Methods and systems for multi-state switching using at least one ternary input and at least one discrete input

• US 20060100758A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Katrak, Kerfegar K., Bauerle, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/005 Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched electric switches in general H01H

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices are described for placing a controlled device into a desired operating state in response to the position of a multi-position actuator. Two or more switch contacts provide input signals representative of the position of the actuator. Control logic then determines the desired state for the controlled device based upon the input signals received. The desired operating state is determined from any number of operating states defined by the input values. In various embodiments, ternary switching may be used in combination with binary switching to efficiently implement multi-state rotary or linear switches capable of identifying six, twelve, eighteen or any other number of switchable states.

Claims

1. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:

a discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value as a function of the actuator;

a ternary switching contact configured to provide a second input value as a function of the position of the actuator; and

decoding circuitry configured to receive the first and second input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second values.

2. The switching system of claim 1 wherein the second input value is selected from a low reference value, a high reference value, and an intermediate value.

3. The switching system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts arranged about the actuator to switchably interact with the ternary switching contact and the discrete switching contact.

4. The switching system of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is electrically coupled to a reference voltage corresponding to either the low reference value or the high reference value.

5. The switching system of claim 4 wherein the ternary switching contact is configured to provide the intermediate value as the second input value when not in contact with any of the plurality of electrical contacts.

6. The switching system of claim 5 wherein the intermediate value corresponds to an open circuit condition.

7. The switching system of claim 2 wherein the control signal is associated with one of a plurality of states of the actuator, each of the plurality of states corresponding to one of a plurality of adjacent positions of the actuator.

8. The switching system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of positions is defined by a plurality of electrical contacts disposed proximate to the actuator.

9. The switching system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions are defined by the first and second input values (Input1 and Input2) as follows:

10. The switching system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises a first contact configured to provide Input2 of states 3 and 4, and a second contact configured to provide Input2 of states 1 and 6.

11. The switching system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a third contact configured to provide Input1 of states 1, 2, and 3.

12. The switching system of claim 11 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises a pull-up resistor.

13. The switching system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a third contact configured to provide Input1 of states 4, 5 and 6.

14. The switching system of claim 11 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises a pull-down resistor.

24. The switching system of claim 11 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises at least one pull-up resistor.

15. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:

a first discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value (Input1) as a function of the actuator;

a second discrete switching contact configured to provide a second input value (Input2) as a function of the position of the actuator; and

a ternary switching contact configured to provide a third input value (Input3) as a function of the position of the actuator; and

decoding circuitry configured to receive the first, second and third input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second values.

16. The switching system of claim 15 wherein the third input value is selected from a low reference value, a high reference value, and an intermediate value.

17. The switching system of claim 16 wherein the control signal corresponds to one of a plurality of states of the first, second and third input values, and wherein each of the plurality of states corresponds to one of a plurality of adjacent positions of the actuator.

18. The switching system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions is defined by a plurality of electrical contacts disposed proximate to the actuator and configured to provide the first, second and third input values to the switching contacts.

19. The switching system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions are defined by the first, second and third input values (Input1, Input2 and Input3) as follows:

20. The switching system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises a first contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 3 and 4;

a second contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 6 and 7;

a third contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 9 and 10; and

a fourth contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 1 and 12.

21. The switching system of claim 20 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a fifth contact configured to provide the second input (Input2) of States 4-9 and a sixth contact configured to provide the first input (Input1) of States 7-12.

22. The switching system of claim 21 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises at least one pull-down resistor.

23. The switching system of claim 20 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a fifth contact configured to provide the second input (Input2) of States 1-3 and 10-12 and a sixth contact configured to provide the first input (Input1) of States 1-6.

25. The switching system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions are arranged in a rotary fashion about the actuator.

26. The switching system of claim 25 wherein State1 is arranged adjacent to State12.

27. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:

a discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value (Input1) as a function of the actuator;

a first ternary switching contact configured to provide a second input value (Input2) as a function of the position of the actuator; and

a second ternary switching contact configured to provide a third input value (Input3) as a function of the position of the actuator; and

decoding circuitry configured to receive the first, second and third input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second values.

28. The switching system of claim 27 wherein the second and third input values are selected from a low reference value, a high reference value, and an intermediate value.

29. The switching system of claim 28 wherein the control signal corresponds to one of a plurality of states of the first, second and third input values, and wherein each of the plurality of states corresponds to one of a plurality of adjacent positions of the actuator.

30. The switching system of claim 29 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions is defined by a plurality of electrical contacts disposed proximate to the actuator and configured to provide the first, second and third input values to the switching contacts.

31. The switching system of claim 30 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions are defined by the first, second and third input values (Input1, Input2 and Input3) as follows:

32. The switching system of claim 31 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises a first contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 3 and 4;

a second contact configured to provide the third input (Input4) of states 6 and 7;

a third contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 9 and 10;

a fourth contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 12 and 13;

a fifth contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 15 and 16; and

a sixth contact configured to provide the third input (Input3) of states 1 and 18.

33. The switching system of claim 32 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a seventh contact configured to provide the second input (Input2) of States 7-12 and an eighth contact configured to provide the second input (Input2) of States 1-3 and 16-18.

34. The switching system of claim 33 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a ninth contact providing the first input (Input1) of States 1-9.

35. The switching system of claim 34 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises at least one pull-up resistor.

36. The switching system of claim 33 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further comprises a ninth contact providing the first input (Input1) of States 10-18.

37. The switching system of claim 36 wherein the decoding circuitry comprises at least one pull-down resistor.

38. The switching system of claim 31 wherein the plurality of adjacent positions are arranged in a rotary fashion about the actuator.

39. The switching system of claim 38 wherein State1 is arranged adjacent to State18.

40. A method of determining a position of an actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a ternary signal having a low, intermediate or high value determined by the position of the indicator;

receiving a discrete signal having the low or the high value determined by the position of the indicator; and

decoding the ternary and discrete signals to thereby determine the position of the actuator as a function of the first and second ternary values.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of receiving a second ternary signal having the low, intermediate or high value selected in response to the position of the actuator.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the decoding step further comprises decoding the second ternary value.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of receiving a second discrete signal having the low or high value selected in response to the position of the actuator.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the decoding step further comprises decoding the second discrete value.

45. An apparatus for determining a position of an actuator, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a ternary signal having a low, intermediate or high value and a discrete signal having a low value or a high value, wherein each of the ternary and discrete signals are determined by the position of the actuator; and

means for decoding the ternary and discrete signals to thereby determine the position of the actuator as a function of the ternary and discrete signals.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprising means for converting the ternary signal from the low, medium or high values to a corresponding digital value.

47. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the receiving means further receives a second ternary signal having the low, intermediate or high value, and wherein the decoding means further decodes the second ternary signal to determine the position of the actuator.

48. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the receiving means further receives a second discrete signal having the low or high value, and wherein the decoding means further decodes the second discrete signal to determine the position of the actuator.