Method and apparatus for controlling positions of members provided on a car

• US 5,859,593 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hida, Tsuneo, Takemura, Shinji, Mori, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/895,893
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.54, 340/502, 340/504, 340/505, 340/313, 340/825.44, 340/825.31, 340/526, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.05, 371/11.2, 701/36, 701/49
• US Class Current: 340/3.43
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system

Abstract

The positions of position-controlled members provided on a car, for example, the driver'"'"'s seat, steering wheel and mirrors, are controlled by a host position control unit through a plurality of position control units which are controlled on the basis of control signals transmitted from the host position control unit. After receiving the signal transmitted from the host position control unit, each position control unit sends a 1-pulse answer signal to the host position control unit through a returning unit. When the returning unit sends no answer signal in response to a control signal transmitted from the host position control unit, an abnormality recognizing device recognizes the fact that there is an abnormality in the communication system. Accordingly, any abnormality occurring in the communication system is promptly detected and it is therefore possible to quickly cope with the abnormal situation.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the positions of a plurality of position-controlled means provided on a car, comprising:

controlling the positions of said position-controlled means by a plurality of position control means on the basis of control signals transmitted from one of said position control means acting as a host position control means through a transmitting means;

sending a confirming answer pulse in a closed loop to said host position control means from each of the position control means after receiving the control signals therefrom through a returning means;

determining an abnormality in the closed loop by an abnormality recognizing means when no confirming answer pulse is returned from said returning means in response to said control signal transmitted from said host position control means;

judging a condition of each of the position controlled means; and

software controlling an order of controlling the positions of the plural position controlled means based on the judged conditions of the plural position controlled means.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said control signals a maximum of three times in the absence of said confirming answer pulse prior to determining the presence of an abnormality.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means for instructing transmission of said control signals a maximum of three times in the absence of detecting said confirming answer pulse.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the confirming answer pulse sent by said returning means comprises a one pulse signal.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the confirming answer pulse sent by said returning means comprises a one pulse signal.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sent confirming answer pulse comprises a one pulse signal.

8. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the sent confirming answer pulse comprises a one pulse signal.

3. An apparatus for controlling the positions of position-controlled means provided on a car, comprising:

a host position control means provided on the car for controlling a position of a first position-controlled means in accordance with an occupant of the car;

a plurality of second position-controlled means each connected to said host position control means for effecting position control of said plurality of second position-controlled means on the basis of host position control signals transmitted from said host position control means to each of said plurality of second position-controlled means so that each of said plurality of second position-controlled means is controlled according to the position of said first position-controlled means and the occupant of the car;

a returning means for sending a confirming answer pulse to said host position control means in a closed loop with the transmitted control signals after receiving host position control signals transmitted to the second position-controlled means;

an abnormality recognizing means for recognizing the fact that there is an abnormality in the closed loop when no confirming answer pulse signal is returned from said returning means in response to a control signal transmitted from said host position control means;

judging a condition of each of the position controlled means; and

software controlling an order of controlling the positions of the plural position controlled means based on the judged conditions of the plural position controlled means.