Abstract:
A control system for electrical devices in a vehicle has solid state output/relay ( 12 ) modules with processing and memory capability. The output/relay module ( 12 ) is programmable to store configuration data corresponding to predetermined states for the various devices to be controlled. The output/relay ( 12 ) module has memory capability including a non-volatile component (EEROM,  47 ). A solid state input module also has processing capability, and includes memory capability. The input module has selector switches for preselecting a variety of device states. The input module further provides a visual indication of the states for these devices. A data bus ( 203 ) provides communication between said input and output modules, and a dongle ( 201 ) is selectively connected to said relay module data bus ( 203 ) for allowing changes to the configuration data ( 217 ) stored therein. The dongale ( 201 ) is programmable from a personal computer or work station.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to a provisional application filed Feb. 8, 2000 under Ser. No. 60/181,355, now abandoned, and a PCT application which was filed on Feb. 7, 2001 under International Application No. PCT/US01/03941 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The provisional and PCT applications mentioned above are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a control system for controlling the operation of electrical devices in a vehicle. The control system includes a power supply, a relay module having a microprocessor, computer memory and at least one output for controlling an electrical device in a vehicle. The relay module is programmable to store configuration data corresponding to predetermined states for the electrical devices to be controlled. The control system includes an input module having a microprocessor and a plurality of variable function switches for selecting predetermined states for the electrical devices. A databus is coupled between the input module and the relay module for transferring communications therebetween. A jumper is provided for configuring the relay module. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the relay module of FIG. 1 coupled to a dongle in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the dongle of FIG. 2 coupled to a typical computer system for programming the dongle in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system  10  which can electrically control a variety of electrical devices. The system  10  may, for example, be used in a vehicle such as a car or boat to effect control of electrical devices such as lights, motors, pumps, and the like. The system  10  includes two relay modules  26  and  27 , three button modules  16 - 18 , and a four-conductor bus  22  in the form of a cable coupled to each of the modules  12 - 13  and  16 - 18  by a respective connector  26 - 30 . The system  10  also includes a power source  32 , which may be a battery present in a vehicle, or may be some other type of power source. 
     The modules  12 - 13  and  16 - 18  would typically be provided at different locations. For example, if the system  10  happened to be installed in a boat, the relay module  12  might be located near the wiring panel for the lighting in the boat, the relay module  13  might be located near the wiring panel for the motors and pumps, the button module  16  might be located on the main bridge, the button module  17  might be located on the flying bridge, and the button module  18  might be located in the main cabin. 
     In the system  10  of FIG. 1, the relay modules  12  and  13  are structurally identical, and differ only in that the module  12  serves as a master and the module  13  serves as a slave, in a manner discussed later. All of the button modules  16 - 18  also effectively serve as slaves to the master relay module  12 . Since the relay modules  12  and  13  are structurally identical, only the module  12  is described here in detail. 
     More specifically, the relay module  12  includes a circuit  41 , which is coupled to the connector  26 . The circuit  41  includes a microprocessor shown diagrammatically at  43 , a random access memory (RAM) shown diagrammatically at  46 , an electrically erasable read-only memory (EEROM) shown diagrammatically at  47 , and a read only memory (ROM) shown diagrammatically at  48 . In the disclosed embodiment, the processor  43 , RAM  46  and ROM  48  are all portions of a standard microcontroller integrated circuit, but it would alternatively be possible to implement the circuit  41  using a processor, RAM and ROM which are in different integrated circuit chips. 
     The ROM  48  contains a program which is executed by the processor  43 . The EEROM  47  contains configuration data which will be discussed in more detail later. The module  12  has the capability to update the configuration information in the EEROM  47 , in a manner described in more detail later. Aside from this upgrade procedure, the information in the EEROM  47  does not change during normal operation, or when power is turned off. In other words, the EEROM  47  is a non-volatile memory. The processor  43  uses the RAM  46  for temporary storage of information which changes dynamically during system operation. However, any data present in the RAM  46  will be lost when the power is turned off. Consequently, the system  10  restarts from a default configuration each time power is turned on. 
     The circuit  41  also includes a relay section  51 , which includes sixteen relays that are not separately illustrated. The sixteen relays each have an output, and these sixteen outputs serve as control outputs from the circuit  41  and the module  12 , as indicated at  52 . These outputs can be coupled to various electrical devices to be controlled, such as lights, motors, pumps and the like. 
     The circuit  41  also includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter section  54 , and the relay module  12  has an analog input  57  which is coupled to the A/D converter section  54 . An analog signal applied to the input  57  is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter section  54 , and is then supplied to an input of the processor  43 . The module  12  also has a digital input  58 , which is coupled to an input of the processor  43 . Although FIG. 1 depicts one analog input  57  and one digital input  58 , the module  12  may have additional analog inputs and/or additional digital inputs. The relay module  12  receives power in the form of a direct current (DC) voltage on two lines  61 - 62  from respective output terminals of the power source  32 . 
     The relay module  12  has a jumper section  64 , which is coupled to the circuit  41 . The jumper section  64  may be configured to have no jumpers, one jumper, or two or more jumpers. In the disclosed embodiment, the jumper section  64  of the module  12  has no jumpers, which is an indication to the processor  43  in the module  12  that the module  12  is the master relay module. As mentioned above, the relay module  13  is structurally identical to the module  12 , but is a slave module. In the disclosed embodiment, the jumper section  64  of the module  13  has at least one jumper, which is an indication to the processor  43  in module  13  that the module  13  is a slave relay module. Although the disclosed embodiment uses a jumper section  64 , it will be recognized that it could optionally be replaced with some other type of manual configuration arrangement, such as a thumbwheel, or a dual inline package (DIP) switch unit. 
     In the disclosed embodiment, the bus  22  includes four conductors, which respectively carry power and ground signals, digital serial data, and a serial clock signal. The serial clock signal synchronizes the transmission of the serial data. In the disclosed embodiment, serial data is transmitted using a technique similar to that known in the industry as the Inter-Integrated Circuit (IIC) communication standard. However, some other type of known serial interfaces could alternatively be used, such as the standard which is commonly used for serial ports of personal computers and known in the industry as an RS232 serial interface. In some applications, it would be possible to use a parallel bus, rather than a serial bus. Depending on the particular type of serial or parallel interface, the bus  22  may have a larger or smaller number of conductors than that shown in FIG.  1 . 
     With respect to power, the master relay module  12  operates entirely from the power received on lines  61 - 62  from the power source  32 . In contrast, since relay module  13  is designated as a slave module, it uses power received on lines  61 - 62  from the power source  32  to operate its relays  51 , but uses power received through the bus  22  to operate other circuitry such as the microprocessor  43 . The button modules  16 - 18  receive all of their operational power through the power and ground connectors in the bus  22 . 
     The button module  16  includes a circuit  71  which is operationally coupled to the connector  28 , and which includes a microprocessor  72 . The button module  16  has six manually operable momentary push buttons  76 - 81 , each of which is coupled to a respective input of the circuit  71 . Adjacent each of the push buttons  76 - 81  is a label, one of which is identified by reference numeral  86 . Each label  86  in the disclosed embodiment carries not-illustrated indica that identifies the function of the adjacent push button. However, other indicia could be provided, or a label could have no indicia. Each of the labels  86  is translucent, so that light will pass through it when it is illuminated from the rear. 
     In this regard, a respective two-color light emitting diode (LED) is provided behind each of the labels  86 , and has a green portion G indicated at  87 , and a red portion R indicated at  88 . The green and red portions  87  and  88  of each LED are shown separately in FIG. 1, in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized that, in the disclosed embodiment, these portions are implemented with a single device which, at any given point in time, can have only one of three states. In particular, it can be emitting no light, emitting green light, or emitting red light. The circuit  71  controls each of the LEDs. In the discussion which follows, a statement that an LED is “off” is a reference to a logical state of the LED, and does not necessarily mean that the LED is not emitting any light. 
     In this regard, the system  10  treats the red portion  88  of each LED as the operational LED, and treats the green portion  87  as a backlight for the associated label  86 , so that the label  86  will be visible even in the dark. With respect to the backlight capability provided by the green portions  87  of the LEDs, the system has two modes of operation. In one operational mode, where the backlight capability is disabled, each LED can alternate between two states, where it emits red light from the red portion  88  when the LED is turned on, and emits no light when the LED is turned off (because the green portion  87  and red portion  88  are both turned off). In the other operational mode, where the backlight capability is enabled, each LED can alternate between two states, where it emits red light from the red portion  88  when the LED is turned on, and emits green light from the green portion  87  when the LED is turned off. Stated differently, when a given LED is turned on, it always emits red light from the portion  88 , but when the LED is turned off, it emits green light from the portion  88  if backlight capability is enabled, or emits no light if backlight capability is disabled. The backlight capability is enabled and disabled on a system-wide basis. Thus, at any given point in time, all of the LEDs which happen to be in an off state will be doing the same thing, in that they will all be emitting no light, or they will all be emitting green light. 
     The button module  16  includes a jumper section  91 , which is similar to the jumper section  64  described above in association with the relay module  12 . The jumper section  91  of the button module  16  is coupled to inputs of the circuit  71 . In view of the foregoing discussion, it will be recognized that the jumper section  91  could optionally be replaced with some equivalent device, such as a thumbwheel or a DIP switch unit. 
     The other two button modules  17  and  18  are each generally similar to the button module  16 , except that the button module  17  has only four push buttons  96 - 99  with four adjacent labels and LEDs, and the button module  18  has only two push buttons  101 - 102  with adjacent labels and LEDs. Although FIG. 1 shows one six-button module  16 , one four-button module  17 , and one two-button module  18 , the button modules in the system could be any suitable combination of two-button, four-button and/or six-button modules. Further, although the illustrated button modules each have two, four or six buttons, it will be recognized that a button module could have some other convenient number of buttons. Similarly, although the relay modules  12 - 13  each have sixteen relays with respective outputs, any other convenient number of relays could be provided on a given relay module. 
     Although FIG. 1 shows three of the button modules  16 - 18 , and two of the relay modules  12 - 13 , the system  10  could alternatively have a larger or smaller number of button modules, and a larger or smaller number of relay modules. In this regard, the minimum configuration of the system would be one relay module, which is the relay module  12 , and one of the button modules  16 - 18 , depending on whether the number of buttons needed for the system was two, four, or six. With the provision of a modified cable with one or more extra connectors, for example as shown diagrammatically at  106  and  107 , the illustrated system could be expanded to include at least one additional button module, for example as shown diagrammatically at  108 , and/or at least one additional relay module, for example as shown diagrammatically at  109 . On each of the button modules which are present in the system, the jumpers of the jumper section  91  will be set to a respective different configuration, so the button modules and the relay module  13  can be distinguished from each other when all such slave modules are viewed through the bus  22  by the master relay module  12 . 
