SELF-IDENTIFYING SWITCH SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE CONTROL

摘要

A vehicle switch module includes a sub-network having switches connected thereto and a sub-network controller in operative communication with the sub-network and the switches. Each switch includes a microprocessor programmed to generate switch messages that include address and switch logic state data. The sub-network controller transmits switch queries onto the sub-network to a number of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of switches in the switch module and receives switch messages responsive to the queries from switches at addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted. The received switch messages verify the identity of a switch in the module and provide a switch state for the switch. The sub-network controller interprets the received switch messages and—based on the switch address and switch state data in the messages—controls operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the switches.

主权项

1. An electrical switch module for use in a motor vehicle, the switch module comprising:
a backplane comprising a plurality of connections thereon and a communications sub-network; a sub-network controller in operative communication with the communications sub-network; and a plurality of electrical switches coupled to the plurality of connections on the backplane so as to be in operative communication with the communications sub-network, each of the plurality of electrical switches including a microprocessor therein programmed to generate switch messages that include therein data regarding an address associated with the switch and a switch logic state; wherein the sub-network controller is programmed to:
transmit switch queries onto the communications sub-network to each of a plurality of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of the plurality of electrical switches;receive switch messages responsive to the switch queries from switches at the switch addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted, with each of the received switch messages verifying the presence of a switch in the switch module and providing a switch state for the respective switch; andinterpret the received switch messages to perform at least one of:
transmitting the switch messages onto a vehicle communications network to which the switch module is in operative communication, for purposes of controlling vehicle outputs associated with the switch messages; andcontrolling operation of one or more solid state outputs or relays associated with the switches from which the switch messages are provided.