Patent ID: 6356826
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: B60R,H02J

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an intelligent current distribution system for vehicles wherein a current distribution cable is fitted with intelligent connecting sockets provided with output-connectors for supplying current to actuators to be connected to the system and switches for distributing current to the output connector, as well as control electronics for controlling the switches on the basis of control commands received from a message communication bus of the cable or an input connector of the socket, the control electronics of each socket being provided with basic program for running sets of operating control instructions to perform various functions determined by the control commands, the method comprising the steps of:fitting a plurality of sockets with mutually similar or identical basic programs, the basic programs containing a set of operation control instructions for substantially all operations of a vehicle type; installing the sockets on the cable; providing identification numbers to the sockets; and, configuring the sockets, during or after installation, to function in an individual fashion by loading a parameter program memory of the sockets with socket specific function control programs for performing only a limited number of said set of operation control instructions, said limited number of operation control instructions being predetermined specifically for a particular one of the plurality of sockets by the identification number corresponding to the particular one socket, the parameter program memory controlling the basic programs to select the limited number of said set of operation control instructions that correspond to the specific action of the particular one socket.