Optical signal transmission system for an automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. An optical signal transmission system for an automotove vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering wheel post, and a plurality of electrical loads, which comprises:
- (a) a plurality of switches arranged on the steering wheel to produce control signals;
(b) an encoder provided on the steering wheel and connected to each of said switches for outputting a separate pulse code signal in response to each one of the control signals generated from said switches;
(c) electricity-to-light converting means comprising a single light producing element for converting each pulse code signal from said encoder into an optical signal;
(d) light-transmitting ring made of a solid material with a high light-transmittivity and positioned between the steering wheel and the steering post, receiving the optical signal emitted from said electricity-to-light converting means, and transmitting the optical signal throughout said light-transmitting ring;
(e) light-to-electricity converting means comprising a single light receiving element for converting the optical signal transmitted throughout said light-transmitting ring into an electrical signal; and
(f) a decoder for decoding the electric signal converted by said light-to-electricity converting means to output an electrical signal corresponding to one of said control signals to control any of the electric load required in the automotive vehicle,whereby a plurality of control signals are transmitted from the steering wheel to the steering post via said electricity-to-light converting means and said light-to-electricity converting means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical signal transmission system for an automotive vehicle by which a number of electric signals generated from switches arranged on the steering wheel are transferred to other controllers optically and digitally for control the necessary vehicle operating conditions with high reliability, without producing electrical noise even while steering wheel is being turned. The optical signal transmission system of the present invention comprises optical transmission devices including an electricity-to-light converting means, a light-transmitting ring, a light-to-electricity converting means, in addition to a digital circuit including an encoder, decoder, etc.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An optical signal transmission system for an automotove vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering wheel post, and a plurality of electrical loads, which comprises:
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(a) a plurality of switches arranged on the steering wheel to produce control signals; (b) an encoder provided on the steering wheel and connected to each of said switches for outputting a separate pulse code signal in response to each one of the control signals generated from said switches; (c) electricity-to-light converting means comprising a single light producing element for converting each pulse code signal from said encoder into an optical signal; (d) light-transmitting ring made of a solid material with a high light-transmittivity and positioned between the steering wheel and the steering post, receiving the optical signal emitted from said electricity-to-light converting means, and transmitting the optical signal throughout said light-transmitting ring; (e) light-to-electricity converting means comprising a single light receiving element for converting the optical signal transmitted throughout said light-transmitting ring into an electrical signal; and (f) a decoder for decoding the electric signal converted by said light-to-electricity converting means to output an electrical signal corresponding to one of said control signals to control any of the electric load required in the automotive vehicle, whereby a plurality of control signals are transmitted from the steering wheel to the steering post via said electricity-to-light converting means and said light-to-electricity converting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An optical signal transmission system for an automotive vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering wheel post, and a plurality of electrical loads, which comprises:
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(a) a plurality of switches arranged on the steering wheel to produce control signals; (b) an encoder provided on the steering wheel and connected to each of said switches for outputting a separate pulse code signal in response to each one of the control signals generated from said switches; (c) electricity-to-light converting means comprising a single light producing element for converting each pulse code signal from said encoder into an optical signal; (d) light-transmitting ring made of a material with a high light-transmittivity and positioned between the steering wheel and the steering post, receiving the optical signal emitted from said electricity-to-light converting means, and transmitting the optical signal throughout said light-transmitting ring, said light transmitting ring having a first flat surface and a second flat surface, the light-emitting surface of said electricity-to-light converting means being mounted on the first flat surface and a depression being formed on the second flat surface of said light-transmitting ring; (e) light-to-electricity converting means comprising a single light receiving element for converting the optical signal transmitted throughout said light-transmitting ring into an electrical signal, said depression formed on the second flat surface of said light-transmitting ring facing the light-emitting surface of said electricity-to-light converting means; and (f) a decoder for decoding the electric signal converted by said light-to-electricity converting means to output an electrical signal corresponding to one of said control signals to control any of the electric loads required in the automotive vehicle, whereby a plurality of control signals are transmitted from the steering wheel to the steering post via said electricity-to-light converting means and said light-to-electricity converting means. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification