Self-identifying switch system for vehicle control
First Claim
1. An electrical switch module for use in a motor vehicle, the switch module comprising:
- a backplane comprising a plurality of connections thereon and a communications sub-network;
a sub-network controller in operative communication with the communications sub-network; and
a plurality of electrical switches coupled to the plurality of connections on the backplane so as to be in operative communication with the communications sub-network, each of the plurality of electrical switches including a microprocessor therein programmed to generate switch messages that include therein data regarding an address associated with the switch and a switch logic state;
wherein the sub-network controller is programmed to;
transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches;
receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; and
interpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of;
transmitting the switch messages onto a vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and
controlling operation of one or more solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle switch module includes a sub-network having switches connected thereto and a sub-network controller in operative communication with the sub-network and the switches. Each switch includes a microprocessor programmed to generate switch messages that include address and switch logic state data. The sub-network controller transmits switch queries onto the sub-network to a number of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of switches in the switch module and receives switch messages responsive to the queries from switches at addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted. The received switch messages verify the identity of a switch in the module and provide a switch state for the switch. The sub-network controller interprets the received switch messages and—based on the switch address and switch state data in the messages—controls operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the switches.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical switch module for use in a motor vehicle, the switch module comprising:
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a backplane comprising a plurality of connections thereon and a communications sub-network; a sub-network controller in operative communication with the communications sub-network; and a plurality of electrical switches coupled to the plurality of connections on the backplane so as to be in operative communication with the communications sub-network, each of the plurality of electrical switches including a microprocessor therein programmed to generate switch messages that include therein data regarding an address associated with the switch and a switch logic state; wherein the sub-network controller is programmed to; transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches; receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; and interpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of; transmitting the switch messages onto a vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of identifying and transmitting switch messages to and from a switch module in a vehicle communication system, the method comprising:
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associating a switch ID with each of a plurality of switches included in a vehicle communication system; identifying the switch ID of all switches included in a switch module in the vehicle communication system, such that each switch included in the switch module is identified by its switch ID; identifying a switch state of all switches included in the switch module; and controlling operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the plurality of switches based on the identified switch IDs and their associated switch states; wherein identifying the switch ID and the switch state of switches included in the switch module further comprises; causing a sub-network controller of the switch module to transmit switch queries onto a sub-network of the switch module to each of a plurality of switch addresses; receiving, at the sub-network controller, switch messages from any switches on the sub-network that are associated with the switch IDs to which the switch queries were transmitted; and identifying the switch ID and the switch state of all switches in the switch module based on the received switch messages. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switch module sub-network controller for enabling vehicular communication between switches in a switch module and loads associated with the switches, the sub-network controller being programmed to:
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transmit switch queries onto a communications sub-network of the switch module to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of a plurality of switches; receive switch messages from any switches on the communications sub-network associated with the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted; identify a connection of a switch to the communications sub-network and its associated switch ID and switch state based on the received switch messages, each switch message including a switch ID therein that uniquely identifies the switch; and control operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the plurality of switches based on the switch IDs and their associated switch states, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle output or load comprises at least one of; transmitting the switch messages onto a vehicle communications bus to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling the vehicle output or load associated with the switch messages; and controlling operation of one or more solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification