Electronic control system for a machine

• US 6,202,012 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gile, David V., Smith, Vernon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/235,787
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 701/33, 701/35, 701/36, 307/9.1, 340/825.16, 340/825.05, 370/235
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25229 Partition control software among distributed controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair

Abstract

An electronic control system for controlling operation of a machine is described. The system includes a first control system connected to a first electronic control module, a second control system connected to a second electronic control module, and a first data link connected between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system and the second control system. The first data link provides transmission of data at a high speed.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for controlling operation of a machine, the system comprising a first control system connected to a first electronic control module, a second control system connected to a second electronic control module, a first data link connected between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system and the second control system, and a second data link connected between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system and the second control system, the first data link transmitting data at a high speed, and the second data link transmitting data at a speed less than the first data link transmission speed.

2. The electronic control system of claim 1 further comprising a third control system connected to a third electronic control module, and the first data link being connected between the first electronic control module, the second electronic control module, and the third electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system, the second control system, and the third control system.

3. The electronic control system of claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third electronic control modules each comprise a housing having a pair of connectors.

4. The electronic control system of claim 2 further comprising a second data link connected between the first electronic control module, the second electronic control module, and the third electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system, the second control system, and the third control system.

5. An electronic control system for controlling operation of a machine, the system comprising a first control system connected to a first electronic control module, a second control system connected to a second electronic control module, and a first data link connected between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system and the second control system, and a second data link connected between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module for transmission of data between the first control system and the second control system, the first data link transmitting data at a high speed, and the second data link transmitting data at the same speed as that of the first data link.

6. An electronic control system for controlling operation of a machine, the system comprising a first control system connected to a first electronic control module, a plurality of other control systems each being connected to an electronic control module, a first data link connected between the first electronic control module and the other electronic control modules for transmission of data between the first control module and the other control modules, and a second data link connected between the first electronic control module and the other electronic control modules for transmission of data between the first control module and the other control modules, the first data link transmitting data at a high speed, the second data link transmitting data at a speed less than the speed of the first data link transmission speed.

7. An electronic control system for controlling operation of a machine, the system comprising a first control system connected to a first electronic control module, a plurality of other control systems each being connected to an electronic control module, a first data link connected between the first electronic control module and the other electronic control modules for transmission of data between the first control module and the other control modules, and a second data link connected between the first electronic control module and the other electronic control modules for transmission of data between the first control module and the other control modules, the first data link transmitting data at a high speed, the second data link transmitting data at the same speed as that of the first data link.

8. An electronic control system for a machine, the machine including a first control system, a hydraulic control system, a transmission control system, and an engine control system, the electronic control system comprising an electronic control module connected to each of the systems, a first data link for connecting each of the electronic control modules together for transmitting data between all of the control systems over the first data link, and a second data link for connecting each of the electronic control modules together for transmitting data between all of the control systems over the second data link the first data link transmitting data at a high speed and the second data link transmits data a speed less than the speed of the first data link transmission speed.

9. An electronic control system for a machine, the machine including a first control system, a hydraulic control system, a transmission control system, and an engine control system, the electronic control system comprising an electronic control module connected to each of the systems, a first data link for connecting each of the electronic control modules together for transmitting data between all of the control systems over the first data link, and a second data link for connecting each of the electronic control modules together for transmitting data between all of the control systems over the second data link the first data link transmitting data at a high speed and the second data link transmits data at the same speed as that of the first data link.