The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 2021
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2018
Trimark Corporation, New Hampton, IA (US);
David S. Magner, Decorah, IA (US);
Anita L. Reichling, Boscobel, WI (US);
Nicholas L. Kloxin, New Hampton, IA (US);
Todd Keaffaber, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Santosh Balakrishnan, Portland, OR (US);
Robert D. Lawson, Johnston, IA (US);
TriMark Corporation, New Hampton, IA (US);
Abstract
A base control module for vehicles comprises, a controller which includes a housing, a programmable processor, on-board memory, and a plurality of inputs and outputs. The module also comprises, a set of pluggable module interfaces each comprising a standardized connector for any of a plurality of interchangeable pluggable modules, with each pluggable module having a different functionality, and each connector having a plurality of pins. A standardized communication protocol is provided between the base control module and any of the pluggable modules. Adaptable software on the base control module that can assign different configurations for the pins of the connector dependent upon the functionality of the pluggable module for those pins. The same base control module and set of pluggable module interfaces can be used for different pluggable modules.