System And Method For Power And Data Delivery On A Machine

• US 20100207744A1
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Lammers, Bryan G., Freeman, David Charles Steven
• Application Number:
  US12/769,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.110
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25132 Superposition data signals on power lines for actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25323 Intelligent modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus

Abstract

A machine that includes an electronically controlled engine provides power and communications to attached electrical devices arrayed throughout the machine via a two wire power and data bus. Sensor, driven and communication electrical devices are all connected to the direct current two wire and power data bus by a smart connector. The smart connector includes an alternating current powerline application specific integrated circuit (AC PLC ASIC) with a processor configured to communicate with an outside microprocessor via serial and peripheral interface bus communication. A memory of the AC PLC ASIC is configured to store a unique identifying address. An inductive toroid is configured to enable the AC PLC ASIC to communicate on a predetermined set of frequencies on the direct current two wire power data bus.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a frame;

an electronically controlled engine mounted on the frame, and being operably coupled to an alternator;

a battery supported on the frame and being electrically connected to the alternator by a charging circuit;

a starter operably coupled to the engine and electrically connected to the battery by a starter circuit;

a two wire power and data bus supported by the frame, and being electrically connected to the battery by a regulator circuit; and

a plurality of electrical devices electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus, and including at least one of each of a basic electrical device, a sensor electrical device, a driven electrical device and a communication electrical device.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the frame includes an operator station and a chassis supported on a propulsion system;

a cab segment of the two wire power and data bus being electrically connected to a chassis segment of the two wire power and data bus by a cab interface connector; and

each of the plurality of electrical devices being electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a connector; and

the plurality of electrical devices includes a plurality of electronic control modules.

3. The machine of claim 2 including a different plurality of electrical devices electrically connected to each of the electronic control modules, respectively.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electronic control modules include a transmission electronic control module electrically connected to a plurality of clutch actuators, a lighting electronic control module electrically connected to a plurality of lights, and an implement electronic control module electrically connected to a plurality of electro-hydraulic actuators.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the plurality of electronic control modules and the basic electrical devices are electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a respective basic connector that includes a diode;

and

each of the sensor electrical device, the driven electrical device and the communication electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a respective smart connector.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein each smart connector includes a power line communication chip with a unique address and being configured to receive all power line carrier messages on the two wire power and data bus, but change a power line carrier message with the unique address.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein each sensor electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a sensor smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip, a microprocessor and an input filter;

each driven electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a driver smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip, a microprocessor, an output driver and a heat sink;

each communication electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a communication smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip; and

each basic connector includes a housing with no power line communication chip.

8. The machine of claim 2 wherein a cab segment of the starter circuit being electrically connected to a chassis segment of the starter circuit by the cab interface connector.

9. The machine of claim 1 wherein each sensor electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a sensor smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip, a microprocessor and an input filter;

each driven electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a driver smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip, a microprocessor, an output driver and a heat sink;

each communication electrical device is electrically connected to the two wire power and data bus by a communication smart connector that includes a housing with a power line communication chip; and

each basic connector includes a housing with no power line communication chip.

10. The machine of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes an engine electronic control module in communication with another electronic control module over the two wire power and data bus.

11. A method of operating a machine, comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting a battery to a two wire power and data bus by changing a regulator circuit from an open state to a closed state;

changing a starting circuit from an open state to a closed state to engage a starter to an engine of the machine;

starting the engine of the machine;

charging the battery with power from a charging circuit electrically connected to an alternator coupled to the engine;

powering a plurality of electrical devices with electrical power from the two wire power and data bus; and

communicating information from a first electrical device to a second electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices with signals transmitted over the two wire power and data bus.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the communicating step includes the steps of:

conveying the information as part of a first digital message from the first electrical device to a first smart connector;

conveying a first power line carrier message that includes the information from the first smart connector onto the two wire power and data bus.

13. The method of claim 12 including a step of constructing the power line carrier message which includes identifying information for the second electrical device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the identifying information includes an address of a second smart connector that electrically connects the second electrical device to the two wire power and data bus.

15. The method of claim 14 including a step of receiving a plurality of different power line carrier messages, which includes the first power line carrier message, from the two wire power and data bus to the second smart connector;

and

determining whether each of the power line carrier messages includes the address.

16. The method of claim 15 including a step of determining that the first power line carrier message does include the address;

determining whether the first power line carrier message is reliable.

17. The method of claim 16 including a step of constructing a second digital message, which includes the information, in the second smart connector;

and

conveying the second digital message from the second smart connector to the second electrical device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first digital message and the second digital message are identical messages in one of a J1939, CAN or Flexray protocol.

19. A smart connector for a direct current two wire power and data bus comprising:

an alternating current power line application-specific integrated circuit with a processor configured to communicate with a microprocessor via serial peripheral interface bus communication;

a memory of the alternating current power line application-specific integrated circuit being configured to store a unique identifying address; and

an inductive toroid configured to enable the alternating current power line application-specific integrated circuit to communicate on a predetermined set of frequencies on a direct current two wire power and data bus

20. The smart connector of claim 19 wherein the alternating current capable application-specific integrated circuit is of the Intellon series of power line application-specific integrated circuits.