Methods and systems for multi-state switching using at least one ternary input and at least one discrete input
First Claim
1. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:
- a discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value as a function of the actuator;
a ternary switching contact configured to provide a second input value as a function of the position of the actuator; and
decoding circuitry configured to receive the first and second input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second input values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and devices are described for placing a controlled device into a desired operating state in response to the position of a multi-position actuator. Two or more switch contacts provide input signals representative of the position of the actuator. Control logic then determines the desired state for the controlled device based upon the input signals received. The desired operating state is determined from any number of operating states defined by the input values. In various embodiments, ternary switching may be used in combination with binary switching to efficiently implement multi-state rotary or linear switches capable of identifying six, twelve, eighteen or any other number of switchable states.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:
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a discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value as a function of the actuator; a ternary switching contact configured to provide a second input value as a function of the position of the actuator; and decoding circuitry configured to receive the first and second input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second input values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:
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a first discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value (Input1) as a function of the actuator; a second discrete switching contact configured to provide a second input value (Input2) as a function of the position of the actuator; and a ternary switching contact configured to provide a third input value (Input3) as a function of the position of the actuator; and decoding circuitry configured to receive the first, second and third input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second values. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A switching system for providing a control signal to a controlled component in response to a position of an actuator, the switching system comprising:
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a discrete switching contact configured to provide a first input value (Input1) as a function of the actuator; a first ternary switching contact configured to provide a second input value (Input2) as a function of the position of the actuator; and a second ternary switching contact configured to provide a third input value (Input3) as a function of the position of the actuator; and decoding circuitry configured to receive the first, second and third input values and to produce the control signal in response to the first and second values. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of determining a position of an actuator, to method comprising to steps of:
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receiving a first ternary signal having a low, intermediate or high value determined by the position of the actuator; receiving a discrete signal having the low or the high value determined by the position of the actuator; and decoding the ternary and discrete signals to thereby determine the position of the actuator as a function of the first ternary value and the discrete value. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus for determining a position of an actuator, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a ternary signal having a low, intermediate or high value and a discrete signal having a low value or a high value, wherein each of the ternary and discrete signals are determined by the position of the actuator; and means for decoding the ternary and discrete signals to thereby determine the position of the actuator as a function of the ternary and discrete signals. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification