COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN MASTER AND SLAVE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a master control device capable of being coupled with a conductive communications pathway of a group of conductive pathways, the master control device including a signal modulator configured to transmit a power signal and a command signal along the communications pathway by modulating an electric current supplied by a power source joined with the group of conductive pathways; and
a load module capable of being coupled with the communications pathway in series with the master control device and of being coupled with a slave device, the load module configured to receive the power signal and the command signal from the master control device along the communications pathway, wherein the power signal activates the load module and the command signal directs the load module to control the slave device and to cause the slave device to take an action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes: a master control device capable of being coupled with a conductive communications pathway of a group of conductive pathways, the master control device including a signal modulator configured to transmit a power signal and a command signal along the communications pathway by modulating an electric current supplied by a power source joined with the group of conductive pathways; and a load module capable of being coupled with the communications pathway in series with the master control device and of being coupled with a slave device, the load module configured to receive the power signal and the command signal from the master control device along the communications pathway, wherein the power signal activates the load module and the command signal directs the load module to control the slave device and to cause the slave device to take an action.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a master control device capable of being coupled with a conductive communications pathway of a group of conductive pathways, the master control device including a signal modulator configured to transmit a power signal and a command signal along the communications pathway by modulating an electric current supplied by a power source joined with the group of conductive pathways; and a load module capable of being coupled with the communications pathway in series with the master control device and of being coupled with a slave device, the load module configured to receive the power signal and the command signal from the master control device along the communications pathway, wherein the power signal activates the load module and the command signal directs the load module to control the slave device and to cause the slave device to take an action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for communicating in a communication system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a power signal and a command signal from a master control device to a load module coupled with a slave device along a conductive communications pathway of a group of conductive pathways, the power signal and the command signal transmitted by modulating an electric current supplied by a power source; receiving the power signal at the load module and activating the load module based on energy of the power signal; and receiving the command signal at the load module, the load module directing the slave device to take an action based on the command signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A communication system comprising:
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a master control device capable of being coupled with a conductive communications pathway formed from one or more conductive bodies joined in series with each other and formerly used to communicate data signals in a vehicle, the master control device including a signal modulator configured to transmit a power signal and a command signal along the communications pathway by modulating an electric current supplied by a power source; and a load module capable of being coupled with the communications pathway and with a slave device, the load module configured to receive the power signal and the command signal from the master control device along the communications pathway, wherein the power signal activates the load module and the command signal directs the load module to control the slave device and to cause the slave device to take an action. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification