United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Darrell J Kolomyski

John A Barrs

Steven R Settles

A plurality of switches are connected to a lesser plurality of shift registers which are controlled by the microcontroller to provide serial binary signals over a single data line with a voltage level clamp by a zener diode in response to clock pulses. A second plurality of switches and rheostats are supplied to a lessor plurality of multiplexers. One of the input channels to each of the multiplexers is selected in response to a channel select signal provided by the microcontroller. The registers and multiplexers produce output signals that are clamped to a lower microcontroller operating level. Signals from the microcontroller are skipped as to control the registers and multiplexers. The operation of the switches and rheostats is used by the microcontroller to control the power devices such as lights, windows, turn signals and air conditioning.

Reducing input signal levels to a microprocessor

In a microcontroller-based system that controls the operation of equipment such as lights and wipers in an automobile, overcurrent is detected by comparing the total current through the device with a stored level. If the detected current is excessive the devices are independently activated and the current through each device is compared with stored current level for the device. A device having an overcurrent condition is inactivated and the remaining devices are activated.

Monitoring and protecting drives controlled with microcontroller

Loads, such as power relays controlling wipers, windows and lights are connected to an automobile battery through individual transistor drives that are controlled by a microcontroller. A switch, connected to the microcontroller, is operated to activate each drive. The microcontroller checks the load characteristic when each drive is activated and inactivated. When the load is inactivated, it is part of a resistance network producing a test voltage that is digitally converted and supplied to the microcontroller, which compares the test voltage to a stored voltage to determine if the load is correct. An analog multiplexer is controlled by the microcontroller to select the voltage produced for each load.

Monitoring the characteristics of a load driver controlled by a

A battery saver module for controlling courtesy and illuminated entry lamps having inputs for receiving input signals from door handle sensors, a trunk sensor, and an ignition switch and first output connected to illuminated entry loads and a second output connected to courtesy lamp loads. A control circuit selectively activates the first and second output responsive to input signals and includes a first timer for deactivating the first output after a first time period and a second timer for deactivating the second output after a second time period.

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Chesterfield, MI, United States of America

Darrell J Kolomyski