Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Plural load circuit systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-07-24
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Plural load circuit systems
C307S009100, C307S010100, C455S041300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265788
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to communications systems, and more particularly to a wireless control system for communicating control signals to a plurality of electronically controlled devices such as the radio, climate control, and air bag systems of an automobile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An automobile can contain numerous electronic subsystems. Examples include the radio, windshield wipers, cruise control and ignition systems, among others. In modern automobiles, such systems can be linked together through an array of control wires that provide the signaling links between the systems and a micro-processor adapted to communicate with and/or control the systems. Each subsystem is typically also connected to power and ground wires. This arrangement of power, ground and control is typically bundled into a wiring harness, which may consume considerable space under the dash of the automobile.
Remote control systems have been used for years in television, stereo, lighting system and garage door applications, for example. Most remotes operate using infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) signals. In general, IR technology requires that the remote be pointed directly at the controlled device so an IR light beam may be transmitted to a light sensor, while an RF system can operate without a direct line-of-sight from the controller.
While IR and RF signaling may be suitable for some applications, they are not particularly well adapted for use in tight spaces such as underneath the dash of an automobile. Most often, copper wire is the material of choice for wiring harness applications, although fiber-optic cabling may be a useful alternative. With either medium, however, space is consumed due to the physical routing of cables from the controlling device to the controlled devices.
To illustrate,
FIG. 1
depicts one application with an automobile
10
having a wiring harness
12
physically coupled to a plurality of controlled devices
14
,
16
,
18
, and
20
located throughout the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU)
26
is also coupled to the wiring harness
12
and adapted to transmit control signals over the wiring harness
12
to the various devices
14
,
16
,
18
, and
20
of the automobile
10
. A control mechanism
22
is also coupled to the wiring harness
12
which is operable by a driver of the automobile to indicate which devices the ECU
26
should activate. The devices
14
,
16
,
18
and
20
are representative of a wide array of electronically controlled components of the automobile
10
such as the headlights
16
, rear brake lights
18
, and overhead lights
20
, for example.
The automobile wiring harness
12
would include the control wires routed from the front to the back of the automobile, split off to various devices and subsystems of the vehicle. Some devices include a relay that is activated by a control signal that, for example, can cause the device to turn ON and OFF. Automobile manufacturers currently invest several hundred dollars per vehicle in wiring harnesses for distributing power, control and status signals. These wiring harnesses are difficult to install, being located in hard-to-reach places, such as underneath the dash or along side the firewall. In addition, wiring harnesses of modern automobiles have more wires than those of the past, due to technological improvements and more strict regulations imposed on automobile manufacturers, requiring the installation of various pollution, fuel efficiency, and safety systems, among others, in automobiles.
Replacing modern automobile wiring harnesses with an IR or RF counterpart would be impractical. IR systems require a direct line-of-sight between the ECU
26
and each device
14
,
16
,
18
,
20
and
21
in the automobile
10
. While reflective surfaces could be located and angled to direct signals from the transmitting control unit to individual components, the cost and complexity of such a solution would be prohibitive.
An RF operated device would also be impractical since they are effected by and can cause noise and/or interference from and with other systems in close proximity. In addition, RF frequencies are regulated and licensed by governmental agencies such as the FCC.
A wireless control system for communicating control signals to a plurality of electronic devices, such as those found in an automobile, over a relatively short distance, eliminating the need for expensive, bulky, and difficult-to-install wiring harnesses would provide numerous advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention achieves technical advantages as a system and method for communicating wireless control signals in a system having a plurality of controlled electronic devices such as those found in an automobile. In one embodiment, disclosed is a wireless control system for distributing electrical control signals to a plurality of controlled devices, including an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to communicate with one or more controlled devices, and an induction loop coupled to the ECU and adapted to provide a magnetic field within the range of the controlled devices, wherein each controlled device is adapted to receive control signals from the ECU via the induction loop.
In another embodiment, disclosed is a wiring harness for distributing electrical control signals in an automobile including an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to communicate with one or more vehicular systems of the automobile, and an induction loop coupled to the ECU and adapted to provide a magnetic field within the communications range of the vehicular system. A plurality of control elements are arranged throughout the automobile to receive control signals from the ECU via the induction loop. Each of the control elements includes an induction coil tuned to couple signals modulated within the magnetic field of the induction loop.
Also disclosed is a method of communicating electrical control signals to a plurality of controlled devices in a wireless control system having an electronic control unit (ECU), an induction loop coupled to the ECU and adapted to provide a magnetic field within the range of the controlled devices. Each controlled device has an induction coil tuned to couple signals modulated within the magnetic field of the induction loop. The method includes generating a wireless electric control signal and transmitting the wireless electric control signal to the controlled devices.
Advantages of the invention include the elimination of wiring harnesses, and/or a reduction in the number of wires required in existing wiring harnesses, resulting in space and cost savings, and a reduction in installation time. The present invention is particularly advantageous for use in noisy environments of an automobile, because of the inherent low interference susceptibility of induction loop technology.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3809816 (1974-05-01), Reed et al.
patent: 4061972 (1977-12-01), Burgess
patent: 4471356 (1984-09-01), Gidl
patent: 4685396 (1987-08-01), Birse et al.
patent: 5856710 (1999-01-01), Baughman et al.
Davidson Lee
Valentine Eric
Ballato Josie
DeBeradinis Robert L.
Ericsson Inc.
Navarro Arthur I.
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