System and method for power and data delivery on a machine

• US 20070210898A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Freeman, David, Berglund, Darrel, Dunn, Daniel, Crayton, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.110
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5412 by modofying wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02

Abstract

A power and data delivery system for a machine. The system includes a conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine for delivering power, a plurality of nodes, each connected to the conductor at a respective location, and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding node. At least one node controls the delivery of power and data by way of a message containing a unique identifier for that one node.

Claims

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

a conductor for delivering power on a machine;

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

a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding node;

wherein at least one node controls the delivery of power and data by way of a message containing a unique identifier.

2. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier designates at least one of a particular node and a corresponding device to receive the message.

3. The power and data delivery system of claim 2, wherein the particular node conveys a second message through the conductor, the second message containing a second unique identifier.

4. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, further including:

a processor for controlling the flow of messages between the plurality of nodes.

5. The power and data delivery system of claim 4, wherein the processor is a part of at least one of the plurality of nodes.

6. The power and data delivery system of claim 4, wherein the processor is at least one of the plurality of nodes and the plurality of devices.

7. The power and data delivery system of claim 6, further including:

a second processor to control the delivery of power and data to the plurality of devices based on the message, the second processor being a part of at least one of the plurality of nodes.

8. The power and data delivery system of claim 1, wherein the corresponding node is operable to transfer at least one of power and data signals between the conductor and the at least one connected device.

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

a conductor for delivering power on a machine;

a plurality of nodes, each connected to the conductor at a respective location along the conductor;

a plurality of devices, at least one being connected to a corresponding node, the corresponding node for transferring at least one of power and data between the conductor and the at least one connected device;

an operator interface configured to convey a message through the conductor, the message containing a unique identifier for a particular node; and

at least one processor configured to control the delivery of power and data based on the message.

10. The power and data delivery system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of devices include at least one of the operator interface and the processor.

11. The power and data delivery system of claim 9, wherein the processor is a part of at least one of the plurality of nodes.

12. The power and data delivery system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the flow of messages between the plurality of nodes.

13. The power and data delivery system of claim 9, further including:

a second processor connected to the conductor, the second processor configured to control the flow of messages between the plurality of nodes.

14. The power and data delivery system of claim 12, at least one of the plurality of nodes further including:

a second processor configured to control the delivery of power and data to the plurality of devices based on the message.

15. The power and data delivery system of claim 9, wherein the unique identifier designates at least one of the plurality of devices located at the particular node.

16. A method for controlling devices over a power and data delivery system on a machine, comprising:

establishing data signal communications over a conductor configured to deliver power on a machine;

determining the presence of at least one of a plurality of nodes connected to the conductor;

determining the presence of at least one device connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes;

determining a unique identifier for at least one node; and

controlling the delivery of power and data to the node.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

generating a requested action in the system;

creating a message based on the requested action, the message containing the unique identifier;

transmitting the message through the conductor; and

receiving the message at the node.

18. The method of claim 17, further including:

creating a second message based on a result of the requested action, the second message containing a second unique identifier for a second node;

transmitting the second message through the conductor; and

receiving the second message at the second node.

19. The method of claim 16, further including:

transmitting at least one of the power and data signals from the conductor to the at least one device through the corresponding node according to the requested action.

20. The method of claim 16, further including:

associating the unique identifier with at least one device connected to the node.