Self-identifying control switch
First Claim
1. A vehicle communication system comprising:
- a switch module including a plurality of control switches, each of the plurality of control switches comprising;
a rocker button moveable between an off position and an activated position;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to the rocker button, the RFID tag including thereon a unique identifier tied to a function of the control switch;
a switch contact coupled to the RFID tag and to the rocker button, such that the switch contact moves with the rocker button when actuated between the off position and the activated position; and
an antenna selectively in operable communication with the RFID tag based on a position of the switch contact;
an RFID reader configured to receive switch messages from RFID tags whose respective rocker button is in an activated position, each switch message including the unique identifier for its respective RFID tag; and
a vehicle communications link connected to the RFID reader to receive switch messages therefrom, the vehicle communications link providing the switch messages to a vehicle controller for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages;
wherein the switch contact forms a communications path between the RFID tag and the antenna when in a closed position, the switch contact being moved to the closed position responsive to actuation of the rocker button to the activated position; and
wherein the antenna generates a switch message for transmission to the RFID reader when the communications path is formed between the RFID tag and the antenna.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle communication system includes a switch module having a plurality of control switches, each of the control switches including a rocker button actuatable between an off position and an activated position, and an RFID tag secured to the rocker button, the RFID tag including thereon a unique identifier tied to a function of the control switch. The vehicle communication system also includes an RFID reader that receives switch messages from RFID tags whose respective rocker button is in an activated position, each switch message including the unique identifier for its respective RFID tag. The vehicle communication system also includes a vehicle communications link that is connected to the RFID reader to receive switch messages therefrom, the vehicle communications link providing the switch messages to a vehicle controller for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A vehicle communication system comprising:
-
a switch module including a plurality of control switches, each of the plurality of control switches comprising; a rocker button moveable between an off position and an activated position; a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to the rocker button, the RFID tag including thereon a unique identifier tied to a function of the control switch; a switch contact coupled to the RFID tag and to the rocker button, such that the switch contact moves with the rocker button when actuated between the off position and the activated position; and an antenna selectively in operable communication with the RFID tag based on a position of the switch contact; an RFID reader configured to receive switch messages from RFID tags whose respective rocker button is in an activated position, each switch message including the unique identifier for its respective RFID tag; and a vehicle communications link connected to the RFID reader to receive switch messages therefrom, the vehicle communications link providing the switch messages to a vehicle controller for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; wherein the switch contact forms a communications path between the RFID tag and the antenna when in a closed position, the switch contact being moved to the closed position responsive to actuation of the rocker button to the activated position; and wherein the antenna generates a switch message for transmission to the RFID reader when the communications path is formed between the RFID tag and the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A vehicle control switch comprising:
-
a rocker button actuatable between an off position and one or more activated positions; one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to an underside of the rocker button, with an RFID tag being provided for each of the one or more activated positions of the rocker button, and wherein each of the one or more RFID tags includes thereon a unique address tied to a function of the control switch in its respective activated position; a switch contact coupled to each of the one or more RFID tags and to the rocker button, such that the switch contact moves with the rocker button when actuated between the off position and the one or more activated positions; and one or more antennas selectively in operable communication with the one or more RFID tags based on a position of the switch contact associated with each respective RFID tag; wherein a communications path between an RFID tag and an antenna is formed by a respective switch contact when the rocker button is in one of the one or more activated positions, thereby causing the antenna to transmit a switch signal to an RFID reader remote from the vehicle control switch, the switch signal including therein the unique address of the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A vehicle communication system comprising:
-
a plurality of control switches selectively operable to control vehicle functions or loads in a desired manner, each of the plurality of control switches comprising; a rocker button actuatable between an off position and one or more activated positions; one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags secured to an underside of the rocker button, each RFID tag having stored thereon a unique address indicative of a function of the control switch; and one or more antennas operable with the one or more RFID tags to transmit switch messages including the address of the RFID tag indicative of a function of the control switch; wherein actuation of the rocker button between the off position and the one or more activated positions selectively connects and disconnects the one or more antennas from respective ones of the one or more RFID tags; and an RFID reader configured to; transmit interrogator signals to each of the RFID tags in the plurality of control switches; and responsive to the interrogator signals, receive switch messages from each RFID tag connected to its respective antenna based on actuation of the respective rocker button to an activated position, each switch message including the unique address for its respective RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification