Interdependent control of aftermarket vehicle accessories without invasive control connections
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for an accessory mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle having an on board diagnostic port connector connected through a data bus to the vehicle'"'"'s on board engine control computer, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an accessory control connector for connecting to the vehicle'"'"'s on board diagnostic port data bus;
(b) an accessory microcontroller physically mounted to and transportable with the vehicle and connected through a data communication path with the accessory control connector; and
(c) at least one device associated with a component of the accessory and connected through a data communication path with the microcontroller, the device being at least one of (i) an accessory input device for sensing an accessory parameter and transmitting the sensed parameter data to the microcontroller or (ii) an accessory output device operating a component of the accessory for control of an accessory parameter by the microcontroller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interdependent control apparatus for an accessory mounted to a vehicle. An accessory control connector is connected to the vehicle'"'"'s on board diagnostic port data bus and an accessory microcontroller is in data communication with the accessory control connector. An output device associated with and operating a component of the accessory is in data communication with the accessory microcontroller for control of an accessory parameter. Parameters of a vehicle are also controlled by the accessory microcontroller. Data from the accessory is also input to the accessory microcontroller representing a parameter of the accessory. Data is input from both the data bus and the vehicle accessory to the accessory microcontroller. Output control data from the accessory microcontroller can control a vehicle parameter and most importantly controls an accessory parameter. This is particularly useful for safety interlocks to stop the engine operation in response to a potentially hazardous event, such as a change in one or more of the vehicle input parameters.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for an accessory mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle having an on board diagnostic port connector connected through a data bus to the vehicle'"'"'s on board engine control computer, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) an accessory control connector for connecting to the vehicle'"'"'s on board diagnostic port data bus;
(b) an accessory microcontroller physically mounted to and transportable with the vehicle and connected through a data communication path with the accessory control connector; and
(c) at least one device associated with a component of the accessory and connected through a data communication path with the microcontroller, the device being at least one of (i) an accessory input device for sensing an accessory parameter and transmitting the sensed parameter data to the microcontroller or (ii) an accessory output device operating a component of the accessory for control of an accessory parameter by the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling parameters of a vehicle having an accessory mounted to the vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle control computer connected to an on board diagnostic port connector through a data bus, the accessory having at least one data input device for supplying data representing a parameter of the accessory, the method comprising:
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(a) attaching an accessory control connector to the data bus;
(b) inputting data from both the data bus and the vehicle accessory to an accessory microcontroller; and
(c) outputting a control signal from the accessory microcontroller in accordance with a microcontroller control algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification