# US 10,865,967 B1 · Reconfigurable vehicle control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,967 B1 - Document ID: US10865967B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/477,243 - Filed: 2017-04-03 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Assignees: Emergency Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Emergency Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Douglas V. Baker; Michael Walma; Brandon Jacobsen; David Cloud; Jonathan Lavelette - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865967B1 ## CPC - F21V 23/001: {the elements being electrical wires or cables} - F21S 2/005: {of modular construction} - F21S 43/00: Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights - F21V 21/145: {for portable lighting devices} - F21V 23/003: {the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array} - H05B 47/18: via data-bus transmission - H01R 25/14: Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length (supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A modular electrical system for a plurality of accessories disposable on a support structure. In one embodiment, the support structure is a reconfigurable support system, such as a reconfigurable auto carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular electrical system for a plurality of accessories disposable on a support structure, said modular electrical system comprising: a central controller supported by the support structure, the central controller configured to control operation of a plurality of accessories based on one or more inputs, the plurality of accessories being independently positionable with respect to each other; a physical network layer operably coupled to the central controller, the physical network layer enabling transmission of control information relating to operation of one or more of the plurality of accessories; an auxiliary node supported by the support structure, the auxiliary node operably coupled to the physical network layer and in communication with the central controller, the auxiliary node being configured to control operation of the plurality of accessories based on the control information received from the central controller via the physical network layer; and a plurality of wiring harnesses electrically connected to the auxiliary node, each of the plurality of wiring harnesses including a plurality of wiring runs, each of the plurality of wiring runs being electrically connectable via an electrical connector to at least one of the plurality of accessories to provide a direct connection between the auxiliary node and the at least one accessory, wherein the each of the plurality of wiring runs includes a base section and a tail section configured to enable re-positioning of the at least one accessory, the tail section including the electrical connector for electrically connecting to the at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein the electrical connectors of the plurality of wiring runs are independently positionable relative to each other such that the electrical connector associated with each of the at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories is independently positionable relative to another electrical connector and an associated at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein the central controller, the auxiliary node, and the plurality of wiring harnesses are supported by the support structure, wherein the support structure is operable to support one or more objects in addition to the central controller, the auxiliary node, and the plurality of wiring harnesses, wherein the one or more objects are removably supported by the support structure, and wherein the plurality of wiring harnesses are substantially identical to each other except for differences in auxiliary node connectors forming an electrical connection with the auxiliary node, wherein each of the auxiliary node connectors includes an identifier that indicates a zone associated with the respective wiring harness. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of accessories are disposable along a longitudinal axis of the support structure, wherein a length of each base section of the plurality of wiring runs is determined based on a number of the plurality of accessories along the longitudinal axis, wherein the length of the base section of each of the wiring runs are different from each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modular electrical system of claim 2 wherein a length of the tail sections of the plurality of wiring runs is determined based on the number of the plurality of accessories disposable along the longitudinal axis and a degree of spatial freedom associated with the support structure in proximity to the at least one accessory connectable to the tail section, wherein the length of the tail section is constrained by an available amount of storage space within a wire duct for the wiring harness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of accessories are task lights for illuminating an area of the support structure that is dedicated to at least one of storage and securement of a wheel chock, wherein communication with the one or more accessories is bidirectional. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The modular electrical system of claim 4 wherein the central controller is configured to initiate activation of at least one of the task lights in response to an input received via the physical network layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modular electrical system of claim 5 wherein the central controller is configured to initiate a strobing effect with respect to all or a subset of the task lights in response to receiving a security alert input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 wherein the support structure is an auto carrier for one or more vehicles, wherein the one or more objects removably supported by the auto carrier correspond to the one or more vehicles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 further comprising a siren communicatively coupled to the central controller, wherein the central controller is configured to command activation of the siren to drive a speaker in response to an alert condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 wherein the identifier is formed by keying the auxiliary node connectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional auxiliary node and a plurality of additional wiring harnesses both substantially identical to the auxiliary node and the plurality of wiring harnesses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular electrical system of claim 1 wherein the support structure is a reconfigurable support system. ### Claim 12 A modular electrical system for a plurality of accessories disposable on a support structure associated with a road vehicle, said modular electrical system comprising: a central controller supported by the support structure, the central controller configured to control operation of the plurality of accessories based on one or more inputs, the plurality