Abstract A power line, an address line and a plurality of flip-flops for generating sequential time slots are displaced around a vehicle. A function control center transmits clocking pulses to the flipflops which sequentially generate time slots associated respectively with each function which can be performed on the vehicle and transmits an address signal on the address line synchronized with the time slot associated with a selected function to be performed to effect the initiation of that function. The function control center provides one form of control in which a control switch continually controls a function associated therewith while said switch is actuated and a second form of control in which another control switch is effective for initiating a function associated therewith, which function is continually performed until yet another control switch is actuated to terminate the function. The function control center also includes a priority circuit which momentarily disrupts the first form of control to permit the second form of control to effect a selected operation after which the first form of control is again made effective.
A vehicle multiplex system comprising: a plurality of electrically operated circuits to be selectively energized so as to perform prescribed functions, said plurality of electrically operated circuits being comprised of first and second groups; means for generating clock pulses; means coupled to the last mentioned means and responsive to the clock pulses for cyclically generating a number of sequential time slots, each of said time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of the plurality of electrically operated circuits may be energized; a first number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the first group; a second number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the second group; means coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said switch means for generating a first signal simultaneous with the time slots which represents the time period during which the electrically operated circuit whose energization is effected by said selected switch means may be energized; means coupled to the second number of manually operable switch means and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said switch means for generating a second signal simultaneous with the time slot which represents the time period during which the electrically operated circuit whose energization is affected by said selected switch means may be energized; means coupled to the means for generating the second signal and the means for generating clock pulses for inhibiting further clock pulses while the second signal is being generated to extend the duration of the time slot coexisting with said second signal; means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an address signal; means responsive to the coexistence of the address signal and one of the time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of a plurality of electrical circuits may be energized for energizing said circuit; and a priority circuit coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means for disabling the means for generating the second signal when one of said first number of switch means is operated, whereby the first number of manually operable switch means are effective for selectively energizing one of the electrically operated circuits in the first group while one of the second number of manually operable switch means is operated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
404 words
A vehicle multiplex system comprising: a plurality of electrically operated circuits to be selectively energized so as to perform prescribed functions, said plurality of electrically operated circuits being comprised of first and second groups; means for generating clock pulses; means coupled to the last mentioned means and responsive to the clock pulses for cyclically generating a number of sequential time slots, each of said time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of the plurality of electrically operated circuits may be energized; a first number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the first group; a second number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the second group; means coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said switch means for generating a first signal simultaneous with the time slots which represents the time period during which the electrically operated circuit whose energization is effected by said selected switch means may be energized; means coupled to the second number of manually operable switch means and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said switch means for generating a second signal simultaneous with the time slot which represents the time period during which the electrically operated circuit whose energization is affected by said selected switch means may be energized; means coupled to the means for generating the second signal and the means for generating clock pulses for inhibiting further clock pulses while the second signal is being generated to extend the duration of the time slot coexisting with said second signal; means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an address signal; means responsive to the coexistence of the address signal and one of the time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of a plurality of electrical circuits may be energized for energizing said circuit; and a priority circuit coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means for disabling the means for generating the second signal when one of said first number of switch means is operated, whereby the first number of manually operable switch means are effective for selectively energizing one of the electrically operated circuits in the first group while one of the second number of manually operable switch means is operated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
493 words
A vehicle multiplex system comprising: a plurality of electrically operated circuits to be selectively energized so as to perform prescribed functions, said plurality of electrically operated circuits being comprised of first and second groups; means for generating clock pulses; means coupled to the last mentioned means and responsive to the clock pulses for cyclically generating a number of sequential time slots, each of said time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of the plurality of electrically operated circuits may be energized; and a control circuit, said control circuit comprising means for generating a respective unique identifying signal for each time slot and coexisting therewith, a first number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the first group, a second number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the second group, first gate means coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means and the means for generating an identifying signal and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said first number of switch means to effect energization of the respective electrically operated circuit in the first group for generating a first signal during the identifying signal unique to the time slot representing the time period during which said electrically operated circuit may be energized, second gate means coupled to the second number of manually operable switch means and the means for generating an identifying signal and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said second number of switch means to effect energization of the respective electrically operated circuit in the second group for generating a second signal during the identifying signal unique to the time slot representing the time period during which said electrically operated circuit may be energized, means coupled to the means for generating the second signal and the means for generating clock pulses for inhibiting further clock pulses while the second signal is being generated to extend the duration of the time slot coexisting with said second signal, means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an address signal, means responsive to the coexistence of the address signal and one of the time slots representing the time period during which a repsective one of the plurality of electrical circuits may be energized for energizing said circuit, and a priority circuit coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means for disabling the means for generating the second signal for a predetermined time period when one of said first number of manually operable switch means is actuated so as to permit the respective electrically operated circuit in the first group to perform the function prescribed thereto, whereby the first number of manually operable switch means are effective for selectively energizing one of the electrically operated circuits in the first group while one of the secOnd number of manually operable switch means is operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
493 words
A vehicle multiplex system comprising: a plurality of electrically operated circuits to be selectively energized so as to perform prescribed functions, said plurality of electrically operated circuits being comprised of first and second groups; means for generating clock pulses; means coupled to the last mentioned means and responsive to the clock pulses for cyclically generating a number of sequential time slots, each of said time slots representing the time period during which a respective one of the plurality of electrically operated circuits may be energized; and a control circuit, said control circuit comprising means for generating a respective unique identifying signal for each time slot and coexisting therewith, a first number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the first group, a second number of manually operable switch means for effecting the energization of respective electrically operated circuits in the second group, first gate means coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means and the means for generating an identifying signal and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said first number of switch means to effect energization of the respective electrically operated circuit in the first group for generating a first signal during the identifying signal unique to the time slot representing the time period during which said electrically operated circuit may be energized, second gate means coupled to the second number of manually operable switch means and the means for generating an identifying signal and responsive to the operation of a selected one of said second number of switch means to effect energization of the respective electrically operated circuit in the second group for generating a second signal during the identifying signal unique to the time slot representing the time period during which said electrically operated circuit may be energized, means coupled to the means for generating the second signal and the means for generating clock pulses for inhibiting further clock pulses while the second signal is being generated to extend the duration of the time slot coexisting with said second signal, means responsive to the first and second signals for generating an address signal, means responsive to the coexistence of the address signal and one of the time slots representing the time period during which a repsective one of the plurality of electrical circuits may be energized for energizing said circuit, and a priority circuit coupled to the first number of manually operable switch means for disabling the means for generating the second signal for a predetermined time period when one of said first number of manually operable switch means is actuated so as to permit the respective electrically operated circuit in the first group to perform the function prescribed thereto, whereby the first number of manually operable switch means are effective for selectively energizing one of the electrically operated circuits in the first group while one of the secOnd number of manually operable switch means is operated.