Vehicle mounted accessory with multiplexing

• US 7,400,058 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas Dynamics LLC
• Original Assignee: Douglas Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: Rand, Clarence J., Wayne, Edwin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/977,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/146 Abnormalities, e.g. fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements

Abstract

A control for a vehicle mounted accessory that has an electrically operable device. The accessory is operated by a switch that is mounted on the vehicle remote from the accessory. The switch and the electrically operable device are electrically connected by programmable controllers and a communications bus. The control has the capability of automatically determining the presence of a vehicle DRL mode, and the accessory turn signal lights are automatically illuminated to provide an accessory DRL mode. The control can automatically detect different accessories and reprogram itself to control them. The control provides a secured communications link between it and the accessory to prevent accessory theft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a plow having an electrically operable device for moving the plow after the plow is mounted on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a switch adapted to be mounted on the vehicle remote from the plow and operable by a user to provide a command signal to command an operation of the electrically operable device on the plow;

a first controller located in the proximity of the switch and electrically connected to the switch for receiving the command signal;

a second controller adapted to be mounted on the plow and electrically connected to the electrically operable device;

a first dedicated communications bus electrically connected to the first controller and dedicated exclusively to conducting signals to and from the first controller;

a second dedicated communications bus electrically connected to the second controller and dedicated exclusively to conducting signals to and from the second controller;

a first connector electrically connected to the first dedicated communications bus;

a second connector electrically connected to the second dedicated communications bus, the second connector being connectable to the first connector upon the plow being mounted on the vehicle, thereby connecting the first dedicated communications bus to the second dedicated communications bus to form a continuous dedicated communications bus for conducting exclusively signals between the first controller and the second controller, and the second connector being disconnectable from the first connector upon the plow being removed from the vehicle, the first controller providing the command signal to the second controller via the continuous dedicated communications bus, and the second controller operating the electrically operable device on the plow in response to the first connector being connected to the second connector and receiving the command signal.

2. The apparatus for controlling a plow of claim 1 wherein the electrically operable device is one of a solenoid, a hydraulic valve, a light and a motor.

3. The apparatus for controlling a plow of claim 1 wherein the plow further has an input device and the second controller is connected to the input device, and second controller communicates to the first controller an output signal from the input device.

4. The apparatus for controlling a plow of claim 1 wherein the input device is one of a pressure switch, a load sensor, a load transducer, a pressure sensor, a pressure transducer, a position sensor, a position transducer, a current sensor and a current transducer.

5. The apparatus for controlling a plow of claim 1 wherein the plow has plow lights and the vehicle has vehicle lights controllable by a vehicle light switch, and the apparatus further comprises:

a third controller comprising

first switch contacts operable to electrically connect the vehicle light switch to the vehicle lights, and

second switch contacts operable to electrically connect the vehicle light switch to the plow lights.

6. The apparatus for controlling an accessory of claim 1 wherein the first and second controllers comprise respective first and second transceivers for multiplexing signals across the continuous dedicated communications bus between the first and second controllers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plow has a light other than a plow headlight and the vehicle has a vehicle light operable in a DRL mode, the apparatus further comprising:

a controller adapted to be mounted on the vehicle, the controller illuminating the light other than the plow headlight in response to detecting a supply voltage operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light other than the plow headlight comprises a pair of turn signal lights.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-operable interface controller electrically connectable to the first controller and being operable to provide a security code to the first controller, and the second controller being operatively connected to the electrically operable device only in response to the second controller receiving the security code from the first controller.

10. A method for controlling a plow attachable to a vehicle, wherein the plow has a motor for moving the plow with respect to the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a switch and a first controller in the vehicle and a second controller on the plow, the second controller being connectable in electrical communications with the first controller by a continuous dedicated communications bus dedicated exclusively to conducting signals therebetween;

operating the switch;

in response to operating the switch, producing from the first controller a first signal operable to initiate operation of the motor;

transmitting the first signal over the continuous dedicated communications bus from the first controller to the second controller; and

operating automatically the motor in response to the second controller receiving the first signal and hence, in response to the switch being operated.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting automatically a presence of the continuous dedicated communications bus between the first controller mounted and the second controller in response to the plow being mounted on the vehicle and a first connector connected to the first controller by a first dedicated communications bus being connected to a second connector connected to the second controller by a second dedicated communications bus, the continuous dedicated communications bus being formed by connecting the first and the second dedicated communications buses.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

detecting automatically an absence of the continuous dedicated communications bus between the first controller and a second controller mounted on the plow in response to the plow being removed from the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the plow has a plow light and the vehicle has a vehicle light, the method further comprising:

detecting a supply voltage operable to illuminate the vehicle light;

determining the supply voltage is operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode; and

