Methods and systems for robust switching using multi-state switch contacts
OwnerKerfegar Katrak, Paul Bauerleinventors
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Abstract
Systems, methods and devices are described for robustly determining a desired operating state of a controlled device in response to the position of a multi-position actuator. Two or more ternary switch contacts provide input signals representative of the position of the actuator. Control logic then determines the desired state for the controlled device based upon the input signals received. The desired operating state is determined from any number of operating states defined by the input values. Robustness is provided by selecting each of the operating states such that transitions between any operating states to another result from changes in each of the first and second ternary input values.
Claims37
A robust control system for placing a controlled device into a desired operating state in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine the desired operating state from a plurality of operating states for the controlled device based upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein each of the plurality of operating states are represented by a unique combination of the first and second ternary input values selected such that any transition from one of the plurality of operating states to another of the plurality of operating states results from a transition in both the first and second ternary input values.
A robust control system for placing a power takeoff into a desired mode in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, wherein the desired mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising at least a Set1 mode, a Set2 mode and a default mode, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine the desired operating state of the power takeoff based at least in part upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein the Set1 and Set2 modes are selected when the first and second ternary input values having opposite values, and wherein the default mode is selected when both the first and second ternary input values having an intermediate value.
A robust control system for placing a controlled device into a desired mode in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, wherein the desired mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising at least a normal mode, an economy mode and a performance mode, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine the desired operating state of the controlled device based at least in part upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein the economy and performance modes are selected when the first and second ternary input values exhibit opposite values, and wherein the normal mode is selected when both the first and second ternary input values exhibit an intermediate value.
A robust control system for placing a power takeoff into a desired mode in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, wherein the desired mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising two selectable operating modes and a default mode, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine the desired operating state of the power takeoff based at least in part upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein the one of the two selectable operating modes is selected when the first and second ternary input values exhibit opposite values, and wherein the default mode is selected when both the first and second ternary input values exhibit an intermediate value.
A robust control system for placing a vehicle cruise control into a desired mode in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, wherein the desired mode is selected from a plurality of modes comprising at least a normal mode, a Set/Coast mode and a Resume/Accelerate mode, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine the desired operating state of the controlled device based at least in part upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein the Set/Coast and Resume/Accelerate modes are selected when the first and second ternary input values exhibit opposite values, and wherein the normal mode is selected when both the first and second ternary input values exhibit an intermediate value.
A robust control system for providing a tap up or tap down signal to a controlled device in response to a position of a multi-position actuator, the system comprising:
- a first switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a first ternary input value as a function of the state of the multi-position actuator;
- a second switch contact coupled to the multi-position actuator and configured to provide a second ternary input value as a function of the position of the multi-position actuator;
- and
- control logic configured to receive the first and second ternary input values and to determine a desired signal provided to the controlled device based at least in part upon the first and second ternary input values received, wherein the tap up signal is provided when the first and second ternary input values exhibit a first opposite pair of values, wherein the tap down signal is provided when the first and second ternary input values exhibit a second opposite pair of values, and wherein no change is indicated when both the first and second ternary input values exhibit an intermediate value.
A method of determining a desired operating state of a controlled device from a position of a multi-position actuator, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first ternary signal having a low value, an intermediate value or a high value indicative of the position of the multi-position actuator with respect to a first switch contact;
- receiving a second ternary signal having the low value, the intermediate value or the high value indicative of the position of the multi-position actuator with respect to a second switch contact;
- and
- processing the first and second ternary signals to determine the desired operating state, wherein a first operating state corresponds to a the first ternary signal having the high value and the second ternary signal having the low value, a second operating state corresponds to the first ternary signal having the low value and the second ternary signal having the high value, and a third operating state corresponds to the first and second ternary signals each having the intermediate state.
An apparatus for determining a desired operating state of a controlled device from a position of a multi-position actuator, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving electrical signals configured to receive first and second ternary signals each having a low value, an intermediate value or a high value indicative of the position of the multi-position actuator with respect to first and second switch contacts, respectively;
- and
- means for processing the first and second ternary signals to determine the desired operating state, wherein a first operating state corresponds to a the first ternary signal having the high value and the second ternary signal having the low value, a second operating state corresponds to the first ternary signal having the low value and the second ternary signal having the high value, and a third operating state corresponds to the first and second ternary signals each having the intermediate state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.