Transmission of signals in a control system
AssigneeBSH Hausgeräte GmbH
InventorsMartin WINKLER, Kai Achim KROPP
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system includes a first control apparatus, a plurality of second control apparatuses, and a signal line that connects the first and second control apparatuses to one another. The first control apparatus is configured so as to determine a total current that is flowing through the signal line. A second control apparatus is configured, in order to transmit a signal, so as to cause a current flowing out of the signal line. The current is a predetermined multiple of a predetermined base current. Different multiples are allocated to different signals. First and second control apparatuses, a household appliance and a method for transmitting signals via the signal line, are also provided.
Claims16
1-13. (canceled)
A control system, comprising:
- a first control apparatus;
- a plurality of second control apparatuses;
- a signal line connecting said first and second control apparatuses to one another;
- said first control apparatus configured to determine a total current flowing through said signal line;
- one of said second control apparatuses configured to cause a current to flow out of said signal line, in order to transmit a signal, the current being a predetermined multiple of a predetermined base current;
- and
- different multiples of the predetermined base current being allocated to different signals.
A first control apparatus, comprising:
- a terminal for a signal line;
- a current sensor for determining a current flowing through the signal line;
- and
- a processing facility configured to deconstruct the determined current into predetermined summands each representing a signal;
- a summand being a predetermined multiple of a predetermined base current, and different multiples of the predetermined base current being allocated to different signals.
A second control apparatus, comprising:
- a terminal for a signal line;
- a current sink for causing an electric current through said terminal;
- the electric current being a predetermined multiple of a predetermined base current;
- and
- a processing facility for controlling said current sink in dependence upon a signal to be provided on the signal line;
- different multiples of the predetermined base current being allocated to different signals.
A method for transmitting signals over a signal line connecting a first control apparatus and a plurality of second control apparatuses to one another, the method comprises the following steps:
- using one of the second control apparatuses to cause currents from the signal line;
- providing each current as a predetermined multiple of a base current, and allocating different multiples of the predetermined base current to different signals to be transmitted;
- using the first control apparatus to determine a total current flowing through the signal line;
- and
- determining signals provided by the second control apparatuses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.