Multiplexing of accessories in a vehicle

• US 5,081,586 A
• Filed: 02/20/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Luebke, Charles J., Rehm, Erich, Barthel, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Auchterlonie, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US07/482,449
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.01, 364/424.05, 364/707, 340/459, 307/10.1, 318/466
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles

Abstract

A control system utilizes a multiplex communication system for switchably operating power windows, power seats, power door locks, power mirrors, accessory lighting, etc. Switches mounted on the driver door and elsewhere communicate with a door-mounted microcomputer, which scans the state of each switch, prioritizes the requests, and issues commands in accordance with algorithms to control the windows, door locks, etc. The system has three modes of operation: Asleep, Active, and Awake. In the Asleep mode electrical power consumption is very small, and only a selected few input sesors are periodically monitored as to status. If a door handle is lifted or other action starts, the system changes to an Active mode, in which many more sensors are periodically scanned, and most output motors can be operated. In the Awake mode, windows can also be operated.

Claims

1. A multiplex control module and switch apparatus for use in automotive vehicles having selected power-operated accessories in the vehicle including at least one of door locks, power adjusted seats, power windows, interior lights, ignition switch and door key cylinder and including sensors for detecting the operative state of such accessories and of door ajar, ignition key presence and door handle movement operative upon actuation for providing sensor signals indicating a change of state of said sensors, and individual relay means operative upon receipt of relay-control signals to effect flow of current to said accessories, said module comprising:

(a) means for housing said control module;

(b) individual switch means operative upon user actuation for providing a switch signal indicating a desired change of state of one of said accessories.,

(c) circuit means, including microcomputer means connectable in the vehicle to a power bus and to a multiplex signal bus, said microcomputer means comprising multiplexer means for communicating by multiplexing via said signal bus using a plurality of signals including said sensor signals;

said microcomputer means having an ASLEEP mode using reduced average system power, in which it is operative to periodically scan at a first predetermined repetition rate, including scanning of said sensor signals for the states of only predetermined ones less than all of said sensor signals, and including scanning to detect the states of said switch means, and including a powered-down interval;

said microcomputer means having an ACTIVE more in which it is operative to scan said sensor signals for the state of all of said sensors and to scan for the state of said switch means, said microcomputer means in said ACTIVE mode being operative to generate said relay-control signals in accordance with predetermined algorithms in response to said switch means and said sensor signals;

said microcomputer means being operative to go to said ASLEEP mode after a predetermined time interval of inactivity of all of said switch means;

said microcomputer means having an AWAKE mode into which it goes when said vehicle ignition switch is sensor as being in an "ON" state and in which, in addition to the capabilities of the ACTIVE mode, control of certain ones of said accessories is also enabled, said microcomputer means returning to said ACTIVE mode after said ignition switch is sensed in an "0FF" state;

wherein said microcomputer means is operative to provide said relay-control signals for operation of said accessories in response to a change of state of said input signal from at least one of said switch and sensor means.

4. The module defined in claim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative in said ACTIVE mode to scan all of said sensors in about a thirty-two-millisecond interval following said scanning of said switches.

10. The control module defined in claim 1, and wherein

said microcomputer means remains in said AWAKE state for a predetermined time interval after said ignition switch is sensed as being in an OFF state, and thus, upon user activation of any of said power-window switch and sensor means, permits actuation of said window relay means;

and wherein,

after elapse of said predetermined time interval said microcomputer means goes to said ACTIVE mode.

11. The control module defined in claim 1, and wherein said switch means is arranged in a matrix having at least two data lines and at least two scan lines, and said microcomputer means is operative to scan said matrix for switch state and upon simultaneous actuation of a plurality of said switch means on a common scan line and a plurality on a common data line wherein at least one actuated switch is on both of said common lines, to disallow all such actuated switch means inputs until at least one of said scan-line and data-line switch means changes state so that only a single such switch means is actuated on said at least one data line and scan line.

2. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative to disable said vehicle door locks if (a) said key is in said ignition switch and (b) said ignition switch is OPP and (c) a door is sensed as being ajar.

3. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative in said ASLEEP mode to scan said switch means and selected ones of said sensors in about a two-millisecond portion of the interior of said periodic scan, and to be inactive for a time interval thereafter until start of following scan.

5. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative in said ACTIVE mode to generate said relay-control signals within two milliseconds, following said scanning of said sensors.

6. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means in said ASLEEP mode is operative to scan said switches and sensors for about a two-millisecond portion of each scanning period and is powered down for the remaining about 98 milliseconds.

7. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative in response to a change of state of said door-ajar sensor to an ajar-indicating state to change from said ASLEEP to said ACTIVE mode.

8. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative to go from said ASLEEP to said ACTIVE mode in response to a change of state of said door handle sensor and is also operative in response thereto to provide a signal turning on said interior lights of the vehicle.

