System and method for power and data delivery on a machine

• US 20060097852A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Lammers, Bryan G., Portscheller, James I.
• Application Number:
  US11/257,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25132 Superposition data signals on power lines for actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25323 Intelligent modules

Abstract

A power and data delivery system for a machine. The system includes a power and data conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine, a plurality of processing nodes, each connected to the conductor at various locations, and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of processing nodes and controlled by the processing node, wherein each processing node may be connected at any location of the conductor.

Claims

1. A power and data delivery system for a machine, comprising:

a conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine;

a plurality of processing nodes, each connected to the conductor at a respective desired location; and

a plurality of devices, at least one being connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of processing nodes and controlled by the processing node;

wherein the desired location may be located at any point along the conductor.

2. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the conductor is operable to deliver at least one of power and data signals between power and data sources and the plurality of processing nodes.

3. The power and data delivery system of claim 2, wherein a selected at least one of the plurality of processing nodes is activated in response to receipt of the power and data signals.

4. The power and data delivery system of claim 3, wherein an activated processing node controls actuation of the connected device.

5. The power and data delivery system of claim 2, wherein each processing node is operable to transfer at least one of the power and data signals between the conductor and the connected device.

6. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of processing nodes are operable to transfer at least one of power and data signals over the conductor.

7. The power and data delivery system of claim 6, wherein the conductor is operable to deliver at least one of power and data signals between select processing nodes.

8. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the conductor is a two-wire conductor.

9. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the conductor is a one-wire conductor with a chassis ground.

10. A power and data delivery system for a machine, comprising:

a conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine;

a plurality of smart connectors, each smart connector connected to the conductor at any desired location, the plurality of smart connectors operable to transfer at least one of a power and data signal through the conductor; and

at least one device being controllably connected to each of the plurality of smart connectors.

11. The power and data delivery system of claim 10, wherein each smart connector includes:

a processor for receiving the data signal and selectively delivering at least one of a control signal and a further data signal.

12. A machine having a power and data delivery system, comprising:

an electrical power source;

a data source;

a plurality of electrically driven devices;

a conductor for delivering power and data signals between the power and data sources and the plurality of devices; and

a plurality of processing nodes controllably connecting the signals from the conductor to the plurality of devices, each processing node being located at any desired location on the conductor.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the data source is provided by an electronic control module.

14. A method for connecting electrical devices to at least one of a power source and a data source on a machine, comprising:

installing a conductor throughout at least a portion of the machine;

connecting a processing node at any desired location along the conductor without interrupting an electrical path of the conductor; and

connecting at least one electrical device to the processing node.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

configuring the connected electrical device for use with the machine.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, further including:

notifying the operator of a changed condition on the machine.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein an electrical device is the power source.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein an electrical device is the data source.

19. A method for controlling an electrical device on a machine, comprising:

delivering electrical power and data signals on a conductor to a processing node directly connected to any location on the conductor; and

delivering actuation signals from the processing node to an electrical device as a function of the electrical power and data signals.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein an electrical device is controllably actuated by the processing node as a function of power and data source signals.