Automotive electrical systems

• US 5,198,696 A
• Filed: 04/13/1990
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IST Laboratories Limited, Pifco Limited (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IST Laboratories Limited
• Inventors: Dennis, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, STEPHEN W
• Application Number:
  US07/508,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9, 307/10, 361/395, 361/419, 361/383, 361/388, 361/417, 361/392, 361/414, 361/400
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• 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: H05K 1/056 the metal substrate being covered by an organic insulating layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4664 Adding a circuit layer by thick film methods, e.g. printing techniques or by other techniques for making conductive patterns by using pastes, inks or powders H05K3/4647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49144 by metal fusion

Abstract

An electrical system for an automobile comprises a plurality of slave modules connected to one or more respective loads and/or sensors, a power bus connecting the slave modules to a power supply and a signal bus connecting the slave modules to a control module operable to remotely control the switching of power supplied to the loads by the slave modules and/or the sampling of signals from the sensors wherein at least one of the slave modules and/or the control means comprises a thick film printed circuit formed on a metal substrate. The system simplifies the wiring loom of a vehicle and provides circuits which are resistant to vibration and electrical interference.

Claims

1. An electrical system for an automobile comprising a plurality of slave modules connected to one or more respective loads and/or sensors, a power bus connecting the slave modules to a control module operable to remotely control the switching of power supplied to the loads by the modules and/or the sampling of signals from the sensors, at least one of the slave modules and/or the control means comprising a thick film printed circuit formed on a stainless steel substrate and wherein the circuit comprises a composite layer selectively applied to one or more surface portions of the substrate and is mounted with a remaining uncoated surface portion of the substrate in contact with a body panel of the vehicle.

2. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a plate forming a structural element of a component of the automobile.

3. An electrical system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the structural element is a housing of the slave module.

4. An electrical system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the structural elements is a housing of the control module.

5. An electrical system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the structural element is a housing of a keyboard connected to the control module for the input of commands thereto.

6. An electrical system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the structural element is a component of an electrical device of the automobile defining one or more loads switched by the circuit formed on the substrate.

7. An electrical system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the electrical device comprises a headlamp or taillamp assembly.

8. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module, the slave modules and the signal bus together comprise a multiplexed telemetry system.

9. An electrical system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the signal bus comprises two conducting wires connected in parallel between the slave modules and the control module, the telemetry system being such that digital signals are applied in antiphase to the respective wires.