Control circuit for automotive accessory system
First Claim
1. A control circuit for selectively determining multiple modes of operation for one or more electrical loads in an automotive accessory system, the circuit comprising:
- for a said load, a respective momentary action switch operatively associated with a signal potential and being responsive to an actuating force to provide a signal indicative of switch actuation only while said actuating force persists;
microcomputer control means;
means for extending said signal indicative of switch actuation to said microcomputer control means; and
wherein said microcomputer control means repetitively, at brief intervals, determines the presence or absence of said actuation signal of a respective said switch and the duration of a said switch actuation signal, while present, relative to a predetermined time threshold and is operative following a determination that said switch actuation signal was present only for a momentary interval less than said predetermined threshold to effect control of a said load in a primary mode and is operative following a determination that said switch actuation signal was present for a dwell interval longer than said predetermined threshold to effect control of a said load in a secondary mode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit is provided for selectively determining multiple modes of operation for one or more electrical loads in an automotive accessory system. For a particular load, the circuit includes a switch and a microcomputer signal processing unit. The switch is typically of the momentary-action, dry type which provides a signal only so long as an actuating force is applied. The microcomputer repetitively, at brief intervals determines the presence or absence of such a signal indicative of switch actuation and further is responsive to either brief "momentary" actuation of the switch to effect a primary mode of load control or to a longer "dwell" actuation to effect a secondary mode of load control. The secondary mode of load control includes a characteristic which is determined as a function of the "dwell" duration. Such characteristics of load control in the second mode include the duration of actuation of directional lane-change lamps, the interval between sweeps of a windshield wiper operating intermittently and/or the intensity or brightness of illumination lamps.
50 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A control circuit for selectively determining multiple modes of operation for one or more electrical loads in an automotive accessory system, the circuit comprising:
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for a said load, a respective momentary action switch operatively associated with a signal potential and being responsive to an actuating force to provide a signal indicative of switch actuation only while said actuating force persists; microcomputer control means; means for extending said signal indicative of switch actuation to said microcomputer control means; and wherein said microcomputer control means repetitively, at brief intervals, determines the presence or absence of said actuation signal of a respective said switch and the duration of a said switch actuation signal, while present, relative to a predetermined time threshold and is operative following a determination that said switch actuation signal was present only for a momentary interval less than said predetermined threshold to effect control of a said load in a primary mode and is operative following a determination that said switch actuation signal was present for a dwell interval longer than said predetermined threshold to effect control of a said load in a secondary mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification