Communication system and method utilizing an interface protocol for a multiple device vehicle occupant restraint system
First Claim
1. A system for communication between a central unit and a plurality of remote units, said system comprising:
- an electrical conductor interconnecting the central unit and the remote units for conducting electrical energy;
voltage modulation means, associated with the central unit, for modulating voltage of the electrical energy to send data from the central unit to the remote units over said conductor;
a plurality of current modulation means for modulating current of the electrical energy, each of said current modulation means being associated with one of the remote units and modulating current to send data from the associated remote unit to the central unit over said conductor, the sending of data from the remote units to the central unit occurring simultaneously with the sending of data from the central unit to the remote units; and
a plurality of control means for controlling said plurality of current modulation means, each of said control means being associated with one of said current modulation means and controlling said associated current modulation means to send the data from the associated remote unit to the central unit during sending of data from the central unit to a remote unit other than the associated remote unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system (10) for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system (12). A central controller (14) is connected to a plurality of restraint devices (16) by a power and communication conductor (20). A signal function (28), via a voltage modulator (30), of the central controller (14) sequentially outputs voltage modulation messages to the restraint devices (16) on the conductor (20). The application sequence of the voltage modulation messages corresponds to a predetermined sequence of the restraint devices (16). A signal function (40), via a current draw modulator (42), in each of the restraint devices (16) outputs current modulation messages to the central controller (14) on the conductor (20). The application of the current modulation message from each respective restraint device (16) coincides with the outputting of a voltage modulation message from the central controller (14) to another specified one of the restraint devices.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for communication between a central unit and a plurality of remote units, said system comprising:
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an electrical conductor interconnecting the central unit and the remote units for conducting electrical energy; voltage modulation means, associated with the central unit, for modulating voltage of the electrical energy to send data from the central unit to the remote units over said conductor; a plurality of current modulation means for modulating current of the electrical energy, each of said current modulation means being associated with one of the remote units and modulating current to send data from the associated remote unit to the central unit over said conductor, the sending of data from the remote units to the central unit occurring simultaneously with the sending of data from the central unit to the remote units; and a plurality of control means for controlling said plurality of current modulation means, each of said control means being associated with one of said current modulation means and controlling said associated current modulation means to send the data from the associated remote unit to the central unit during sending of data from the central unit to a remote unit other than the associated remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for communicating between a central unit and a plurality of remote units, said method comprising:
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connecting an electrical conductor to the central unit and the remote units for conducting electrical energy; modulating voltage of electrical energy on the conductor by a voltage modulation means associated with the central unit to send data from the central unit to the remote units over the conductor; modulating current of the electrical energy on the conductor by a plurality of current modulation means, each current modulation means being associated with one of the remote units and modulating current to send data from the associated remote unit to the central unit over the conductor, the sending of data from the remote units to the central unit occurring simultaneously with the sending of data from the central unit to the remote units; and controlling each of the plurality of current modulation means by an associated control means to send the data from the associated remote unit to the central unit during sending of data from the central unit to a remote unit other than the associated remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification