Patent ID: 7826525
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating data in an appliance, the method comprising: providing a multi-position switch having a rotatable shaft extending through a housing, the shaft having a first end outside the housing configured to receive a user rotatable knob and a second end inside the housing and communicating with electrical contacts providing a signal indicating a rotated position of the shaft, the housing further containing a first electrical circuit communicating with the electrical contacts to provide a sequence of electrical pulses during an interval having a pre-determined time period in which the number of electrical pulses indicates a position of the rotatable shaft; receiving at a second electrical circuit via a wiring harness having only a single ground referenced data conductor, at an appliance controller controlling electrical loads of the appliance, the sequence of electrical pulses during the interval having a pre-determined time period as determined from a timer contained at the second electrical circuit, the sequence of electrical pulses representing a message from the multi-position switch, the second electrical circuit operating to: determine the number of received electrical pulses in the sequence of electrical pulses; and decode the message based on the determined number of electrical pulses received during the interval in order to control at least one electrical load of the appliance.