Vehicle communication system
First Claim
1. A communication circuit for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;
a second electronic module disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly; and
a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which bi-directional serial communication is enabled, wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication circuit for use in a vehicle including a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle, a second electronic module, and an electrical conductor coupled between the first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which bidirectional serial communication is enabled. The first module supplies power to the second module through the electrical conductor. The first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through the electrical conductor. The first and second modules may also transmit RF signals over the electrical conductor. The second module may be housed in an outside rearview mirror assembly while the first module may be disposed inside of the vehicle. Such a communication system allows independent control of multiple electrical components in the outside rearview mirror assembly over a single wire.
181 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A communication circuit for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;
a second electronic module disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly; and
a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which bi-directional serial communication is enabled, wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A communication circuit for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;
a second electronic module disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly; and
a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which serial communication is enabled, wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor, and wherein said second module is dependent upon said first module for electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A communication circuit for a vehicle, comprising:
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an RF antenna disposed outside of the vehicle;
a first electronic module disposed inside the vehicle and coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;
a second electronic module coupled to said RF antenna; and
a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power and RF signals may be transmitted, wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein at least one of said first and second modules transmits RF signals to the other module through said dedicated electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An outside rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing; and
at least two electrical components disposed within or on said housing, said electrical components are coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which power and serial data signals may be collectively transmitted to said electrical components, said electrical components are independently controlled as a result of the transmittal of selected serial data signals transmitted through said transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An inside rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing; and
a control circuit disposed within or on said housing and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which power and serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the dedicated electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An electronic door module assembly for a vehicle comprising a control circuit disposed in a door of the vehicle and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components, wherein the electrical components to which said control circuit is coupled include any two or more of the following components:
- an electrochromic mirror, a glare detection sensor, a turn signal indicator, an exterior security lamp, a mirror heater, an RF antenna, an RF receiver, an RF transmitter, a mirror positioning mechanism, a mirror folding mechanism, a temperature probe, a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, a blind spot detector, and a road/lane edge sensor.
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59. An electronic door module assembly for a vehicle comprising a control circuit disposed in a door of the vehicle and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components, wherein said control circuit is coupled to any two or more of the following components:
- window switches, mirror position switches, heater switches, door open/close switches, seat movement switches, a trunk release switch, and a gas tank door release switch.
Specification