Multiplex cabling system for vehicles

Claim 1

A multiplex cabling system for a motor vehicle having a plurality of electrical devices located at selected locations which may be controlled by an operator, comprising, (a) a central transmitter means operable for encoding and transmitting selective command messages and receiving and decoding selective indication messages, (b) an operator's panel coupled to said central transmitter means for supplying selective device commands and registering received indications, (c) a plurality of transmitter-receivers, one at each of the selected locations on said vehicle and coupled to said central transmitter means by a star-arranged communication network, each transmitter-receiver operable for receiving and decoding selective command messages and transmitting distinctive indication messages, (d) a selected number of said controlled devices within an area at each selected location coupled to the corresponding transmitter-receiver to be selectively controlled in accordance with the commands initiated by the vehicle operator, and (e) said devices also controlling said corresponding transmitter-receiver for transmitting status indications for registry on said panel, and in which said plurality of transmitter-receivers at least includes a separate transmitter-receiver positioned in the vicinity of each corner of said vehicle coupled to said controlled devices at that location, another transmitter-receiver associated with vehicle propulsion means for transmitting operating and condition indications to said central transmitter means, and which further includes, cross-connections from selected devices at one location to the transmitter-receiver at a second location for enabling continued control during a fault condition in the transmitter-receiver normally associated with said selected devices.