Vehicle mounted accessory with multiplexing

A method for controlling an accessory having an electrically operable device and being attachable to a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a first signal to command an operation of the electrically operable device on the accessory with a switch mounted on the vehicle remote from the accessory and operable by a user;
• receiving the first signal with a first controller mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected between the switch and a first communications wire;
• providing a first coupling member electrically connected to the first dedicated communications wire and a second coupling member electrically connected to a second dedicated communications wire, the second coupling member being connectable to the first coupling member upon the accessory being mounted on the vehicle, thereby connecting the first and second dedicated communications wires to form a single dedicated communications wire, and the second coupling member being disconnectable from the first coupling member upon the accessory being removed from the vehicle;
• receiving, in response to the first coupling member being connected to the second coupling member, a second signal with a second controller mounted on the accessory and electrically connected between the electrically operable device and the second communications wire;
• and
• operating the electrically operable device on the accessory in response to the second controller receiving the second signal.

An apparatus for controlling a plow having an electrically operable device and being attachable to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a plow control adapted to be mounted on the vehicle remote from the plow and having a switch operable by a user, the switch providing a command signal to command an operation of the electrically operable device on the plow;
• a first controller located in the proximity of the switch and electrically connected to the switch for receiving the command signal;
• a second controller adapted to be mounted on the vehicle;
• a third controller adapted to be mounted on the plow and electrically connected to the electrically operable device;
• a first dedicated communications wire electrically connected to the first and second controllers, respectively;
• a second dedicated communications wire electrically connected to the third controller;
• a first coupling member electrically connected to the first dedicated communications wire;
• a second coupling member electrically connected to the second dedicated communications wire, the second coupling member being connectable to the first coupling member upon the plow being mounted on the vehicle, thereby connecting the first and second dedicated communications wires to form a single dedicated communications wire, and the second coupling member being disconnectable from the first coupling member upon the plow being removed from the vehicle,
• the first controller providing the command signal to the third controller via the single dedicated communications wire and the third controller operating the electrically operable device on the accessory in response to the first coupling member being connected to the second coupling member and receiving the command signal.

A method for controlling a plow wherein the plow has a plow light and the vehicle has a vehicle light controllable by a vehicle light switch, the method comprising:

• providing a first signal operable to illuminate the vehicle light in response to the vehicle light switch being operated;
• detecting the first signal with a first controller mounted on the vehicle;
• detecting automatically a presence of a single dedicated communications wire between the first controller and a second controller mounted on the plow in response to the plow being mounted on the vehicle;
• changing a state of an electronic switch electrically connecting the vehicle light switch with the vehicle lights to a state electrically disconnecting the vehicle light switch from the vehicle lights;
• providing a second signal with the first controller in response to detecting the first signal;
• transmitting the second signal to the second controller over the single dedicated communications wire;
• illuminating automatically the plow light in response to the second controller receiving the second signal and hence, in response to the vehicle light switch being operated.

A method of operating a plow light on a plow attachable to a vehicle having a vehicle light, the method comprising:

• detecting a supply voltage operable to illuminate the vehicle light;
• determining the supply voltage is operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode;
• and
• automatically operating the plow light in a DRL mode in response to determining the supply voltage is operable to illuminate the vehicle light in a DRL mode.

A method of operating a plow light on a plow attachable to a vehicle having a vehicle light, the method comprising:

• operating the vehicle light in the DRL mode;
• determining with a first controller on the vehicle the vehicle light being operated in the DRL mode;
• providing a signal from the first controller to a second controller mounted on the plow representing the DRL mode of the vehicle light;
• and
• automatically operating the plow light in a DRL mode with the second controller in response to the second controller receiving the signal.

An apparatus for controlling an accessory having an electrically operable device and being attachable to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• an accessory switch adapted to be mounted on the vehicle remote from the accessory and operable by an operator, the accessory switch adapted to command an operation of the electrically operable device on the accessory;
• a first controller adapted to be mounted on the vehicle, the first controller providing an accessory command signal for the electrically operable device in response to detecting an operation of the accessory switch;
• and
• a second controller adapted to be mounted on the accessory and electrically connectable to the first controller upon mounting the accessory on the vehicle, the second controller operating the electrically operable device in response to receiving the accessory command signal from the first controller, the second controller comprising a circuit electrically connected to the electrically operable device for sensing an erroneous electrical operation of the electrically operable device, the second controller terminating the operation of the electrically operable accessory in response to the circuit sensing the erroneous electrical operation.

