Vehicle communication system

• US 6,229,434 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Walstra, Eric J., Turnbull, Robert R., Knapp, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/368,325
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/310.02, 340/425.5, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 701/36, 701/49, 701/53, 301/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/12.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence

Abstract

A communication circuit for use in a vehicle including a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle, a second electronic module, and an electrical conductor coupled between the first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which bidirectional serial communication is enabled. The first module supplies power to the second module through the electrical conductor. The first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through the electrical conductor. The first and second modules may also transmit RF signals over the electrical conductor. The second module may be housed in an outside rearview mirror assembly while the first module may be disposed inside of the vehicle. Such a communication system allows independent control of multiple electrical components in the outside rearview mirror assembly over a single wire.

Claims

1. A communication circuit for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;

a second electronic module disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly; and

a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which bi-directional serial communication is enabled,

wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor.

2. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module modulates the power supplied to said second module by modulating the voltage level applied to said electrical conductor.

3. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module modulates the power supplied to said second module by modulating the current delivered to said electrical conductor.

4. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second electronic module is disposed outside of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first vehicle accessory is coupled to a vehicle system bus.

6. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1 and further including a third electronic module coupled to said second electronic module by a second dedicated electrical conductor.

7. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module is disposed in a housing of an inside rearview mirror assembly.

8. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module is disposed in a door of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1 and further including a third electronic module coupled to said second electronic module by a second dedicated electrical conductor, wherein said third module is disposed in a door of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module is coupled to a vehicle system bus and generates and transmits control signals to said second module in response to information transmitted on the vehicle system bus.

11. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor and said first and second modules are configured for simultaneous bi-directional communication between said first and second modules.

12. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module modulates the power supplied to said second module with serial data.

13. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second modules transmit RF signals over said dedicated electrical conductor.

14. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 13, wherein said electrical conductor is shielded to minimize electromagnetic interference.

15. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 13, wherein at least one of said first and second modules includes a DC matching and blocking network.

16. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 13, wherein said second module includes an antenna for receiving RF signals.

17. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 13, wherein said second module includes an antenna for transmitting RF signals received through said electrical conductor.

18. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second module is dependent upon said first module for electrical power.

19. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module modulates the power supplied between a first voltage level and a second voltage level, where the second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level and is greater than zero.

20. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first module generates and transmits control signals to said second module for control of independently operated electrical components coupled to said second module.

21. A communication circuit for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first electronic module adapted to be coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;

a second electronic module disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly; and

a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power may be supplied and through which serial communication is enabled,

wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor, and wherein said second module is dependent upon said first module for electrical power.

22. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second modules transmit RF signals over said electrical conductor.

23. A communication circuit for a vehicle, comprising:

an RF antenna disposed outside of the vehicle;

a first electronic module disposed inside the vehicle and coupled to a power supply of the vehicle;

a second electronic module coupled to said RF antenna; and

a dedicated electrical conductor coupled between said first and second modules to provide a transmission path through which power and RF signals may be transmitted,

wherein said first module supplies power to said second module through said dedicated electrical conductor and wherein at least one of said first and second modules transmits RF signals to the other module through said dedicated electrical conductor.

24. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said antenna receives RF signals and said second module transmits the received RF signals to said first module through said dedicated electrical conductor.

25. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a receiver of a tire pressure sensing system, said antenna receives RF signals indicating a sensed tire pressure and transmits the received RF signals to the receiver through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor.

26. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said antenna is disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly.

27. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said electrical conductor is shielded to minimize electromagnetic interference.

28. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein at least one of said first and second modules includes a DC matching and blocking network.

29. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a receiver of a remote keyless entry system, said antenna receives RF signals including a command to lock/unlock one or more vehicle doors and transmits the received RF signals to the receiver through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor.

30. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a receiver of a trainable RF transmitter, said antenna receives RF signals including a command to open one or more garage doors and transmits the received RF signals to the receiver through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor during training of the trainable RF transmitter.

31. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a GPS receiver, said antenna receives RF signals from a GPS satellite and transmits the received RF signals to the receiver through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor.

32. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a garage door opening transmitter that transmits RF signals to said antenna through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor.

33. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is coupled to a transceiver that transmits/receives RF signals to/from said antenna through said first and second modules and said electrical conductor.

34. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said dedicated electrical conductor provides a transmission path through which bi-directional serial communication is enabled, and said first and second modules transmit serial data to one another through said dedicated electrical conductor.

35. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said second electronic module is disposed outside of the vehicle.

36. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said second electronic module is disposed inside of the vehicle.

37. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first vehicle accessory is coupled to a vehicle system bus.

38. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is disposed in a housing of an inside rearview mirror assembly.

39. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said first module is disposed in a door of the vehicle.

40. The vehicle communication circuit as defined in claim 23, wherein said second module is disposed in a housing of an outside rearview mirror assembly.

41. An outside rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing; and

at least two electrical components disposed within or on said housing, said electrical components are coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which power and serial data signals may be collectively transmitted to said electrical components, said electrical components are independently controlled as a result of the transmittal of selected serial data signals transmitted through said transmission path.

42. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 41 and further including a control circuit disposed within or on said housing and coupled to said electrical components and to said electrical conductor such that said electrical components are coupled to the electrical conductor through said control circuit, said control circuit transmits control signals to said electrical components in response to serial data signals transmitted through said transmission path such that said electrical components being independently controlled as a result of the transmittal of selected serial data signals transmitted through said transmission path.

43. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 42, wherein said electronic controller receives power from a power supply through said transmission path and wherein the power supplied through the transmission path is modulated with the data signals.

44. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 43, wherein said control circuit supplies power to at least one of said electrical components.

45. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 42, wherein said control circuit is coupled to a second electrical conductor through which said control circuit receives power.

46. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 45, wherein said control circuit supplies power to said electrical components.

47. The outside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 41, wherein said electrical components include any two or more of the following components:

an electrochromic mirror, a glare detection sensor, a turn signal indicator, an exterior security lamp, a mirror heater, an RF antenna, an RF receiver, an RF transmitter, a mirror positioning mechanism, a mirror folding mechanism, a temperature probe, a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, a blind spot detector, and a road/lane edge sensor.

48. An inside rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a housing; and

a control circuit disposed within or on said housing and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which power and serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the dedicated electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components.

49. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein said control circuit receives signals from at least one of the electrical components through said electrical conductor.

50. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein the electrical components to which said control circuit is coupled include any two or more of the following components:

an electrochromic mirror, a glare detection sensor, a turn signal indicator, an exterior security lamp, a mirror heater, an RF antenna, an RF receiver, an RF transmitter, a mirror positioning mechanism, a mirror folding mechanism, a temperature probe, a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, a blind spot detector, and a road/lane edge sensor.

51. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein the electrical components to which said control circuit is coupled include any two or more of the following components:

window switches, mirror position switches, heater switches, door open/close switches, seat movement switches, a trunk release switch, and a gas tank door release switch.

52. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein said control circuit is coupled to a vehicle system bus.

53. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48 and further including an RF receiver disposed in said mirror housing and coupled to said control circuit to receive RF signals through the electrical conductor.

54. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48 and further including an electrochromic mirror disposed in said housing and electrically coupled to said control circuit.

55. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 48, wherein said control circuit supplies power to the electrical components.

56. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 55, wherein said control circuit supplies power to the electrical components through a second electrical conductor.

57. The inside rearview mirror assembly as defined in claim 55, wherein said control circuit supplies power through said electrical conductor and modulates the supplied power with serial data.

58. An electronic door module assembly for a vehicle comprising a control circuit disposed in a door of the vehicle and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components, wherein the electrical components to which said control circuit is coupled include any two or more of the following components:

an electrochromic mirror, a glare detection sensor, a turn signal indicator, an exterior security lamp, a mirror heater, an RF antenna, an RF receiver, an RF transmitter, a mirror positioning mechanism, a mirror folding mechanism, a temperature probe, a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, a blind spot detector, and a road/lane edge sensor.

59. An electronic door module assembly for a vehicle comprising a control circuit disposed in a door of the vehicle and coupled to a dedicated electrical conductor that provides a transmission path through which serial data signals may be transmitted to at least two independently operable electrical components of the vehicle that are coupled to the electrical conductor, said control circuit serially transmits data signals through said transmission path to control the operation of the electrical components, wherein said control circuit is coupled to any two or more of the following components:

window switches, mirror position switches, heater switches, door open/close switches, seat movement switches, a trunk release switch, and a gas tank door release switch.