Switch system capable of automatic configuration
First Claim
1. A switch system for use with an operator-activated control and an electrical device, the operator-activated control being one of a plurality of control types, comprising:
- an electro-mechanical switch device having an activation signal portion and an identification element and being operably coupled to the operator-activated control, the activation signal portion and the identification element for providing an activation signal and an identification signal, respectively, the identification signal being indicative of a switch device type associated with the electro-mechanical switch device, the switch device type corresponding to the control type of the operator-activated control, wherein said identification element includes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of resistive elements and capacitive elements, and;
a switch module electrically coupled to said electro-mechanical switch device, including to said identification element, and to the electrical device, said switch module for receiving said activation signal and said identification signal and for providing an electronic control message to the electrical device, wherein engagement of the operator-activated control causes said electro-mechanical switch to send said activation signal to said switch module, said switch module generating said electronic control message as a function of said identification signal in response to receiving said activation signal, and said switch module sends said electronic control message to the electrical device for controlling its operation.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch system capable of being automatically configured and used with any electrical system, particularly vehicle electrical systems, having an operator-activated control and an electrical device. This switch system generally includes an electro-mechanical switch and a switch module. Upon activation of an operator-activated control, such as a turn signal lever, the electro-mechanical switch sends an electrical activation signal to the switch module. The switch module uses an electrical identification signal, also obtained from the electro-mechanical switch, and a look-up table to convert the activation signal into an electronic control message. The electronic control message is then used to control a corresponding electrical device, such as a turn signal lamp. A particular electro-mechanical switch embodiment providing error detecting capabilities is also shown.
22 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A switch system for use with an operator-activated control and an electrical device, the operator-activated control being one of a plurality of control types, comprising:
-
an electro-mechanical switch device having an activation signal portion and an identification element and being operably coupled to the operator-activated control, the activation signal portion and the identification element for providing an activation signal and an identification signal, respectively, the identification signal being indicative of a switch device type associated with the electro-mechanical switch device, the switch device type corresponding to the control type of the operator-activated control, wherein said identification element includes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of resistive elements and capacitive elements, and; a switch module electrically coupled to said electro-mechanical switch device, including to said identification element, and to the electrical device, said switch module for receiving said activation signal and said identification signal and for providing an electronic control message to the electrical device, wherein engagement of the operator-activated control causes said electro-mechanical switch to send said activation signal to said switch module, said switch module generating said electronic control message as a function of said identification signal in response to receiving said activation signal, and said switch module sends said electronic control message to the electrical device for controlling its operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for automatically configuring and operating a switch system for use with an operator-activated control and an electrical device, the operator-activated control being one of a plurality of control types, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing an electro-mechanical switch device, (b) providing a switch module electrically coupled to said electro-mechanical switch device, (c) said electro-mechanical switch device providing an electrical identification signal to said switch module, the identification signal being indicative of a switch device type associated with the electro-mechanical switch device, the switch device type corresponding to the control type of the operator-activated control, (d) said electro-mechanical switch device providing an electrical activation signal to said switch module in response to an engagement of the operator-activated control, said switch module utilizing an error detecting technique that detects errors by looking for a change in said activation signal of more than a predetermined number of bits; (e) said switch module generating an electronic control message as a function of said identification signal in response to receiving said activation signal, and; (f) said switch module providing said electronic control message to the electrical device for controlling the operation of the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification