EP0328235A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Information handling and control systems
Assignee: Salplex Ltd
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Filing: 1989-01-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A multiplex system for automotive vehicle electrical systems has a central unit (10) with processing and control means (11) and remote units (20) with power switches (26) for operating loads (70-72). In normal operation the processing and control means (11) controls the switches (26) via signalling links (40). Fault protection is provided by first monitoring means (12) at the control unit to detect failure of the processing and control means (11) and enable first override means (13) at the central unit to cause a default signal to be applied to the links (40). Second monitoring means (80) at a remote unit (20) detects the default signal and enables second override means (90) to set one or more loads to a predetermined safe state either on (70, 71) or off (72).
Inventors
- 👤 Jeremy John Greenwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:07
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B23/00; G05B23/02; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0796; G05B9/00; G05B9/02; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; B60R16/0315; G06F11/0754; G06F11/0757; G06F11/16; G06F11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An information handling and control system comprising a central unit (10) and a plurality of remote units (20) each connected to the central unit by a respective signalling link (40), wherein the central unit includes processing and control means(11), wherein the remote units each include at least one power switching means (26) each for operating a respective load (70,71,72), and wherein in normal operation of the system the processing and control means controls all the power switching means via the signalling links, characterized in that the central unit (10) includes first monitoring means (12) for detecting a predetermined failure condition of means within the central unit, said failure condition indicating failure of normal operation of the processing and control means (11), the central unit includes first override means (13) for causing a default signal to be applied to each signalling link (40) when enabled by the first monitoring means responsive to said failure condition detection, each remote unit (20) includes respective second monitoring means (80) for detecting the default signal on the respective signalling link, and each remote unit (20) includes respective second override means (90) for setting at least one said power switching means (26) at that remote unit to a predetermined state when enabled by the second monitoring means (80) responsive to said default signal detection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
An information handling and control system comprising a central unit (10) and a plurality of remote units (20) each connected to the central unit by a respective signalling link (40), wherein the central unit includes processing and control means(11), wherein the remote units each include at least one power switching means (26) each for operating a respective load (70,71,72), and wherein in normal operation of the system the processing and control means controls all the power switching means via the signalling links, characterized in that the central unit (10) includes first monitoring means (12) for detecting a predetermined failure condition of means within the central unit, said failure condition indicating failure of normal operation of the processing and control means (11), the central unit includes first override means (13) for causing a default signal to be applied to each signalling link (40) when enabled by the first monitoring means responsive to said failure condition detection, each remote unit (20) includes respective second monitoring means (80) for detecting the default signal on the respective signalling link, and each remote unit (20) includes respective second override means (90) for setting at least one said power switching means (26) at that remote unit to a predetermined state when enabled by the second monitoring means (80) responsive to said default signal detection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1,wherein the system is operable by battery means (+V) when connected to the central unit and to the remote units, wherein the central unit includes power supply means(14) for operating the processing and control means (11) in normal operation of the system, and wherein the first override means (13) includes further power supply means (131) which are turned on by the first monitoring means (12) responsive to said failure condition detection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in normal operation of the system the processing and control means (11) applies to each signalling link (40) successive voltage conditions each selected from a set of normal voltage conditions, wherein the default signal consists of a predetermined one of the normal voltage conditions having at least a predetermined duration which is longer than can occur during normal operation of the system, and wherein each second monitoring means (80) includes detecting and timing means (81,D3,R4,C) responsive to the presence on the respective signalling link of said predetermined one of the normal voaltage conditions for said predetermined duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each signalling link (40) includes a clock pulse data line (41), wherein in normal operation of the system the processing and control means (11) applies bursts of clock pulses to the clock pulse data lines with a normal interval betwen said bursts, and wherein said predetermined duration associated with the default signal is longer than said normal interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the first override means (13) causes said predetermined one of the normal voltage conditions associated with the default signal to be continuously applied to each signalling link (40) only for so long as the first monitoring means (12) continuously detects said failure condition, and wherein, upon restoration of normal operation of the processing and control means (11), the second monitoring means (80) at each remote unit disables the respective second override means (90) responsive to the absence on the respective signalling link of said predetermined one of the normal voltage conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An automotive vehicle electrical system including an information handling and controlsystem as claimed inany previous claim.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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