A method of controlling an accessory having an electrically operable device and being attachable to a vehicle, the method comprising:

• producing an operating command for the electrically operable device on the accessory from an accessory switch mounted inside the vehicle remote from the accessory and operable by a user;
• transmitting the operating command from a first controller mounted proximate the accessory switch inside the vehicle to a second controller mounted on the accessory outside the vehicle and electrically connectable to the first controller upon mounting the accessory;
• operating the electrically operable device in response to the second controller receiving the accessory command signal from the first controller;
• detecting automatically with the second controller an erroneous electrical operation of the electrically operable device;
• and
• terminating automatically with the second controller the operation of the electrically operable accessory in response to detecting the erroneous electrical operation.

A method of identifying a particular accessory mounted on a vehicle, the accessory having an electrically operable device unique to the particular accessory, the method comprising:

• mounting the particular accessory on the vehicle;
• electrically connecting a first controller mounted on the vehicle with a second controller mounted with the particular accessory;
• sensing with a circuit in the second controller electrical continuity with the electrically operable device unique to the particular accessory;
• and
• providing a signal from the second controller to the first controller having a first state representing a presence of the particular accessory in response to the circuit sensing electrical continuity with the electrically operable device unique to the particular accessory.

An apparatus for securing communications between a vehicle and an accessory being mountable on a vehicle, the accessory requiring an electrically operable device for its operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a first controller adapted to be mounted on the vehicle;
• a user-operable interface controller electrically connectable to the first controller and being operable to provide a security code to the first controller;
• and
• a second controller adapted to be mounted with the accessory and being electrically connectable to the first controller upon the accessory being mounted on the vehicle, the second controller being operatively connected to the electrically operable device only in response to the second controller receiving the security code from the first controller.

A method of securing communications between a vehicle and an accessory being mountable on a vehicle, the accessory requiring an electrically operable device for its operation, the method comprising:

• providing a first security code with a user-operable interface controller;
• storing the first security code in a first controller mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to the interface controller;
• transmitting the first security code from the first controller to a second controller mounted with the accessory and being electrically connectable to the first controller upon the accessory being mounted on the vehicle;
• storing the first security code in the second controller;
• operating the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to the first controller subsequently transmitting the first security code to the second controller;
• and
• disabling operation of the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to the first controller subsequently transmitting a second security code to the second controller that does not match the first security code.

An apparatus for securing communications between a vehicle and an accessory being mountable on a vehicle, the accessory requiring an electrically operable device for its operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a user-operable switch adapted to be mounted on the vehicle remote from the accessory, the switch providing a command signal enabling operation of a security system;
• a first controller adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to the switch, the first controller automatically producing and storing a first security code in response to receiving the command signal;
• a second controller adapted to be mounted on the accessory and electrically connected to the electrically operable device;
• first and second dedicated communications wires electrically connected to the first and second controllers, respectively;
• a first coupling member electrically connected to the first dedicated communications wire;
• a second coupling member electrically connected to the second dedicated communications wire, the second coupling member being connectable to the first coupling member upon the accessory being mounted on the vehicle, thereby connecting the first and second dedicated communications wires to form a single dedicated communications wire;
• and
• the first controller providing the first security code to the second controller via the single dedicated communications wire and the second controller being operatively connected to the electrically operable device only in response to the second controller receiving the first security code from the first controller.

A method of securing communications between a vehicle and an accessory being mountable on a vehicle, the accessory requiring an electrically operable device for its operation, the method comprising:

• enabling a security system with user-operated switches on a first controller mounted on the vehicle;
• automatically providing a first security code with the first controller;
• storing the first security code in the first controller;
• transmitting the first security code to a second controller mounted with the accessory and being electrically connectable to the first controller upon the accessory being mounted on the vehicle;
• storing the first security code in the second controller;
• operating the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to the first controller subsequently transmitting the first security code to the second controller;
• and
• disabling operation of the electrically operable device with the second controller in response to the first controller subsequently transmitting a second security code to the second controller that does not match the first security code.