of accessories being independently positionable with respect to each other; a physical network layer operably coupled to the central controller, the physical network layer enabling transmission of control information relating to operation of one or more of the plurality of accessories; an auxiliary node supported by the support structure, the auxiliary node operably coupled to the physical network layer and in communication with the central controller, the auxiliary node being configured to control operation of the plurality of accessories based on the control information received from the central controller via the physical network layer; and a plurality of wiring harnesses electrically connected to the auxiliary node, each of the plurality of wiring harnesses including a plurality of wiring runs, each of the plurality of wiring runs being electrically connectable via an electrical connector to at least one of the plurality of accessories to provide a direct connection between the auxiliary node and the at least one accessory, wherein the each of the plurality of wiring runs includes a base section and a tail section configured to enable re-positioning of the at least one accessory based on changes in the configuration of the support structure associated with the road vehicle, the tail section including the electrical connector for electrically connecting to the at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein the electrical connectors of the plurality of wiring runs are independently positionable relative to each other such that the electrical connector associated with each of the at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories is independently positionable relative to another electrical connector and an associated at least one accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein the central controller, the auxiliary node, and the plurality of wiring harnesses are supported by the support structure, wherein the support structure is operable to support one or more objects in addition to the central controller, the auxiliary node, and the plurality of wiring harnesses, wherein the one or more objects are removably supported by the support structure, and wherein the plurality of wiring harnesses are substantially identical to each other except for differences in auxiliary node connectors forming an electrical connection with the auxiliary node, wherein each of the auxiliary node connectors includes an identifier that indicates a zone associated with the respective wiring harness. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The modular electrical system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of accessories are disposable along a longitudinal axis of the support structure, wherein a length of each base section of the plurality of wiring runs is determined based on a number of the plurality of accessories along the longitudinal axis, wherein the length of the base section of each of the wiring runs are different from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The modular electrical system of claim 13 wherein a length of the tail sections of the plurality of wiring runs is determined based on the number of the plurality of accessories disposable along the longitudinal axis and a degree of spatial freedom associated with the support structure in proximity to the at least one accessory connectable to the tail section, wherein the length of the tail section is constrained by an available amount of storage space within a wire duct for the wiring harness. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The modular electrical system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of accessories are task lights for illuminating an area of the support structure. ### Claim 16 A method of refitting a support structure to provide task lighting for the support structure, said method comprising: providing a plurality of wiring harnesses electrically connected to an auxiliary node, each of the plurality of wiring harnesses including a plurality of wiring runs electrically connectable to a task light, each of the plurality of wiring runs including a) a base section that connects to the auxiliary node and extends along a sidewall of the support structure and b) a tail section that connects to the task light; determining a position of an object support relative to sidewalls of the support structure; raising or lowering the object support of the support structure relative to sidewalls of the support structure, wherein the support structure is operable to support the task light within the support structure; and repositioning the tail section and the task light associated with the tail section while substantially maintaining a position of the base section associated with the task light along the sidewall of the support structure, said repositioning including adjusting a location of the task light up or down along the sidewall based on a change in position of the object support of the support structure, said repositioning including utilizing more or less slack of the tail section to adjust the location of the task light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising providing a wiring run of the plurality of wiring runs electrically connectable to an accessory other than the task light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising determining a length of each base section of the plurality of wiring runs based on a number of the task lights being disposed longitudinally along the sidewall of the support structure, wherein the lengths of the base sections of the wiring runs are different from each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 comprising determining a length of the tail section of the plurality of wiring runs based on a number of the task lights being disposed longitudinally along the sidewall of the support structure and a degree of spatial freedom associated with the support structure in proximity to the task light connectable to the tail section, wherein the length of the tail section is constrained by an available amount of storage space within a wire duct for the wiring harness. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the object support is operable to support portable equipment within the support structure, and comprising, reconfiguring the support structure for a type of portable equipment to be loaded into an interior space of the support structure by longitudinally repositioning the tail section and the task light associated with the tail section while substantially maintaining the position of the base section associated with the task light along the sidewall of the support structure, said repositioning including adjusting the location of the task light forward or backward along the sidewall based on the type of portable equipment to be loaded. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the portable equipment is a vehicle, wherein the support structure is towed by a vehicle, and wherein the object support is a vehicle support deck for supporting the vehicle within the support structure.