illuminating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to determining the supply voltage is operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of automatically operating the plow light comprises illuminating a pair of turn signal lights on the plow in response to determining the supply voltage is operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle has a high beam headlight operable in a DRL mode, the method further comprising:

monitoring the supply voltage supplied to the high beam headlight;

identifying a vehicle DRL mode in response to the supply voltage applied to the high beam headlight being less than a battery voltage; and

illuminating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to identifying the vehicle DRL mode.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle has a low beam headlight operable in a DRL mode, the method further comprising:

monitoring the supply voltage applied to the low beam headlight;

identifying a vehicle DRL mode in response to the supply voltage applied to the low beam headlight being less than a battery voltage; and

illuminating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to identifying the vehicle DRL mode.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle has a park light and a high beam headlight operable in a DRL mode, the method further comprising:

monitoring supply voltages applied to the park light and the high beam headlight;

identifying a vehicle DRL mode in response to

no supply voltage being applied to the park light, and

simultaneously a supply voltage being applied to the high beam headlight of about 85% of a battery voltage; and

illuminating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to identifying the vehicle DRL mode.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle has a park light and a low beam headlight operable in a DRL mode, the method comprising:

monitoring supply voltages applied to the park light and the low beam headlight;

identifying a vehicle DRL mode in response to

no voltage being applied to the park light, and

simultaneously a voltage being applied to the low beam headlight of about 85% of a battery voltage; and

illuminating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to identifying the vehicle DRL mode.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising wherein the one of the plurality of accessories is a straight blade plow and the unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices is an absence of the first solenoid, the method further comprising:

sensing with the third controller an absence of electrical continuity with the first solenoid;

communicating from the third controller to the first controller an absence of the first solenoid; and

automatically programming the first controller to operate the straight blade plow in response to the first controller detecting the absence of the first solenoid.

20. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

mounting an accessory on the vehicle, the accessory having a third controller electrically connected to an electrically operable device unique to the accessory;

sensing with the third controller, electrical continuity with the electrically operable device and then communicating to the first controller a presence of the electrically operable device unique to the accessory; and

the first controller automatically programming itself to operate the accessory in response detecting the presence of the electrically operable device unique to the accessory.

21. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

mounting one of a plurality of accessories on the vehicle, each of the plurality of accessories using a unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices,

electrically connecting the first controller on the vehicle with a third controller mounted with the one of the plurality of accessories;

sensing with the third controller electrical continuity with a respective unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices;

communicating from the third controller to the first controller a presence of the respective unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices on the one of the plurality of accessories; and

automatically programming the first controller to operate the one of the plurality of accessories in response to the first controller detecting the presence of the respective unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the one of the plurality of accessories is a V-blade plow and the unique configuration of one or more electrically operable devices is a first solenoid, the method further comprising:

sensing with the third controller electrical continuity with the first solenoid;

communicating from the third controller to the first controller a presence of the first solenoid; and

automatically programming the first controller to operate the V-blade plow in response to the first controller detecting the presence of the first solenoid.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

storing a first security code in the first controller;

transmitting the first security code from the first controller to the second controller in response to the first connector being connected to the second connector;

storing the first security code in the second controller;

operating the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to the first controller subsequently transmitting the first security code to the second controller; and

disabling operation of the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to a first controller subsequently transmitting a second security code to the second controller that does not match the first security code.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing the first security code with a user-operable interface controller connectable to the first controller.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

electrically connecting the interface controller to the first controller prior to providing the first security code; and

electrically disconnecting the interface controller from the first controller after storing the first security code in the first controller.

26. An apparatus for controlling a plow having devices for moving the plow after the plow is mounted on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

switches adapted to be located remote from the plow and operable by a user to provide respective command signals to command an operation of the devices on the plow;

a first controller located in the proximity of the switches and electrically connected to the switches for receiving the command signals;

a second controller adapted to be mounted on the plow and electrically connected to the devices;

a first dedicated communications bus electrically connected to the first controller and dedicated to exclusively conducting signals to and from the first controller;

a second dedicated communications bus electrically connected to the second controller and dedicated exclusively to conducting signals to and from the second controller;

a first connector electrically connected to the first dedicated communications bus;

a second connector electrically connected to the second dedicated communications bus, the second connector being connectable to the first connector upon the plow being mounted on the vehicle, thereby connecting the first dedicated communications bus to the second dedicated communications bus to form a continuous dedicated communications bus between the first controller and the second controller for conducting exclusively signals therebetween, and the second connector being disconnectable from the first connector upon the plow being removed from the vehicle, the first controller providing the command signals to the second controller via the continuous dedicated communications bus, and the second controller operating the devices on the plow in response to the first connector being connected to the second connector and receiving the command signals.