Shunt for control network in light duty motor vehicle

• US 7,640,087 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vantage Mobility LLC
• Original Assignee: Vantage Mobility International LLC (VMI Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Dailey, Joseph Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/521,531
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

A programmed microprocessor has a learning mode of operation wherein data to and from a circuit coupled to a wiring harness in a vehicle is stored by the microprocessor. After the learning mode is completed, removal of the circuit does not cause an error condition because appropriate data is supplied instead by the microprocessor. A sleep mode of operation prevents the microprocessor from interfering with the operation of the circuit when the circuit and the microprocessor are coupled to the wiring harness.

Claims

1. In a light duty motor vehicle having a wiring harness including at least one network and an electronic circuit coupled to that network, a shunt for emulating the electronic circuit, said shunt comprising:

a programmed microprocessor;

an interface circuit coupled to the microprocessor and to said network;

said microprocessor having a first mode of operation wherein date from said network is stored by the microprocessor and a second mode of operation, whereby removal of the electronic circuit does not cause an error condition on the network because appropriate data is supplied instead by the microprocessor during the second mode of operation.

2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which said microprocessor is prevented from supplying data to the network when said electronic circuit is connected to said network.

3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said microprocessor has a sleep mode of operation.

4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further including a connector for coupling the shunt to the wiring harness, said connector including an intermittent ground terminal.

5. The vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said microprocessor has a sleep mode of operation and said intermittent ground connection controls said sleep mode.

6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further including a connector for coupling the shunt to the wiring harness, said connector including an intermittent supply terminal.

7. The vehicle as set forth in claim 6 and further including a light emitting diode, wherein said microprocessor indicates the end of the first mode by turning on said light emitting diode.

8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further including a Y-harness for coupling said shunt to said wiring harness.

9. The vehicle as set forth in claim 8 and further including a connector for coupling the shunt to the Y-harness, said connector including an intermittent ground terminal.

10. The vehicle as set forth in claim 9 including a section of harness coupled between said connector and said Y-harness, wherein said section of harness does not couple said intermittent ground terminal to said Y-harness, thereby enabling said microprocessor to enter said first mode.