Patent · US Expired

Control system and method utilizing generic modules

US5508689A · kind A · utility

218Cited by
28References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 1994
Grant dateApr 16, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2016/0322
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A control system and method for motor vehicles uses generic control modules which communicate over a vehicle trunkline to accommodate applications of varying functional content and complexity. The vehicle trunkline provides power distribution and a number of communication channels for the various generic control modules which include controller modules, interface modules, and combination controller/interface modules. Each generic control module is connected to the vehicle trunkline via a standardized connector. The combination modules and interface modules are connected to system actuators and sensors with relatively short, simple overlay wiring. The system allows distributed computation for the control of functions and utilizes communication networks to reduce the number of conductors required while increasing the utilization of processing capabilities.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.