Control network with data and power distribution
First Claim
1. A hierarchical control network, comprising:
- a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, said network nodes comprising a plurality of first-tier nodes and a plurality of lower tier nodes;
a master control bus interconnecting said first-tier nodes;
an input power line electronically coupled to said first-tier nodes, said input power line providing a power signal derived from a high voltage power source; and
one or more lower-tier buses interconnecting said first-tier nodes to groups of said lower tier nodes, said lower-tier buses including both data lines and a power source line, said power source line derived from said input power line for providing high power to said lower tier nodes for local distribution;
wherein each lower-tier bus interconnects one of said first-tier nodes with one or more of said lower tier nodes, at least one of said lower-tier buses interconnecting one of said first-tier nodes with more than one of said lower tier nodes;
wherein data signals and high voltage are communicated over the data lines and power source line, respectively, from the first-tier node to the respective lower tier nodes with which it is connected over the first-tier node'"'"'s respective lower-tier bus; and
wherein said lower tier nodes selectively distribute power from the power source line to local loads.
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Abstract
A control network comprises a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, with first-tier nodes and lower tier nodes. A master control bus interconnects the first-tier nodes, which are also connected to a power source. Lower-tier buses interconnect groups of the lower tier nodes. The lower-tier buses include both data lines and a power source line derived from the power source, allowing the lower tier nodes to selectively distribute power to local loads. A first-tier node may be embodied as a hub controller configured to be connected to one or more of said lower-tier buses. The hub controller may comprise a plurality of internal hub nodes (including a hub master node and hub slave nodes) integrated within the same physical unit.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A hierarchical control network, comprising:
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a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, said network nodes comprising a plurality of first-tier nodes and a plurality of lower tier nodes; a master control bus interconnecting said first-tier nodes; an input power line electronically coupled to said first-tier nodes, said input power line providing a power signal derived from a high voltage power source; and one or more lower-tier buses interconnecting said first-tier nodes to groups of said lower tier nodes, said lower-tier buses including both data lines and a power source line, said power source line derived from said input power line for providing high power to said lower tier nodes for local distribution; wherein each lower-tier bus interconnects one of said first-tier nodes with one or more of said lower tier nodes, at least one of said lower-tier buses interconnecting one of said first-tier nodes with more than one of said lower tier nodes; wherein data signals and high voltage are communicated over the data lines and power source line, respectively, from the first-tier node to the respective lower tier nodes with which it is connected over the first-tier node'"'"'s respective lower-tier bus; and wherein said lower tier nodes selectively distribute power from the power source line to local loads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hierarchical control network, comprising:
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a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, said network nodes comprising a plurality of first-tier nodes and a plurality of lower tier nodes; a master control bus interconnecting said first-tier nodes; a power source electronically coupled to said first-tier nodes; and one or more lower-tier buses interconnecting groups of said lower tier nodes, said lower-tier buses including both data lines and a power source line, said power source line derived from said power source; wherein said lower tier nodes selectively distribute power from the power source line to local loads; wherein each of said first-tier network nodes is a hub controller, each hub controller capable of being connected to one or more of said lower-tier buses; wherein each hub controller comprises a plurality of internal hub nodes integrated within the same physical unit; and wherein said plurality of internal hub nodes comprises a hub master node adapted to interface with other first tier nodes over the master control bus, and one or more hub slave nodes adapted to interface with lower tier nodes using one of the lower-tier buses.
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20. A vehicle control network, comprising:
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a plurality of hub controllers, each hub controller comprising a plurality of internal hub nodes integrated within the same physical housing and a plurality of output ports, each internal hub node having an output port configured to connect to a lower-tier bus; a master control bus interconnecting said hub controllers; a high-power source electronically coupled to said hub controllers; a plurality of lower-tier network nodes; and a plurality of lower-tier integrated power/data buses connected to said hub controllers, each of said lower-tier integrated power/data buses connecting one or more of the lower-tier network nodes to one of the output ports of a hub controller, said lower-tier integrated power/data buses each including both data lines and a high power line encapsulated in a single cable, said high power line derived from said high-power source; whereby said lower-tier network nodes receive both high power and data from their respective hub node connected thereto; and whereby said lower tier network nodes selectively distribute power to local loads in physical proximity therewith. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A vehicle control network, comprising:
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a plurality of hub controllers, each hub controller comprising a plurality of internal hub nodes integrated within the same physical housing and a plurality of output ports, each internal hub node having an output port configured to connect to a lower-tier bus; a master control bus interconnecting said hub controllers; a high-power source electronically coupled to said hub controllers; a plurality of lower-tier network nodes; and a plurality of lower-tier integrated power/data buses connected to said hub controllers, each of said lower-tier integrated power/data buses connecting one or more of the lower-tier network nodes to one of the output ports of a hub controller, said lower-tier integrated power/data buses each including both data lines and a high power line encapsulated in a single cable, said high power line derived from said high-power source; whereby said lower-tier network nodes receive both high power and data from their respective hub node connected thereto; whereby said lower tier network nodes selectively distribute power to local loads in physical proximity therewith; and wherein said plurality of internal hub nodes within a hub controller comprises a hub master node configured to interface with other hub controllers over the master control bus, and one or more hub slave nodes adapted to interface with lower tier network nodes using one of the lower-tier buses.
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31. A method for hierarchical control network, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of network nodes in a plurality of tiers, said network nodes comprising a plurality of first-tier nodes and a plurality of lower tier nodes; connecting a master control bus to said first-tier nodes; coupling an input power line to said first-tier nodes, said input power line providing a power signal derived from a high voltage power source; connecting said first-tier nodes into groups of said lower tier nodes with a plurality of lower-tier data buses, each lower-tier bus interconnecting one of said first-tier nodes with one or more of said lower tier nodes, at least one of said lower-tier buses interconnecting one of said first-tier nodes with more than one of said lower tier nodes, wherein said lower-tier buses include (i) one or more data lines and (ii) a high power signal line derived from said input power line for providing high power to said lower tier nodes for local distribution; communicating data signals and high voltage over the data lines and high power signal line, respectively, from the first-tier node to its respective lower tier nodes over the first-tier node'"'"'s respective lower-tier bus; and selectively distributing power from the high power signal line to local loads at one or more of the respective lower tier nodes. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for controlling a vehicle and distributing power over a control network, comprising:
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for each of a plurality of hub controllers, integrating a plurality of internal hub nodes within the same physical housing, each internal hub node having an output port configured to connect to a lower-tier bus; interconnecting said hub controllers with a master control bus; electronically coupling a high-power source to said hub controllers, said high-power source derived from a vehicle battery; at each of said hub controllers, providing a high-power output signal derived from said high-power source; connecting a plurality of lower-tier integrated power/data buses to said hub controllers, each of said lower-tier integrated power/data buses connecting one of the output ports of the hub controller to one or more lower-tier network nodes, said lower-tier integrated power/data buses each including both data lines and a high power line encapsulated in a single cable, said high power line carrying said high-power output signal, whereby said lower-tier network nodes receive both high power and data from their respective hub node connected thereto; and selectively distributing high power from said lower tier network nodes to local loads in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification