Dc power line control for light bars and sirens
AssigneeCode 3, Inc.
InventorsDaniel S. Miller, Roger L. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light bar and/or a siren controlled by a control head via control signals on power lines connected to the control head, the light bar and/or the siren. Isolated power line communication (PLC) modules between the light bar, the siren and the control head transmit the control signals over the power lines.
Claims18
A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system comprising:
- An interface having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power;
- A light bar having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the interface for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received control signals, wherein the interface, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar;
- A light bar communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the interface for receiving control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding control signals to the controller;
- A control head responsive to operator input for providing control signals;
- and
- A control head communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding control signals to the electrical wires;
- wherein control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the control head communication module which provides corresponding control signals via the electrical wires to the light bar communication module which provides corresponding control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the interface to generate the visual warning signals.
A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system comprising:
- An isolator having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side for supplying power;
- A light bar having a power input adapted to be connected to the output side of the isolator for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving inter-integrated circuit (I2C) control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received I2C control signals, wherein the isolator, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar;
- A first power line communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the isolator for receiving power line transceiver (PLT) control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding I2C control signals to the controller;
- A control head responsive to operator input for providing I2C control signals;
- and
- A second power line communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the I2C control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding PLT control signals to the electrical wires;
- wherein I2C control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the second power line communication module which provides corresponding PLT control signals via the electrical wires to the first power line communication module which provides corresponding I2C control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the isolator to generate the visual warning signals.
A warning system for a vehicle having a battery and having electrical wires connected to the battery, said system for use with a light bar having a power input for receiving power, having light heads connected to the power input for receiving power for energizing the light heads and having a light bar controller for receiving inter-integrated circuit (I2C) control signals for selectively operating the light heads to generate visual warning signals in response to received I2C control signals, said system for use with a control head responsive to operator input for providing I2C control signals, said system comprising:
- An isolator having an input side adapted to be connected to the electrical wires for receiving power and having an output side adapted to be connected to the power input of the light bar for supplying power to the light bar, wherein the isolator, when connected between the power input and the electrical wires, isolates the electrical wires from electrical noise generated by the light bar;
- A first power line communication module adapted to be connected between the light bar controller and the electrical wires on the input side of the isolator for receiving power line transceiver (PLT) control signals carried by the electrical wires and for providing corresponding I2C control signals to the controller;
- and
- A second power line communication module adapted to be connected between the control head and the electrical wires for receiving the I2C control signals provided by the control head and for providing corresponding PLT control signals to the electrical wires;
- wherein I2C control signals generated by the control head in response to operator input are provided to the second power line communication module which provides corresponding PLT control signals via the electrical wires to the first power line communication module which provides corresponding I2C control signals to the controller to selectively energize the light heads by power provided via the isolator to generate the visual warning signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.