Control and monitoring circuitry for illuminated interface
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorsJason Thwaits, Joris Aerts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illuminated interface system may include an illumination circuit, a switch circuit, and a controller. The illumination circuit is configured to illuminate a light source. The switch circuit is configurable into a plurality of states, where at least one of the plurality of states represents a user input. The controller is electrically connected to the illumination circuit and the switch circuit through a single signal wire. The controller includes a drive circuit and a sensing circuit. The drive circuit is configured to provide a drive signal to the illumination circuit via the single signal wire. The sensing circuit is configured to detect a state of the switch circuit.
Claims18
An illuminated interface system comprising:
- an illumination circuit configured to illuminate a light source;
- a switch circuit configurable into a plurality of states, wherein at least one of the plurality of states represents a user input;
- and
- a controller electrically connected to the illumination circuit and the switch circuit through a single signal wire, the controller comprising:
- a drive circuit configured to provide a drive signal to the illumination circuit via the single signal wire;
- and
- a sensing circuit configured to detect a state of the switch circuit,
- wherein the drive circuit comprises a load switch configured to toggle between being open and closed, wherein the drive circuit provides the drive signal via the single signal wire when the load switch is closed, and wherein the sensing circuit is configured to detect the state of the switch circuit when the load switch is opened.
An illuminated interface system comprising:
- an illumination circuit configured to illuminate a light source;
- a switch circuit configurable into a plurality of states, wherein at least one of the plurality of states represents a user input;
- and
- a controller electrically connected to the illumination circuit and the switch circuit, the controller configured to cause the illumination circuit to illuminate a light source using a pulse width modulation signal, and the controller configured to detect a state of the switch circuit during an off state of the pulse width modulation signal, wherein the controller comprises a first power supply and a second power supply, wherein the first power supply is configured to supply power to the illumination circuit to illuminate the light source, and wherein the second power supply is configured to supply power to the switch circuit for detecting the state of the switch circuit.
A vehicle comprising:
- a user interface;
- an illumination circuit configured to provide illumination associated with the user interface;
- a switch circuit configurable into a plurality of states, wherein at least one of the plurality of states represents a user input at the user interface;
- and
- a controller in communication with the illumination circuit and the switch circuit via a single signal wire, the controller comprising a processing circuit configured to drive the illumination circuit and sense a state of the switch circuit, wherein the processing circuit comprises a load switch configured to toggle between being open and closed, wherein the processing circuit provides a drive signal via the single signal wire to drive the illumination circuit when the load switch is closed, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to sense the state of the switch circuit when the load switch is opened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.