     As mentioned above, the EEROM  47  in the relay module  12  includes configuration information for the system  10 . The configuration information in the EEROM  47  serves as configuration information for the entire system. Even though the slave relay module  13  has a comparable EEROM  47 , which is capable of holding similar configuration information, this capability is not used when the relay module  13  is functioning as a slave module, rather than as a master. However, the processor  43  in the slave relay module  13  does execute the program stored in the associated ROM  48 , which is responsive to the associated jumper section  64  to cause the module  13  to act as a slave rather than as a master. 
     In the master relay module  12 , the configuration information in the EEROM  47  defines, for each push button  76 - 81 ,  96 - 99 , and  101 - 102  in the system, the relay(s), if any, which will be associated with that push button. A given push button may be associated with no relay, one relay, or several relays. As one very simple example, the push button  76  may be associated with three relays, and the EEROM  47  in the module  12  will contain information which indicates that these three relays are associated with the push button  76 . This portion of the configuration information may be referred to as mapping definition information, because it defines the mapping between the pushbuttons and the relays which are present in the system. 
     The configuration information in the EEROM  47  also defines, for each of the push buttons  76 - 81 ,  96 - 99  and  101 - 102  in the system, the manner in which the push button will operate, or in other words the function which it will implement. This portion of the configuration information may be referred to as function definition information. As two very simple examples, which are each discussed in more detail below, the configuration information may indicate that the push button  76  is to function as a momentary switch, such that the system will turn on each relay associated with the push button  76  while the push button  76  is pressed, and will turn off each of those relays while the push button  76  is released. Alternatively, the configuration information may indicate that the push button  76  is to function as a toggle switch, such that one push and release of the push button  76  will cause the system to turn on each relay associated with the push button  76 , and the next push and release of push button  76  will cause the system to turn off each relay associated with the pushbutton  76 . 
     Each of the push buttons in the system may be associated with any one of several different functions. The particular function to be implemented by any given push button is determined when the system is being initially configured, as discussed later. Thereafter, the selected function is always associated with that particular push button during normal system operation. The various functions which are available in the system  10  of FIG. 1 are discussed below. Not all of the functions need to be implemented in any given system. However, when the system is being configured, they are all available for selection to the extent that any one of these functions may be needed in a given system. 
     The available functions may be categorized as primary functions and secondary functions. Some of the available functions may be implemented only as a primary function, some may be implemented only as a secondary function, and some may be optionally implemented as either a primary function or a secondary function. In more detail, every push button has a primary function, which is executed immediately when the button is pressed, without waiting for the release of the button. In addition, some push buttons may optionally have a secondary function, which is carried out if the push button is pressed and held for at least three seconds before being released. It should be noted that, when a push button is operated to invoke the secondary function, the primary function is also necessarily invoked. In particular, the primary function will be invoked immediately when the push button is pressed. Thereafter, if the operator keeps the push button pressed for at least three seconds, the secondary function will also be invoked. 
     Turning in more detail to the specific functions which are available for each of the push buttons in the system  10 , a first function is that a given push button can be configured to operate as a “momentary” switch. This is a primary function, and a push button which implements this function can be used to control from 1 to 64 relays. The upper limit of 64 is an arbitrary number selected for the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, and could alternatively be a higher or lower number. TABLE 1 is a truth table showing how such a push button would operate. 
     The first row of TABLE 1 represents the status before the push button is pressed, and indicates that the system  10  has each associated relay turned off, and has the LED which is adjacent that push button in an off state. As discussed above, when the associated LED is in its off state, it will be emitting no light if backlight capability is disabled, or will be emitting green light if backlight capability is enabled. The second row of TABLE 1 shows what happens when the push button is pressed, and while it is manually held. In particular, the system  10  turns on each associated relay, and turns on the adjacent LED. When the LED is on, it emits red light. The third row of TABLE 1 indicates what happens when the push button is manually released. In particular, the system  10  turns off each associated relay, and turns off the associated LED, so the LED again emits no light or green light, depending on whether or not backlight capability is enabled. 
     The next function which can be selected for a given push button is a “toggle” switch function. This is a primary function, and a button implementing this function can control from 1 to 64 relays. The upper limit of 64 is an arbitrary selection, and could be higher or lower. TABLE 2 is a truth table showing the operation of the toggle function. In this regard, the left column of the table indicates how many times the push button has been pressed. Thus, the first row shows the state before the push button is pressed, where the system has each corresponding relay turned off, and has the corresponding LED turned off so that it emits no light or green light. The second row of TABLE 2 indicates what happens when the push button is then pressed. In particular, the system turns on each corresponding relay, and also turns on the corresponding LED, so that it emits red light. As mentioned above, and since this is a primary function, the change in state occurs as soon as the push button is pressed, without waiting for it to be released. The third row of TABLE 2 shows what happens when the push button is pressed again, where the system turns off each associated relay, and turns off the associated LED so that it emits no light or green light. This second change in state is also implemented as soon as the button is pressed, without waiting for it to be released. 
