Circuit for reducing the wiring needed to control the functions of a vehicle
First Claim
1. The method of controlling a plurality of electrically powered functions of a vehicle including a first function and a second function, comprising the steps ofproviding a source of electric power having a power terminal and a ground terminal,providing a power line connected to said power terminal and a ground line connected to said ground terminal,connecting all of said plurality of functions including said first and second function to said source of electric power by said power line and ground line,providing a first controlling member capable of generating a first coded message where said first coded message includes an identification portion for identifying a source of said first coded message and a second instruction portion containing instructions to be carried out by said first function,connecting said first controlling member to said power line and said ground line wherein said first coded message is applied to one of said power line and said ground line,providing a first function controller including a first reader and a first operating circuit wherein said first reader is capable of reading only said first coded message in said one of said power line and said ground line and said first operating circuit is capable of controlling said first function, andconnecting said first function controller to said power line and said ground line wherein said first reader will read only said first coded message and said first operating circuit will control said first function to perform in accordance with said instructions portion without a dedicated wire extending between said first controlling member and said first function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The wiring needed to control all the functions in a vehicle is reduced, especially where the input source for operating a given function is remote from the function. A control member is provided that receives the input signal and converts it to a coded message that is applied to the power line. A function controller includes a coded reader and a control circuit for reading the code applicable to its associated function and controlling the function as instructed from the input signal. The control member also monitors the power line to insure that the message has been properly sent, and the message is repeated until proper transmission is confirmed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. The method of controlling a plurality of electrically powered functions of a vehicle including a first function and a second function, comprising the steps of
providing a source of electric power having a power terminal and a ground terminal, providing a power line connected to said power terminal and a ground line connected to said ground terminal, connecting all of said plurality of functions including said first and second function to said source of electric power by said power line and ground line, providing a first controlling member capable of generating a first coded message where said first coded message includes an identification portion for identifying a source of said first coded message and a second instruction portion containing instructions to be carried out by said first function, connecting said first controlling member to said power line and said ground line wherein said first coded message is applied to one of said power line and said ground line, providing a first function controller including a first reader and a first operating circuit wherein said first reader is capable of reading only said first coded message in said one of said power line and said ground line and said first operating circuit is capable of controlling said first function, and connecting said first function controller to said power line and said ground line wherein said first reader will read only said first coded message and said first operating circuit will control said first function to perform in accordance with said instructions portion without a dedicated wire extending between said first controlling member and said first function.
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8. A device for controlling a plurality of electrically powered functions including a first function and a second function, wherein each said electrically powered function is controlled from a remote location, said device comprising
a first controlling member for controlling said first function, a second controlling member for controlling said second function, a line connecting all of said plurality of functions including said first and second functions and to said first and second controlling members, said first controlling member applying a first coded message to said line where said first coded message includes an identification portion for identifying a source of said first coded message and an instruction portion containing instructions to be carried out by said first function, said second controlling member applying a second coded message to said line where said second coded message includes an identification portion for identifying a source of said second coded signal and an instruction portion containing instructions to be carried out by said second function, said identification portion of said first coded message being different from said identification portion of said second coded message, said first function including a first reader for reading only said first coded message from said line and a first operating circuit wherein said first function will respond to said instruction portion of said first coded message and cause said first function to perform in accordance with said instructions of said first controlling member without a dedicated wire connecting said first controlling member to said first function, and said second function including a second reader for reading only said second coded message from said line and a second operating circuit wherein said second function will respond to said instruction portion of said second coded message and cause said second function to perform in accordance with said instructions from said second controlling member without a dedicated wire connecting said second controlling member to said second function.
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15. A device for controlling a plurality of electrically powered functions of a vehicle including a first function and a second function, wherein each said electrically powered function is controlled from a remote location within said vehicle, said device comprising
a source of electric power, a first controlling member for controlling said first function, a second controlling member for controlling said second function, a power line connecting said source of electric power to all of said plurality of functions including said first and second functions and to said first and second controlling members, said first controlling member generating a first coded message, said second controlling member generating a second coded message, said first coded message being different from said second coded message, said first function including a first reader for reading only said first coded message and a first operating circuit wherein said first function will respond to said first coded message and cause said first function to perform in accordance with said instructions of said first controlling member without a dedicated wire connecting said first controlling member to said first function, said second function including a second reader for reading only said second coded message and a second operating circuit wherein said second function will respond to said of said second coded message and cause said second function to perform in accordance with said instructions from said second controlling member without a dedicated wire connecting said second controlling member to said second function.
Specification