Method for assigning coded incremental values

• US 6,836,224 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McCoy, John C., Vierling, Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI M
• Application Number:
  US09/702,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 731/19.A, 731/181, 341/50, 701/114, 123/490
• US Class Current: 341/50
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/20 Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2435 characterised by the writing medium, e.g. bar code
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2467 for injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/00 Details of fuel-injection apparatus, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/16 Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M61/02 - F02M61/14

Abstract

A method for identifying particular characteristics of a physical system includes assigning codes information to the system based upon two distinct characteristics. The code increases in value, with increasing code numbers being assigned to combination of the characteristics in such a way that between any two adjacent code values, only one of the two characteristics change, and the increasing value only changes by one value level.

Claims

1. A method of assigning increasing values to provide an identification code for components having at least two distinct characteristics of varying amounts comprising the steps of:

obtaining information with regard to said at least two distinct characteristics each having several possible value levels;

assigning an identification code to said component based upon the combination of said at least two distinct characteristics, said identification code being associated with a physical characteristic, said physical characteristic changing with each increasing code; and

each increasing code being assigned to a particular combination of said at least two distinct characteristics such that between any two adjacent codes, only one of the two distinct characteristics has changed, and that said one of said two distinct characteristics only changes by one value level.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said physical characteristic is an electrical characteristic.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codes are utilized to provide characteristics relative to a fuel injector.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codes are arranged in a spinal array.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codes are arranged to extend along a plurality of rows and columns in reversing directions.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codes are assigned in a serpentine fashion.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codes are assigned in a double-u shaped arrangement.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are three of said characteristics, with said increasing codes being assigned to particular combinations of said three characteristics such that between any two adjacent increasing codes, only one of the three characteristics is changed, and said one characteristic changes by one value level.

9. A control for a physical system comprising:

an input for receiving a physical electrical characteristic from a system, said electrical characteristic being associated with particular code indentifying two distinct characteristics of said system, and said control being operable to effect an output, and control a physical system based upon said identified code; and

said control storing information about said code, including increasing code values assigned to particular combinations of said two distinct characteristics of said system such that between any two adjacent increasing codes, only one of said two distinct characteristics change.