Control apparatus and method utilizing identifying keys

• US 20070064942A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Alrabady, Ansaf, Talty, Timothy, Ames, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,000,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/232
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Method and apparatus for system control includes inputs for an input device which may take the form of switches or sensors. Input device states are related to identification keys. The identification keys are communicated wirelessly or through hard-wired means to a system.

Claims

1. Method for system control comprising

relating device states to identification keys;

communicating the identification keys to a controller; and

controlling an apparatus based on the communicated identification keys.

2. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to the identification keys comprises encoding a plurality of switch inputs to address a memory structure.

3. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to the identification keys comprises decoding a plurality of switch inputs to address a memory structure.

4. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to an identification key comprises addressing a memory structure with a plurality of switch inputs.

5. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to the identification keys comprises multiplexing a memory structure in accordance with a plurality of switch inputs.

6. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to the identification keys comprises converting an analog sensor signal to a digital address and referencing a memory structure with the address.

7. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein relating the device state to the identification keys comprises referencing a memory structure based on a digital sensor signal.

8. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein communicating the identification keys comprises transmitting the identification key using wireless communication links.

9. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein communicating the identification keys comprises transmitting the identification key using hardwired communication links.

10. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling an apparatus based on the communicated identification keys comprises controlling the apparatus based on current identification keys.

11. The method for system control as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling an apparatus based on the communicated identification keys comprises controlling the apparatus based on changes in identification keys.

12. Control apparatus comprising:

a device having a plurality of device states;

an identification key selection apparatus for selecting identification keys corresponding to current device states; and

a communication device for communicating selected identification keys to a controller.

13. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises a switch.

14. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises a sensor.

15. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the identification key selection apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification chip.

16. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the identification key selection apparatus comprises a memory apparatus and means for addressing the memory apparatus based on current device states.

17. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification chip.

18. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises wireless communication apparatus.

19. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises hardwired communication apparatus.

25. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the communication apparatus comprises hardwired communication apparatus.

20. Control apparatus comprising:

selection apparatus coupled to an input device, the selection apparatus effective to interpret states of the input device and to provide at least one identification key uniquely corresponding to a present state of the input device;

communication apparatus to convey identification keys provided by the selection apparatus to a system controller; and

wherein said system controller is effective to produce a response based on the identification keys conveyed thereto.

21. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the selection apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification chip.

22. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the selection apparatus comprises a memory apparatus and means for addressing the memory apparatus based on current states of the input device.

23. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the communication apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification chip.

24. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the communication apparatus comprises wireless communication apparatus.