Programmable matrix controller for correlating electric devices in a motor vehicle with switches of a switch module

• US 6,724,102 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kelwaski, H. Edward, Dannenberg, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon A.
• Application Number:
  US09/626,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/115, 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/237, 200/329, 200/339, 200/341, 701/36
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23052 Matrix, plugboard like control panel with modules for display, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23372 XY matrix, switching controlled by pc
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/00 Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel

Abstract

A switch module in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle contains multiple switch assemblies connected by wiring to a controller. Multiple devices controlled by the switch assemblies are connected by wiring to the controller. The controller has a programmed matrix correlating a switch input from each particular switch assembly in the module with a particular device to place each particular device under control of the corresponding switch assembly.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a controller;

a switch module containing multiple switch assemblies connected by wiring to the controller, each switch assembly being located in a particular location in the switch module, and each particular location being connected to a particular input of the controller; and

multiple controlled devices that perform certain vehicle functions and are connected by wiring to the controller;

wherein the controller comprises a programmable matrix that has been programmed for correlating the particular switch assembly in each particular location in the switch module with a particular controlled device to place each particular controlled device under control of the corresponding switch assembly.

2. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the switch module comprises a face containing switch actuators of the switch assemblies and a wiring board behind the switch actuators, wherein each switch assembly further comprises a respective electric switch device that is mounted on the wiring board behind the respective switch actuator for actuation by the respective switch actuator.

3. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 in which the switch actuators are identical in construction but comprise unique indicia representing unique functions.

4. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 3 in which the electric switch devices mounted on the wiring board are identical in construction.

5. A method of electrically associating switch assemblies of a switch module in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle with devices in the vehicle through an electrical system of the vehicle that has a controller interfacing the switch module and the devices, the method comprising:

providing each switch assembly with indicia related to a respective device controlled by the switch assembly;

disposing each switch assembly in a location in the module that is electrically connected to a particular input of the controller; and

programming the controller with a matrix that correlates each input of the controller with a device that corresponds to the indicia for the respective switch assembly connected to the respective input.