Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-08-14
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2735)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C370S419000, C370S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275167
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and systems for communicating between remote-controlled modules in automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND ART
The current state of automotive electronics is maturing rapidly. Designers and manufacturers are driven by a market which constantly demands more functionality, both as a result of the increasing tastes of users and by demands of competition. In particular, automotive electronics has grown quite rapidly as new features are added and old features are upgraded to place them under electronic control. Consequently, complexity of the vehicle interior subsystems in general and wiring in particular is adversely affected. Multiplexing is a choice for designers wishing to both reduce wiring complexity and increase functionality.
As a result, the field of multiplexing is becoming a sophisticated endeavor with many competing systems all trying for attention. At the low end of the multiplexing spectrum there exists those applications which traditionally would not have been contenders for electronic multiplexing. However, advances in electronics have changed that with single wire multiplexing now becoming feasible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,591 issued to Haubner et al. discloses a method and system for communicating between remote-controlled modules utilizing a single communication line, such as a light guide. Pulse sequences having different pulse widths, pulse gap widths and number of pulses are arranged in a predetermined order to form codes for receipt by respective control modules. Although this system utilizes light pulses as the communication medium in order to minimize sensitivity to electrical noise and voltage offsets, such a system is relatively expensive and difficult to integrate into the vehicle assembly process.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, yet reliable method and system for communicating between remote-controlled modules in automotive vehicles that is insensitive to voltage offsets as well as vehicle electrical noise.
In carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a method is provided for transferring pulse messages between remote-controlled modules in an automotive vehicle having a single wire bus coupled to each of the modules for transferring the pulse messages between each of the modules, at least one of the modules including a receiver circuit for receiving the pulse messages and at least one of the modules including a transmitter circuit for transmitting the pulse messages. The method includes providing a communication current to the bus. The method also includes transmitting the pulse messages utilizing the communication current. Still further, the method includes receiving the pulse messages transmitted by the transmitter circuit upon detecting the communication current being drawn from the receiver circuit.
In further carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a system is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described method. The system includes a single wire bus coupled to each of the modules for transferring the pulse messages between each of the modules. The system also includes a receiver circuit associated with at least one of the modules and coupled to the bus for providing a communication current to the bus. Still further, the system includes a transmitter circuit associated with at least one of the modules and coupled to the bus for transmitting the pulse messages utilizing the communication current. The first receiver circuit becomes active and accepts the pulse messages transmitted by the transmitter circuit upon detecting the communication current being drawn from the receiver circuit.
The above object and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 196 37 312 A1 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 0 406 718 A2 (1991-01-01), None
Dombrowski John Edward
Kraus Richard Alan
Horabik Michael
Mollon Mark L.
Shimizu M.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
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