9. The module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein

said vehicle has an "express down" switch and said microcomputer means is operative in response to even a momentary actuation of said "express down" switch to provide continuous actuation of said corresponding power-window relay until said corresponding window sensor indicates that said window is a fully lowered state, whereupon said power-window relay is reactuated;

and wherein,

said microcomputer is operative to prevent excessive running time if said window position sensor indicates said fully lowered state and said continuous actuation persists longer than a predetermined time.

12. The control module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative in said ASLEEP mode upon sensing a change of state of said door handle sensor to go to said ACTIVE more and upon sensing a change of state of said door-ajar sensor is operative to provide a signal indicative thereof.

13. The control module defined in c1aim 1, and wherein said microcomputer means provides an output signal when said door key cylinder sensor has undergone a change of state.

14. The control module defined in c1aim 1, and further comprising means for accessing a memory, and wherein said microcomputer means is operative to perform an initialization procedure provided the vehicle is in AWAKE, the door is open, and no other seat function is currently active, said initialization procedure being operative to drive said power-adjusted seat to a mechanical limiting position to protect stalling of said seat at said limiting position, to detect the location of said limiting position, to store in said memory said location of said limiting position, and to return the seat to an intermediate positioning and subsequently, whenever said limiting position is reached during operation of said seat, to stop lowering said seat relay means.

15. Multiplex apparatus for control of accessories of a vehicle, including at least one of power-operated door locks, an ignition switch, adapted for use with a body computer module, comprising:

a door module on the driver side of the vehicle;

at least one output module connected with said door module;

bus means for multiple excommunication among said modules;

actuator means for locking a door;

means for sensing when an ignition key is in said ignition switch;

means for sensing when said ignition switch is OFF;

means for sensing when a door is ajar;

means receiving signals from said sensor means for inhibiting door locking when said key is in said ignition switch, said ignition switch is OFF, and said door is ajar.

16. A method for control of accessories of a vehicle, including power-operated seats;

said vehicle having a body module, a door module on the driver side, a door module on the passenger side, and at least one output module connected with each of said door modules;

said seat being movable by motors over a range to mechanical limits of travel;

comprising the automatic and much seat-initialization procedure steps of;

loading into a memory predetermined FORWARD and UP seat positions that are beyond said mechanical limits of travel and therefore unreachable;

commanding said seat to move toward said positions of said predetermined values by manually actuating first and second memory recall switches simultaneously;

moving said seat in response to said command until it reaches said mechanical limits and said motors stall and the stall conditions are detected;

recording the positions at which said stall conditions were detected as FORWARD limits and UP limits for the respective axes;

loading a second set of predetermined values into said memory and repeating said process for the directions BACK and DOWN;

moving said seat until BACK and DOWN stalls occur and have been detected,

recording the positions at which the stalls occurred for each of the axes as BACK limits and DOWN limits;

when the last axis has stalled and had its stall position determined and recorded, moving the seat to a center position based on the limits just determined.

17. A method as in claim 16 and further comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting whether any manual seat switch is actuated during said seat-initialization procedure;

if a manual seat switch is actuated, cancelling said initialization procedure and executing the request represented by the actuation of the manual switch.

18. A method for control of accessories of a vehicle, including power-operated seats;

said vehicle having a body module, a door module on the driver side of the vehicle, a door module on the passenger side of the vehicle, and at least one output module connected with each of said door modules;

said seat being movable by motors over a range to mechanical hard limits of travel;

comprising the automatic and manual steps of;

manually initiating performance of an initialization procedure to set limits including moving said seat as far as it can go, to a stall condition, along various axes of motion;

recording the positions at which motor stalls were detected as FORWARD hard and soft limits, and UP hard and soft limits for the respective axes, said soft limits being at least temporarily equal to said hard limits;

subsequently setting a soft limit different from a hard limit if an obstruction subsequently causes a stall,

thereafter, when a new seat command is received, comparing the then-current position of the seat with said hard limits;

inhibiting turn-on of the motor if the seat is already at a hard limit in the commanded direction;

if a soft limit that is not equal to a hard limit has previously been set and has been reached by said seat, stopping the seat motion there, but enabling any second actuation of the seat switch in that direction to start the motor in order to try to overridge the soft limit;

if the overridge attempt is successful because the prior soft limit condition no longer exists, resetting the soft limit so as to equal the corresponding hard limit.

19. Apparatus for control of accessories of a vehicle having a PARK position of its transmission, said accessories including a power-operated seat with seat belt, comprising:

a door module on the driver side of the vehicle;

at least one output module connected with said door module;

at least one of said seats being movable through a range of travel;

power means for moving said seat;

set-switch means for setting a memory position of said seat;

memory-recall switch means for, upon subsequent actuation, operating said seat to go to said memory position;

means for sensing that said set-switch means was not actuated within a predetermined number of seconds before said memory-recall switch;

sensor means for sensing safety conditions and providing safety condition input signals, including means for sensing, that said vehicle'"'"'s transmission is in said PARK position, and that said seat belt is not fastened;

means responsive to said memory-recall switch means for driving said seat to said memory position when said safety conditions are fulfilled.