Auto-configured lin bus nodes

Abstract

An auto-configured LIN bus system comprises a plurality of modules linked to a LIN bus along which electronic data or instructions can be sent to and from each said module. At least one of said modules is a non-configured reconfigurable module having means for being configured with an ID and also having embedded within it at the manufacturing stage a fixed unique Chip Identification Code (CIN) for use during a configuring operation. Said at least one non-configured reconfigurable module having no unique identification address associated therewith, but having a unique code associated therewith. The system further includes configuration means which interrogates said modules and detects the unique code of said at least one non-configured module and transmits a configuration signal to the module to configure the module. The or each said non configured reconfigurable modules further including counter means which is incremented each time a non-configured is configured, said counter of each non-configured module, once configured, providing a unique code which is indicative of the position of the module in the system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.