     Another function which can be assigned to a push button is the “toggle with backlight” function. This is a primary function, and a button implementing this function can control from 0 to 64 relays. The upper limit of 64 has been arbitrarily selected, and could be higher or lower. TABLE 3 is a truth table showing how the system responds to operation of a push button which is assigned this particular function. It will be noted that TABLE 3 is similar to TABLE 2, except that it includes an additional column relating to the backlight capability. In particular, the first time that the push button is pressed, it toggles the state of the backlight capability. If backlight capability was disabled, pressing the push button causes backlight capability to be enabled. Conversely, if backlight capability was enabled, pressing the push button causes backlight capability to be disabled. 
     This foregoing explanation of the toggle with backlight function was based on the assumption that only one push button had the power to control the backlight capability. It is possible to configure the system  10  so that two or more push buttons can each control the backlight capability. In that case, the system  10  keeps an independent record of whether each such button is currently indicating that backlight capability should be on or should be off. If any one of these push buttons is currently indicating that backlight capability should be on, then the system keeps backlight capability enabled. However, if all of these push buttons are indicating that backlight capability should be off, then the system disables backlight capability. 
     A final comment regarding TABLE 3 relates to the column entitled “Relay State”. It should be evident that this column relates to a situation where the push button in question is being used to control one or more relays. If the push button configured for this function is not assigned to any relay, then the “Relay State” column can effectively be ignored. The reason that such a push button might not control any relay is that it may be desirable to be able to enable and disable the backlight capability without changing the state of any relay. 
     A further function which can be assigned to a push button is the “exclusive scroll” function. This is a primary function, and in the disclosed embodiment can be implemented to control either two, three or four relays. The upper limit of four relays is arbitrary, and it will be recognized that it would be possible to implement this function with a larger number of relays. TABLE 4, TABLE 5 and TABLE 6 are respective truth tables, which depict the operation of this function for two relays, three relays and four relays, respectively. 
     In TABLE 4, the first row represents the state before the push button is pressed. In particular, the two relays assigned to the push button are both turned off by the system, and the associated LED is also turned off. The second row indicates that happens the first time the push button is pressed. In particular, the first relay “A” is turned on, and the associated LED is turned on, but the second relay “B” is kept off. The third row of TABLE 4 indicates what happens the second time the push button is pressed. In particular, the first relay is turned off, the second relay is turned on, and the LED is kept on. The third row of the table shows what happens the third time the push button is pressed. The first relay is maintained in the off state, the second relay is changed from the on state to the off state, and the LED is changed from the on state to the off state. TABLE 5 and TABLE 6 are similar to TABLE 4, and it is believed that they will be readily understood by analogy to TABLE 4, without a separate detailed discussion. 
     Still another function which can be assigned to a given button is the “inclusive scroll” function. This is a primary function, and can be implemented in association with two relays, three relays or four relays. The upper limit of four relays is arbitrary, and could optionally be higher. TABLE 7 is a truth table showing the operation of this function. The first time the push button is pressed, the first relay “A” is turned on, and the associated LED is turned on. The second time the push button is pressed, the first relay and the LED are both kept on, and the second relay “B” is turned from the off state to an on state. The third time the push button is pressed, both relays and the LED are turned off. TABLE 8 and TABLE 9 are truth tables showing the inclusive scroll function for three relays and four relays, respectively. It is believed that TABLES 8 and 9 will be readily understood by analogy to TABLE 7, and that a separate detailed discussion of TABLES 8 and 9 is not necessary. 
     Another function which can be assigned to a given push button is the “binary scroll” function. This is a primary function, and a button assigned this function can control either two relays, three relays or four relays. The upper limit of four relays is arbitrary, and could optionally be larger. FIG. 10 is a truth table showing the operation of the binary scroll function for two relays. The first row of TABLE 10 shows the state before the push button is pressed, where a first relay “A”, a second relay “B”, and an associated LED are all off. The second row represents the first press of the push button, which causes the first relay and the LED to be turned on, and the second relay to be maintained in an off state. The third row corresponds to the second press of the push button, which causes the first relay to be turned off, the second relay to be turned on, and the LED to be maintained in an on state. The fourth row corresponds to the third press of the push button, which causes the first relay to be turned back on, the second relay to be maintained in its on state, and the LED to be maintained in its on state. The fifth row corresponds to the fourth press of the push button, and causes the LED and both relays to be turned off. 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the binary bit patterns which correspond to the numbers 0 to 3. In particular, the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 correspond to respective binary bit patterns of “00” “01”, “10” and “11”. It will be noted that the first four rows of the two relay columns in TABLE 10 implement this sequence, where relay “A” is the least significant bit and relay “B” is the most significant bit. 
     TABLE 11 and TABLE 12 depict the operation of the binary scroll function for three relays and four relays, respectively. It is believed that TABLEs 11 and 12 will each be readily understood by analogy to TABLE 10, and they are therefore not discussed here in detail. 
     A further function which can be assigned to a given push button is a “timer” function. This is always a secondary function. As discussed above, the primary function for a given push button is invoked as soon as the button is pressed. If the button also has a secondary function, the secondary function will be invoked if the button is held for at least three seconds before being released, and this is true even though the primary function has already been invoked by the same press of the push button. If there is a secondary function but the push button is released in less than three seconds, then the secondary function will not be invoked, and only the primary function will occur. 
     A push button which implements the timer function can be used to control from 1 to 64 relays. As discussed above, the upper limit of 64 is arbitrary, and could optionally be higher or lower. In the system  10  of FIG. 1, when a push button is assigned the timer function as its secondary function, it is normally assigned a primary function which is the toggle function discussed above in association with TABLE 2. This is arbitrary, and it will be recognized that the primary function could alternatively be some function other than the toggle function. 
     TABLE 13 is a truth table showing the operation of both the primary and secondary functions for a push button which is configured to have the timer function as its secondary function. The primary function is shown in the first three rows of the table, and it will be noted that they correspond directly to TABLE 2. The secondary function is shown in the last two rows. In particular, the next-to-last row represents the status when the secondary function has not yet been invoked, where the dash indicates that the secondary function does not exert any control with respect to the associated LED or any associated relay. The last row of the table indicates that the secondary function will be invoked when the push button is pressed and held for three seconds, and will cause the system to turn on each associated relay for a predetermined time interval of “X” seconds. During this time interval, the system also flashes the associated LED. At the end of this time interval, the system turns off each associated relay and the associated LED, and the secondary function terminates. The length of the time interval is set during system configuration. The configuration information in the EEROM  47  of module  12  includes a byte containing a value that defines the length selected for the time interval during system configuration. In the disclosed embodiment, the predetermined time interval can range from 3 seconds to 765 seconds, in 3-second increments. However, the range and increment are arbitrary, and could be different. 
     Still another function which can be assigned to a push button is the “intermittent” function. The intermittent function can optionally be either a primary function or a secondary function, as discussed below. A push button which implements the intermittent function can control from 1 to 64 relays. The upper limit of 64 is arbitrary, and could optionally be higher or lower. In general, when the intermittent function is enabled, there is a repeating cycle which has a length or total cycle time of “Y” seconds, and which has successive first and second portions, the first portion having a time interval of “Z” seconds, where Z is less than Y. The lengths of the time intervals Y and Z are set during system configuration, and are stored in the configuration information in the EEROM  47  of the module  12 . However, the total cycle time Y can optionally be changed in a dynamic manner during system operation, in a manner described later. In the disclosed embodiment, the total cycle time Y can range from 3 seconds to 765 seconds in 3-second increments, but this range and increment amount are arbitrary, and could be different. The first portion Z of the total cycle time can be any value less than the time interval Y, in 3-second increments. This increment amount is also arbitrary, and could be different. 
     As mentioned above, when the intermittent function is enabled, the system  10  repeatedly executes the first and second portions of the cycle in an alternating manner, and this continues until the intermittent function is disabled. During the first portion of the cycle, each associated relay and the associated LED are turned on. During the second portion, each associated relay is turned off, and the associated LED is flashed. Each time the cycle begins, the system starts two timers, one of which is timing the time interval Y and the other which is timing the time interval Z. The first portion of the cycle is the time period until the timer for Z expires, at which point the second portion of the cycle begins. When the timer for Y expires, the cycle ends and a new cycle is started. 
     TABLE 14 is a truth table showing the operation of the intermittent function when it is configured to be a primary function. The first row of TABLE 14 represents the status before the push button is pressed, or in other words when the intermittent function is disabled. Each associated relay and the associated LED are off. The second row represents the status when the push button is pressed in order to enable the intermittent function. As discussed above, the system repeatedly executes the cycle that has the first portion of Z seconds and the second portion of Y-Z seconds. Each relay is turned on during the first portion and off during the second portion, and the associated LED is turned on during the first portion and is flashed during the second portion. The third row of the table indicates what happens when the push button is pressed again in order to disable the intermittent function. The system turns off each associated relay and the associated LED. 
     TABLE 15 is a truth table showing the operation of the intermittent function when it is configured to be a secondary function. The first three rows of TABLE 15 show the operation of the primary function of the button, which in this case is the toggle function described above in association with TABLE 2. However, the primary function for this button could optionally be some other function. The last three rows of TABLE 15 show the operation of the secondary function and correspond generally to TABLE 14, except that the push button must be held for 3 seconds in order to enable the intermittent function. The intermittent function is turned off the next time the push button is pressed, whether or not the push button is held for as long as 3 seconds. This corresponds to the last row of TABLE 15. 
     Still another function which can be assigned to a push button is an “intermittent period increment” function. This is a primary function, and a button assigned this function does not control any relays. TABLE 16 is a truth table depicting the operation of this function. When the push button is pressed, the system increments the value of Y, which represents the total cycle time used for the intermittent function discussed above in association with TABLE 15. In particular, each time the push button is pressed, the system increments Y by a predetermined increment amount which is selected at the time of configuration. The system turns on the associated LED, and keeps it on so long as the button is pressed. When the button is released, as indicated by the last row of TABLE 16, the only action taken is to turn off the associate LED. 
