Radio frequency control system for power running boards
AssigneeBestop, Inc.
InventorsGeorge C. Stickles, Frank A. Borke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system incorporated with a power running board assembly. In particular, incorporating a radio frequency control system for a retractable power running board assembly to move the assembly between a stowed or retracted position and a deployed or extended position. The present invention uses a transmit/acknowledge scheme of door transceivers and receivers to reduce transmissions necessary to monitor door status changes and operation of the retraction and deployment of the running board, which significantly reduces the number of transmissions and wear on the door transceivers battery to extend battery lifetime.
Claims20
A control system for a power running board assembly for vehicles, comprising:
- at least one door transceiver operable to monitor a respective vehicle door status switch and transmit a signal when door status changes;
- at least one battery powering said at least one door transceiver;
- at least one receiver operable to receive said signal and send an acknowledgement to said at least one door transceiver that said signal is received, wherein a redundant transmission of vehicle door status is not sent after said acknowledgement is received by said at least one door transceiver;
- and
- wherein another signal is transmitted by said at least one door transceiver when vehicle door status changes to save battery power.
A process for deploying and retracting a power running board assembly for vehicles, comprising:
- providing at least one door transceiver operable to monitor vehicle door status and transmit a signal when door status open/closed changes;
- providing a receiver operable to receive the door transceiver signal and send an acknowledgement to the door transceiver;
- providing at least one linkage assembly operably connected to the vehicle and including a retractable running board that extends to be a step and retracts for stowage depending on the transceiver's signal of door status changes;
- transmitting a signal from the door transceiver to the receiver when door status changes;
- sending an acknowledgement signal of receipt of the door transceiver's signal back to the door transceiver;
- energizing a motor of the power running board assembly to extend or retract the running board depending on the door status change signal.
A control system integrated with a power running board assembly for vehicles, comprising:
- at least one door transceiver operable to monitor a respective vehicle door status switch in a low power sleep mode and to transmit a wireless signal when door status changes;
- at least one battery powering said at least one door transceiver;
- at least one receiver operable to receive said signal and send an acknowledgement wireless signal to said at least one door transceiver that said wireless signal was received;
- at least one deployable/retractable running board operably coupled to at least one first link and at least one second link;
- and
- at least one motor operably coupled to at least one of said first and second links to deploy/retract said first and second links to cause said running board to extend and retract between a deployed position and a retracted position;
- wherein another signal is transmitted by said at least one door transceiver only when vehicle door status changes to save battery power, or, if said acknowledgement signal is not received by said at least one door transceiver, wherein if said acknowledgement signal is not received by said transceiver, the signal from the door transceiver is re-transmitted to said receiver after a delay of about 100 to 200 milliseconds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.