Mechanism for assigning an actuator to a device

• US 6,982,628 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schmitz, Stephan, Hacker, Heidrun
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US09/297,952
• Time in Patent Office: 3,002 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.2, 340/825.49, 340/525, 340/870.13, 340/10.4, 340/10.1, 340/3.5, 340/825.52, 340/3.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A mechanism for assigning an actuator to a device. It includes a transmitter on the device side for transmitting a scanning signal as well as a processing unit on the actuator side which include means for receiving scanning signals and which emits a contact signal when a scanning signal matches a previously defined reference signal. The processing system emits the contact signal only at the end of a predetermined time delay, which is characteristic for a specific actuator, after receiving the scanning signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a device including a transmitter which transmits a scanning signal; and

at least one actuator assigned to the device, the at least one actuator including a processing unit, the processing unit having an arrangement which receives the scanning signal,

wherein, if the scanning signal matches a predetermined reference signal, the processing unit transmits a contact signal to the device, the contact signal being transmitted after a predetermined time delay period, from a receipt of the scanning signal, expires, and

wherein the device assigns a further predetermined time delay period to an unassigned actuator in order to train the unassigned actuator, the further predetermined time delay period characterizing the unassigned actuator.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time delay period characterizes the at least one actuator.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contact signal is transmitted within a predetermined response time period.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device includes an analyzing arrangement which detects the at least one actuator as a function of a time period when the contact signal is received.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes a plurality of actuators, and wherein, after the plurality of actuators are detected, the device selects a particular actuator of the plurality of actuators, the device subjecting the particular actuator to an assignment verification check procedure.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one of a mechanical actuator, an electric actuator and an electro-optical actuator, one of the mechanical actuator, the electric actuator and the electro-optical actuator being assigned to the device, an actuation of one of the mechanical actuator, the electric actuator and the electro-optical actuator triggering a transmission of the scanning signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device assigns the further predetermined time delay period to the unassigned actuator only if the at least one actuator is located within an active range of the scanning signal.

8. A method for assigning at least one actuator to a device, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a scanning signal using a transmitter which is situated in the device;

receiving the scanning signal using an arrangement of a processing unit, the processing unit being situated in the at least one actuator;

if the scanning signal matches a predetermined reference signal, transmitting a contact signal to the device using the processing unit, the contact signal being transmitted after a predetermined time delay period, from a receipt of the scanning signal, expires; and

assigning a further predetermined time delay period to an unassigned actuator by the device in order to train the unassigned actuator, the further predetermined time delay period characterizing the unassigned actuator.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined time delay period characterizes the at least one actuator.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the contact signal within a predetermined response time period.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

detecting the at least one actuator as a function of a time period when the contact signal is received by an analyzing arrangement of the device.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a plurality of actuators;

after the detecting step, selecting a particular actuator of the plurality of actuators using the device; and

subjecting the particular actuator, using the device, to an assignment verification check procedure.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one of a mechanical actuator, an electric actuator and an electro-optical actuator, the method further comprising the steps of:

triggering a transmission of the scanning signal as a function of an actuation of one of the mechanical actuator, the electric actuator and the electro-optical actuator; and

assigning one of the mechanical actuator, the electric actuator and the electro-optical actuator to the device.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the assigning step is performed only if the at least one actuator is located within an active range of the scanning signal.