Programmable matrix controller for correlating electric devices in a motor vehicle with switches of a switch module
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsH. Edward Kelwaski, Robert D. Dannenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch module in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle contains multiple switch assemblies connected by wiring to a controller. Multiple devices controlled by the switch assemblies are connected by wiring to the controller. The controller has a programmed matrix correlating a switch input from each particular switch assembly in the module with a particular device to place each particular device under control of the corresponding switch assembly.
Claims5
A motor vehicle comprising:
- a controller;
- a switch module containing multiple switch assemblies connected by wiring to the controller, each switch assembly being located in a particular location in the switch module, and each particular location being connected to a particular input of the controller;
- and
- multiple controlled devices that perform certain vehicle functions and are connected by wiring to the controller;
- wherein the controller comprises a programmable matrix that has been programmed for correlating the particular switch assembly in each particular location in the switch module with a particular controlled device to place each particular controlled device under control of the corresponding switch assembly.
A method of electrically associating switch assemblies of a switch module in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle with devices in the vehicle through an electrical system of the vehicle that has a controller interfacing the switch module and the devices, the method comprising:
- providing each switch assembly with indicia related to a respective device controlled by the switch assembly;
- disposing each switch assembly in a location in the module that is electrically connected to a particular input of the controller;
- and
- programming the controller with a matrix that correlates each input of the controller with a device that corresponds to the indicia for the respective switch assembly connected to the respective input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.