a windshield defroster;

a wiring harness including a first plurality of electrical couplings connected in series with the controller, a first one of the first plurality of electrical couplings being located along the harness closest to the controller, and a last one of the first plurality of electrical couplings being located along the harness furthest from the controller; and

a plurality of devices electrically connected via the wiring harness to the controller, each of the plurality of devices being electrically connected to a respective one of the first plurality of electrical couplings via a corresponding one of a second plurality of electrical couplings;

wherein sequential electrical connection of the corresponding one of the second plurality of electrical couplings with the first through the last ones of the first plurality of electrical couplings increases a closed path of detected and identified devices, as recognized with the controller.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices comprises first, second and third actuators, the first actuator diverting at least a portion of the airflow to the footwell, the second actuator diverting at least a portion of the airflow to the interior vents, and the third actuator diverting at least a portion of the airflow to the windshield defroster, and the first, second and third actuators being substantially identical.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller selects at least one of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.

11. A method of assembling a system including a controller, a wiring harness having at least two electrically open ports connected in series with the controller, and at least two devices, the method comprising:

identifying with the controller a first one of the devices when an electrical connection via a first one of the ports creates a closed path; and

identifying with the controller a second one of the devices when an electrical connection via a second one of the ports expands the closed path.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the identifying the first one of the devices consists of electrically connecting in the closed path:

the controller; and

the first one of the devices, the first one of the devices closing the first one of the ports that is located along the harness closest to the controller; and

wherein the identifying the second one of the devices consists of electrically connecting in the closed path;

the controller,

the first one of the devices closing the first one of the ports; and

the second one of the devices, the second one of the devices closing the second one of the electrical ports that is located along the harness second closest to the controller.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the identifying with the controller the second one of the devices follows the identifying with the controller the first one of the devices.

14. A method of assembling a system including a controller, a wiring harness having a plurality of electrically open ports connected in series with the controller, and a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

defining a closed path including only the controller and a first recognized one of the plurality of devices; and

expanding the closed path so as to include only the controller, the first recognized one of the plurality of devices, and a second recognized one of the plurality of devices.

15. The method of assembling a system according to claim 14, wherein the defining the closed path consists of electrically connecting the first recognized one of the plurality of devices across a first one of the plurality of ports, the first one of the plurality of ports being located along the harness closest to the controller;

and

wherein the expanding the closed path consists of electrically connecting the second recognized one of the plurality of devices across a second one of the plurality of ports, the second one of the plurality of ports being located along the harness second closest to the controller.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the defining the closed path comprises the controller detecting and uniquely identifying the first recognized one of the plurality of devices.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the expanding the closed path comprises the controller detecting and uniquely identifying the second recognized one of the plurality of devices.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of devices are substantially identical.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein feedback from the controller is used to recognize the first and second recognized ones of the plurality of devices.