US 7,957,868 B2 · Electronic power module for an agricultural vehicle

Abstract

An electronic power module (EPM) for an agricultural vehicle is provided. The EPM is configurable by an electronic control unit (ECU) to which it is connected by way of a controller area network (CAN) bus. The CAN bus network includes a plurality of electronic control unit (ECU)s and a plurality of EPMs, wherein each of the EPMs is coupled to a corresponding ECU of the plurality of ECUs to be controlled thereby. Each EPM includes an EPM circuit having at least one microcontroller, a driver circuit and a CAN bus communication circuit. The driver circuit is coupled to the microcontroller and is configured by the microcontroller. The driver circuit has a plurality of driver subcircuits. The CAN bus communication circuit is coupled to the microcontroller configured to receive CAN bus messages that include driver configuration instructions and driver current limits from a corresponding ECU and instructions to the microcontroller. The microcontroller receives the driver configuration instructions from the CAN bus communications circuit and responsively configures the driver subcircuits according to the driver configuration instructions.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An electronic power module (EPM) for an agricultural vehicle having a controller area network (CAN) bus network, wherein the CAN bus network includes a plurality of electronic control unit (ECU)s and a plurality of EPMs, wherein each of the EPMs is coupled to a corresponding ECU of the plurality of ECUs to be controlled thereby, each EPM comprising:

a housing;
at least one multipin connector on said housing;
and
an EPM circuit disposed in said housing, said EPM circuit electrically coupled to said at least one multipin connector, said EPM circuit including:
at least one microcontroller;
a driver circuit coupled to said at least one microcontroller, said driver circuit being configured by said at least one microcontroller, said driver circuit having a plurality of driver subcircuits;
and
a CAN bus communication circuit coupled to said at least one microcontroller configured to receive CAN bus messages, said CAN bus messages each including driver configuration instructions and driver current limits from a corresponding ECU and instructions to said at least one microcontroller, said at least one microcontroller being configured to receive said driver configuration instructions from said CAN bus communications circuit and to responsively configure said driver subcircuits according to said driver configuration instructions.

5 more elements

A controller area network (CAN) bus network for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) coupled to a CAN bus;
a plurality of electronic power modules (EPMs), wherein each of said EPMs is coupled to a corresponding ECU of said plurality of ECUs to be controlled thereby, each EPM of said plurality of EPMs including:
a housing;
at least one multipin connector on said housing;
and
an EPM circuit disposed in said housing, said EPM circuit including
at least one microcontroller;
a driver circuit coupled to said at least one microcontroller to be configured thereby, said driver circuit having a plurality of driver subcircuits;
and
a CAN bus communication circuit coupled to said at least one microcontroller to receive CAN bus messages that include driver configuration instructions and driver current limits from said corresponding ECU, said at least one microcontroller being configured to receive said driver configuration instructions from said CAN bus communications circuit and to responsively configure said driver subcircuits according to said driver configuration instructions.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic power module for an agricultural vehicle

Life of this patent

Electronic power module for an agricultural vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12