     A further function is the “intermittent period decrement” function, which is generally similar to the intermittent period increment function discussed above in association with TABLE 16. A truth table for the intermittent period decrement function is shown in TABLE 17. TABLE 17 should be readily understood by analogy to TABLE 16, and TABLE 17 is therefore not described separately in detail. 
     The button functions described above are exemplary, and it will be recognized that it would be possible to implement variations of these functions, or some other functions. As one example, it will be recognized that the time value of X discussed above in association with TABLE 13, or the time value of Z discussed above in association with TABLES 14 and 15, could be incremented or decremented by additional functions similar to the increment and decrement functions discussed above in association with TABLES 16 and 17. 
     A further feature of the system is the capability to be configured to implement “clone” buttons. A selected push button can have up to four clone push buttons, although the upper limit of four is arbitrary and could be different. A clone is a push button and associated LED which have exactly the same function and control exactly the same relays as the selected push button. Actuation of any one of the clone push buttons is treated as if the selected pushbutton itself had been actuated. The LEDs adjacent the clone buttons are each controlled in exactly the same manner as the LED adjacent the selected push button. Typically, the selected push button and the clone push buttons are disposed in different physical locations. On a boat, for example, a push button for controlling the running lights might be on the main bridge, and might have clones on the flying bridge and in the main cabin. 
     As mentioned above, the internal operational configuration of the system  10  of FIG. 1 is determined by the configuration information stored in the EEROM  47 . The manner in which this configuration information is introduced into the EEROM  47 , and the manner in which it can be updated, will now be described with reference to FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 shows the relay module  12  of FIG. 1, but with the cable for bus  22  disconnected from the connector  26 , to thereby uncouple the master relay module  12  from all of the other relay and button modules  13  and  16 - 18 . FIG. 2 shows a dongle  201 , which has a bus  203  disposed in a cable that is coupled to the connector  26  of the relay module  12 . 
     Bus  203  is a four-conductor bus equivalent to that discussed above in association with bus  22  of FIG.  1 . In particular, the bus  203  includes power and ground conductors that carry a voltage differential, and the dongle  201  receives all its operating power from these two conductors of the bus  203 . The bus  203  also includes a serial data conductor and a serial clock conductor, which are equivalent to those discussed above in association with the bus  22 . 
     The dongle  201  further includes an LED  206  which is externally visible, and a driver circuit  207  for the LED  206 . The driver circuit  207  has an input coupled to the serial clock conductor of the bus. When there is no activity on the bus  203 , the serial clock conductor will stay at a single logic state, which causes the driver circuit  207  to keep the LED  206  turned off. When there is activity on the bus  203 , the serial clock conductor will carry an active digital clock signal, which alternates between two logic states, in response to which the drive circuit  207  will cause the LED  206  to turn on and off as the clock signal changes states. This will cause the LED  206  to flash at a high rate of speed, with a duty cycle in which it is on a greater percentage of the time than it is off. Consequently, to a human eye, the LED  206  will appear to be on whenever there is activity on the bus  203 . 
     The dongle  201  also includes a memory  211 , which is coupled to the bus  203 . In the disclosed embodiment, the memory  211  is a commercially available part, which includes the circuitry needed to store information, and also includes the circuitry needed to interface with an IIC-compatible bus, such as the bus  203 . The memory  211  is an electrically erasable read-only memory. 
     The information stored in the memory  211  includes an identifier pattern  212 , which serves two purposes. First, it serves a validity and/or security purpose. The processor  43  in the relay module  12  can check the identifier pattern  212 , in order to determine whether the memory  211  in the dongle  201  currently contains valid information, as opposed to invalid information such as random bit patterns of the type commonly known in the industry as “garbage”. Second, the identifier pattern  212  is used to indicate to the processor  43  what the processor  43  should proceed to do. In particular, depending on the identifier pattern  212 , the processor  43  may (1) use information from the memory  211  to update the configuration information in the EEROM  47 , (2) execute a self-test procedure which tests various internal circuitry within the circuit  41  of the relay module  12 , or (3) carry out both the configuration update and the self-test procedure. 
     The memory  211  also stores a count  216 . Due to the fact that the memory  211  is an electrically erasable memory, the processor  43  can change the value of the count  216 , for example by decrementing the count. The purpose of the count  216  is discussed later. The memory  211  also includes configuration data  217 , which is the configuration information that is transferred from the dongle  201  to the EEROM  47  in order to initialize or update the configuration information in the EEROM  47 . 
     Connection of the dongle  201  to the connector  26  of the relay module  12  is carried out while the relay module  12  is powered down. When power is subsequently applied to the relay module  12 , the processor  43  is powered up and begins execution of an initialization portion of its program. As part of this initialization portion, the processor  43  checks to see whether the relay module  12  is coupled to a dongle  201  or to some other configuration of modules (such as that shown in FIG.  1 ). If the processor  43  determines that it is coupled to a dongle  201 , then the processor  43  begins interacting with the dongle  201 , which causes the driver circuit  207  to flash the LED  206  in a manner causing the LED  206  to appear as if it is on. 
     The processor  43  first inputs and checks the identifier pattern  212 , in order to make sure that the memory  211  in the dongle  201  contains valid information. If the identifier pattern  212  does not conform to one of several predetermined identifier patterns, the processor  212  enters an endless loop or wait state, in which it is effectively doing nothing. This terminates activity on the bus  203 , which in turn causes the LED  206  to be turned off. Alternatively, if the identifier pattern  212  is valid, then the processor uses it to determine what the processor should do. 
     In particular, a first identifier pattern indicates that the processor  212  should update the configuration information in the EEROM memory  47 . If this pattern is detected, then before actually doing the update, the processor checks the count  216  to see if it is greater than zero. If the count  216  is zero, it means that the dongle is not permitted to be used for any further updates, and so the processor  43  enters an endless loop or wait state without doing the update, causing the LED  206  to be turned off. On the other hand, if the count  216  is found to be greater than zero, the processor  43  reads in the configuration data  217  from the dongle  201 , and stores this configuration information in its EEROM  47 , in place of any configuration information which may have already been in the EEROM  47 . Next, the processor  43  decrements the count  216  in the dongle  201 , and then the processor enters an endless loop or wait state, so the LED  206  turns off. An operator can then turn off power to the relay module  12 , and disconnect the dongle  201  from the relay module  12 . 
     The count  216  thus permits the dongle  201  to be programmed so that it can be used to update the master relay module  12  in each of a specified number of systems, after which the dongle  201  cannot be used to update any additional systems unless it is reinitialized. This permits a manufacturer to prepare configuration data  217  requested by a dealer or customer, and sell the dealer or customer the right to update a specified number of systems, by initializing the count  216  to equal the number of systems. As each system is updated by the dealer or customer, the count  216  is decremented, until it reaches zero. When the count  216  reaches zero, the dongle  201  cannot be used to update configuration information in any other relay module, unless and until it is reprogrammed by the manufacturer. 
     In the disclosed embodiment, the program executed by the processor  43  is stored in the ROM  48 , which is not an erasable or reprogrammable part. However, the ROM  48  could alternatively be an electrically erasable read only memory, and when power is first turned on the processor  43  could copy the program from the ROM  48  to the RAM  46 , and then execute the program from the RAM  46 , partly for speed. In such a configuration, the dongle  201  could be used not only to update the configuration information in the EEROM  47 , but could also be used to optionally update the program in the ROM  48 . 
     In a second scenario, when the processor  43  initially checks the identifier pattern  212 , the processor  43  may find that the identifier pattern  212  is indicating that the processor  43  should carry out the self-test procedure. The self-test program procedure is a portion of the operational program for the processor  43 , which is always stored in the ROM  48 . The processor  43  will then execute this self-test portion of its program. When the self-test procedure is completed, the processor  43  will enter a wait state or endless loop, causing the LED  206  to be turned off in order to indicate to the operator that the dongle  201  can be disconnected. The operator will then turn off power, and disconnect the dongle  201 . 
     A third scenario is that, when the processor  43  checks the identifier pattern  212 , it will find that the identifier pattern  212  is telling the processor to both (1) use the configuration data  217  to update the configuration information in EEROM  47 , as discussed above, and (2) thereafter carry out the self-test procedure described above. The processor  43  will then do these two functions in sequence (unless of course the count  216  is found to be zero), and will thereafter enter a wait state or endless loop that causes the LED  206  to be turned off. 
     The technique used to program the memory  211  in the dongle  201  will now be described with reference to FIG.  3 . More specifically, FIG. 3 shows the dongle  201 , and a computer system  251 . The computer system  251  in the disclosed embodiment is a known type of system commonly referred to in the industry as a personal computer or workstation. The computer system  251  includes a computer or system unit  252 , which is coupled to a keyboard  256 , a pointing device such as a mouse  257 , and a cathode ray tube (CRT) display  258 . The system unit  252  includes a processor  261 , and a memory  262  containing a program  263  which is executed by the processor  261 . In FIG. 3, the memory  262  is a diagrammatic representation of several different types of memory in the system unit  252 , such as a hard disk drive and a random access memory. The system unit  252  also includes a dongle interface circuit  267 , which may be in the form of a plug-in card inserted into an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) slot, or a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot. The interface  267  is coupled by a connector  268  to the cable of the dongle  201 . 
     The processor  261  executes the program  263 , which permits an operator of the computer system  251  to specify configuration information. In this regard, the operator would specify configuration information such as the arrangement of button modules and relay modules which is to be used in a given system, as well as other configuration information such as which relays are to be controlled by which push buttons, the primary function to be associated with each push button, and any secondary function which is to be associated with any push button. The program  263  then transforms this configuration into an appropriate format, and stores it in the configuration data portion  217  of the memory  211  of the dongle  201 . The program  263  also permits the operator to specify how many systems can be updated with the configuration data  217 , and the program  263  stores this specified number of systems in the memory  211  as the count  216 . The program  263  also asks the operator to specify whether the dongle  201  is to cause a relay module to (1) update its configuration, (2) carry out the self-test procedure, or (3) update its configuration and also carry out the self-test. The program  263  then selects a predetermined identifier pattern which corresponds to the particular option selected by the operator, and stores this in the memory  211  as the identifier pattern  212 . When the dongle  201  has been fully programmed by the computer system  251 , the dongle  201  is disconnected from the computer system  251 . It can thereafter be used to update and/or test the master relay module in the manner described above in association with FIG.  2 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 MOMENTARY 
               
               
                 (Primary; 1 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 ACTION 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 RELEASE 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 RELEASE 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 TOGGLE 
               
               
                 (Primary; 1 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 TOGGLE WITH BACKLIGHT 
               
               
                 (Primary; 0 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 BACKLIGHT 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 2 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 3 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 4 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 RELAY D 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 3 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 5 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 2 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 3 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INCLUSIVE SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 4 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 RELAY D 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 2 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 3 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 4 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 5 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 BINARY SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 2 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 BINARY SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 3 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 BINARY SCROLL 
               
               
                 (Primary; 4 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY A 
                 RELAY B 
                 RELAY C 
                 RELAY D 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 3 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 4 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 5 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 6 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 7 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
               
               
                 8 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 9 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 10 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 11 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 12 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 13 
                 ON 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 14 
                 OFF 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 15 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 16 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 TIMER 
               
               
                 (Secondary; 1 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 0 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 HOLD 3 SEC 
                 ON X SEC/THEN OFF 
                 FLASH X SEC/THEN OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INTERMITTENT 
               
               
                 (Primary; 1 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 0 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 REPEAT Y SEC CYCLE: 
                 REPEAT Y SEC CYCLE: 
               
               
                   
                 ON Z SEC/OFF Y-Z SEC 
                 ON Z SEC/FLASH Y-Z SEC 
               
               
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 15 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INTERMITTENT 
               
               
                 (Secondary; 1 TO 64 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BUTTON 
                 RELAY 
                 LED 
               
               
                 PRESS 
                 STATE 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 0 
                 0FF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 1 
                 ON 
                 ON 
               
               
                 2 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                 0 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 HOLD 
                 REPEAT Y SEC CYCLE: 
                 REPEAT Y SEC CYCLE: 
               
               
                 3 SEC 
                 ON Z SEC/OFF Y-Z SEC 
                 ON Z SEC/FLASH Y-Z SEC 
               
               
                 NEXT 
                 OFF 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INTERMITTENT PERIOD INCREMENT 
               
               
                 (Primary; 0 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                   
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 ACTION 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 INCREMENT Y 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 RELEASE 
                 NONE 
                 OFF 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 17 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INTERMITTENT PERIOD DECREMENT 
               
               
                 (Primary; 0 Relays) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BUTTON 
                   
                 LED 
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 ACTION 
                 STATE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PRESS 
                 DECREMENT Y 
                 ON 
               
               
                   
                 RELEASE 
                 NONE 
                 OFF