Remote interface modules with programmable functions

• US 6,272,402 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp. (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kelwaski, H. Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/354,452
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 701/36, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 709/202, 709/223
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A control system for vehicle accessories differentiated from one another in terms of required voltage, current drawn, load duration and variability of energization levels utilizes generic interface modules to effect control. One or more generic remote interface modules, in addition to controllers such as engine and chassis controllers, are mounted on the vehicle for controlling actuation and energization of the non-standard devices, such as motors driving pumps for hydraulic lits. An electronic system controller (ESC) manages the remote interface modules over a serial communication link to provide the specialized functionality. Each remote interface module (RIM) is constructed as a standard component capable of providing digital and analog outputs to devices attached to one or more output ports on the module. The remote interface assumes a number of controller states under the control of the electronic system controller for regulating actuation and energization of the differentiated loads. Input ports are also provided for digital and analog inputs from sensors, which signals may be formatted for transmission to the electronic system controller. The electronic system controller includes memory for storing a data structure specifying permissible remote interface module states and a map to the module'"'"'s ports to provide for the actuation and energization of the differentiated loads.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

a communication network;

a controllable component installed on the vehicle;

a remote interface module connected to the communication network for two way communication, the remote interface module having a processor which is programmable for emulating circuit functionality including control and signal processing components and a plurality of device ports for inputs and outputs, and a communication port, the remote interface module being responsive to programming received on the communication port for assuming functionality specified by the programming for providing control of the controllable component;

a system controller connected to the communication network for two way communication, having a memory including a data structure specifying the functionality to be emulated by the remote interface module and signal processing means for providing programming to the remote interface module based on the data structure.

2. A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data structure maps signals to and from the remote interface module with particular sets of device ports.

3. A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a diagnostic port to the communication network allowing connection of the vehicle control system to an external source of data structures.

4. A control system for a vehicle having a plurality of differentiated devices connected thereto, the control system comprising:

a serial data link;

a remote interface module having a communication port connected to the serial data link and a plurality of device ports connected to selected ones of the differentiated devices, the remote interface module being responsive to signals received on the communication port over the serial data link for assuming a functionality specified by the signals to produce particular states characterized by predetermined signal levels on the plurality of device ports;

a vehicle component connected to a device port for control through the predetermined signal levels on the device ports; and

an electronic system controller coupled to the serial data link for multiplexing signals on the serial data link, and comprising memory and microcomputer means for storing data structures defining functionality for the remote interface module and for generating signals for transmission over the serial data link to the remote interface module to apply the functionality and to produce the particular states.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

program means executing on the electronic system controller for updating the particular state of the remote interface module periodically whereby the remote interface module assumes successive states.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising:

a plurality of specialized remote controllers connected to the serial data link responsive to signals received over the serial data link and to local conditions for assuming the particular states; and

the data structures further including signal specifications for transmission to a specialized remote controller.

7. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a serial communication link;

a first specialized remote controller connected to the serial communication link and responsive to selected signals received over the link and to locally sensed conditions for internally generating output states for any devices connected to the specialized remote controller;

a non-specialized remote interface module connected to the serial communication link and responsive to selected signals received over the link for assuming selected output states;

a vehicle component connected to the non-specialized remote interface module for control; and

a central system controller connected to the serial communication link for multiplexing signals on the serial communication link, the central system controller comprising data storage for data structures defining the selected output states of the non-specialized remote interface module and defining signal specifications for the first specialized remote controller, and processing means for developing input signals for the remote interface module and the specialized remote controller.

8. A control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central system controller further comprises:

processing means executing a load management operation in an endless loop, the load management program including a module responsive to the data structures defining permissible output states for the non-specialized remote interface module for realizing at least one of the following functions, a state machine, a transfer function, a boolean expression, or a truth table.

9. A control system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a signaling process wherein the processing means for developing input signals refers to the data structures to obtain mappings to the ports of the remote interface module and to the signaling process to obtain variable inputs for the load management program.

10. A method of applying vocations to a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes an electronic system controller having a memory, a communication link extending from the electronic system controller and an access port into the communication link and devices requiring control, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a non-specialized remote interface module on the vehicle, the remote interface module including a plurality of input and output ports for connection to devices installed on the vehicle to be controlled by the non-specialized remote interface module, the remote interface module being responsive to specific input triggering signals for assuming a specific state where states are characterized by the generation of certain signals on the output ports;

providing a data structure of possible states for the remote interface module on an external computer;

attaching the external computer to a vehicle via the access port and identifying the vehicle; and

responsive to the identification of the vehicle, writing a data structure mapping of the states for the remote interface module to the memory of the electronic system controller over the access port from the external computer.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a controllable component;

an interface module coupled to the controllable component which may assume a function and a plurality of controller states for regulating actuation and energization of the controllable component;

a communication link; and

a system controller including memory for storing a data structure delineating permissible controller states and functions for the interface module for the actuation of the controllable component; and

the interface module being connected to the system controller over the communication link for assuming selected controller states as directed by the system controller through signals applied from the system controller to the interface module over the communication link.

12. A control system for a plurality of accessories installed on a motor vehicle, the control system comprising:

a plurality of device ports connected to the plurality of accessories;

a signal converter and director connected to the device ports for executing a process responsive to triggering signals which applies predetermined sequences of signals to a first selected set of device ports and to transmit data from a second selected set of device ports;

a serial data link for applying triggering signals to the signal converter and director and carrying data transmitted by the signal converter and director; and

a programmable system controller connected to the serial data link for multiplexing signals and data on the serial data link and for executing a programmed process responsive to the data generating and transmitting triggering signals to the signal converter and director.

13. A control system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising memory addressable by the programmable system controller storing data structures specifying output conditions for the signal converter and director.