Communication with a steering wheel switch
First Claim
1. A method for indicating a status of a load of a sub-system in a marine vehicle, the load being controlled by a switch provided on a steering wheel of the marine vehicle, the method comprising:
- powering a switch controller via a transformer'"'"'s secondary windings;
providing said switch controller in said steering wheel for controlling communications between said steering wheel and said marine vehicle;
providing a switch for said load on said steering wheel;
providing a status indicator for said load on said steering wheel;
detecting an activation of said switch by said switch controller;
said switch controller transmitting a galvanically isolated command to said load in said marine vehicle in response to said activation;
providing a load controller in said marine vehicle, said load controller controlling a power input to said switch controller, said load controller receiving said command and activating said load in response to said command;
detecting a status of said load;
pulsing a power input to said switch controller for a predetermined pulse duration corresponding to said detected status;
said switch controller activating said status indicator to Indicate said detected status of said load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for indicating a status of a load of a sub-system in a marine vehicle where the load is controlled by a switch provided on a steering wheel of the marine vehicle. The method comprises: providing a switch controller in the steering wheel for controlling communications between the steering wheel and the marine vehicle; providing a switch for the load on the steering wheel; providing a status indicator for the load on the steering wheel; detecting an activation of the switch by the switch controller; the switch controller transmitting a command to the load in the marine vehicle in response to the activation; providing a load controller in the marine vehicle, the load controller controlling a power input to the switch controller, the load controller receiving the command and activating the load in response to the command; detecting a status of the load; interrupting a power input to the switch controller for a predetermined interruption duration corresponding to the detected status; the switch controller activating the status indicator to indicate the detected status of the load.
104 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for indicating a status of a load of a sub-system in a marine vehicle, the load being controlled by a switch provided on a steering wheel of the marine vehicle, the method comprising:
-
powering a switch controller via a transformer'"'"'s secondary windings; providing said switch controller in said steering wheel for controlling communications between said steering wheel and said marine vehicle; providing a switch for said load on said steering wheel; providing a status indicator for said load on said steering wheel; detecting an activation of said switch by said switch controller; said switch controller transmitting a galvanically isolated command to said load in said marine vehicle in response to said activation; providing a load controller in said marine vehicle, said load controller controlling a power input to said switch controller, said load controller receiving said command and activating said load in response to said command; detecting a status of said load; pulsing a power input to said switch controller for a predetermined pulse duration corresponding to said detected status; said switch controller activating said status indicator to Indicate said detected status of said load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for indicating a status of a load of a sub-system in a marine vehicle, the load being controlled by a switch provided on a steering wheel of the marine vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a contactless rotary transformer for powering and for providing communications with a switch controller in said steering wheel, said switch controller for controlling communications between said steering wheel and said marine vehicle; a switch for activating a load of said sub-system, located on said steering wheel; a status indicator for said load, on said steering wheel; a switch detector for detecting an activation of said switch; a transmitter for transmitting a galvanically isolated command corresponding to said switch activation to said load, In said marine vehicle, in response to said switch detector; a load controller in said marine vehicle, said load controller controlling a power input to said switch controller, said load controller receiving said command and activating said load in response to said command; a status detector for detecting a status of said load; a power pulser for pulsing a power Input to said switch controller for a predetermined pulse duration corresponding to said detected status; wherein said switch controller activates said status indicator to indicate said detected status of said load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification