Patent Publication Number: US-2020295965-A1

Title: System and method for controlling multiple serial control devices in an emergency vehicle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to networked devices in emergency vehicles, and more specifically to a system and method for controlling multiple serial control devices in emergency vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Emergency response vehicles (ERV&#39;s), such as police, fire, and ambulance vehicles, often include a number of different devices such as warning lights, sirens, and other peripherals. The devices may be controlled by a central controller or individual controllers. 
     To ease installation and reduce cost by reducing copper consumption, serial networks are often used to control the lights, sirens and other peripherals within the ERV. Some installations and applications of ERV require multiple instances of a given peripheral, such as multiple lights of the same type. This can lead to difficulties in distinguishing between the multiple instances of the same peripheral in the network. Some networks are incapable of supporting multiple devices of the same type. Others rely upon mechanical dip switches to uniquely identify a device on the network or dedicated ports for each instance of a particular device. 
     The traditional methods of addressing multiple instances of a peripheral come with disadvantages. Mechanical dip switches are prone to failure particularly in the rugged operating environments of ERVs. Alternate means of binary encoding, via loops of cut and uncut wires, is disadvantageous making re-addressing difficult. Having dedicated ports on a controller for each instance of a particular device is costly especially given that the additional ports may go unused in certain configurations. Dedicated ports are also finite and therefore cannot accommodate unforeseen use cases requiring more peripherals than the controller might support. 
     There exists a need to attach different types of peripherals in varying quantities to a network within an ERV such that each peripheral is individually addressable and available for input and output operations by a network controller. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for effectively configuring and controlling multiple serial devices in an emergency response vehicle. 
     In one aspect, a system for operating multiple serial devices in an emergency response vehicle is provided including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to receive and store an address. A controller is in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and is configured to transmit addressable commands to each of the plurality of peripheral devices. At least two of the plurality of peripheral devices have a first device type and, in some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices has a second device type. The addresses of each of the plurality of peripheral devices are selectable by a user. 
     In another aspect, there is a method of configuring multiple serial devices in an emergency response vehicle including steps of: selecting a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to receive and store an address, wherein at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices have a same device type; connecting each of the plurality of peripheral devices to a network; detecting, via a computer executing configuration software, each of the plurality of peripheral devices; receiving an input via the computer indicative of an address for at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices; and storing the address in a storage medium associated with the at least one of plurality of peripheral devices. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program instructions, the computer readable program instructions read and executed by at least one processor for performing a configuration method. The method includes detecting each of a plurality of peripheral devices connected to a serial network, two or more the peripheral devices having a same device type, and displaying, via a user interface, data indicative of each of the plurality of peripheral devices connected to the serial network. The method further includes receiving, via the user interface, a user selection of one of the two or more the peripheral devices having the same device type, and user input indicative of an address to assign to the one of the plurality of peripheral devices for receiving commands from a controller. The method further includes associating the address with the one of the plurality of peripheral devices and storing the address. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the system of  FIG. 1  installed in a vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method of configuring the system; 
         FIG. 4  is another flow chart illustrating a method of configuring the system; 
         FIG. 5  is a user interface generated by a software application for configuring the system; 
         FIG. 6  is another user interface generated by the software application for configuring the system; 
         FIG. 7  is another user interface generated by the software application for configuring the system; and 
         FIG. 8  is another user interface generated by the software application for configuring the system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. 
     Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. 
     The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  includes a controller  102  and a plurality of peripheral devices each in communication with the controller  102 , e.g., via a serial network. There are several different types of peripheral devices and, for at least some of the types, there are multiple instances (e.g., without limitation, 2 . . . n) present in the system  100 . For example, the system  100  may include one or a plurality of light bars  110 . The system may also include one or a plurality of traffic lights  112  and/or inner edge lights  114 . The system may also include one or a plurality of sirens  120 . The sirens  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are one type of low frequency siren however it should be understood that any number of different sirens and siren types may be used in place of or together the illustrated sirens  120 . Other peripherals may include, for example, one or a plurality of control heads  130 , remote siren modules  140 , and output expansion modules  150 / 152 . These are only exemplary and not intended to limit the types of peripheral devices that may connect to and operate within the system  100 . 
     For each device type, there may, in some embodiments, be a primary device, a secondary device, and/or at least one ancillary device. The controller  102  is configured to send addressable commands to each peripheral device including any primary, second, and ancillary devices. Each peripheral device is configured to accept and store an address and respond to commands addressed only to itself. The address for a device may be stored in a storage medium within or otherwise associated with the device. In some embodiments, the addresses may be stored in a common storage medium accessible by each of the devices. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a vehicle  200 , such as an emergency response vehicle, including an embodiment of the system  100  according to the present invention. The vehicle  200  has a plurality of peripheral devices installed therein including more than one instance of the same peripheral device. In the present example, there are two sirens  120   a / 120   b  and two edge lights  114   a / 114   b . However, in other embodiments and arrangements, there may be additional sirens  120 , edge lights  114 , and other peripheral devices. Each of the peripheral devices are connected to the controller  102  installed in the vehicle  200  via a serial network. For example, the peripheral devices may connect to the controller  102  and/or one another via a Controller Area Network (CAN). The controller  102  is configured to send addressable commands to each peripheral device, and the peripheral devices are each configured to accept and store an address and respond to commands addressed only to itself. 
     The peripheral devices and/or the controller  102  are configured to connect, such as by a wired connection or wirelessly, to at least one computer  210 . The computer  210  includes at least one processor and at least one storage medium. The system  100  includes a software application, executable on a processor, for configuring (or reconfiguring) the system  100 . 
     The computer  210  may be installed in the vehicle  200  or may only be connected to the controller  102  vehicle  200  and/or each device during configuration (or reconfiguration) of the system. In some instances, the computer  210  and associated software may be used for configuring devices prior to installation of any of the devices in the vehicle  200 . Thus, the system is useful for installers as well as end users and fleet managers. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the software application is stored on the storage medium and executed on the processor of the computer  210 . The software application allows a user to specify the address of each peripheral device and create instructions targeting a specific device type and address. For example, the software application may generate a display to receive user input indicative of an address to at least one peripheral device. Such software may operate to configure the devices prior to, during or after installation of the devices in the vehicle  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method and process of configuring the system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is carried out, at least in part, using the software application executing on a processor such as the processor of the computer  210 . The method includes a step S 301  of identifying or labelling any duplicate peripherals with an installation ID and a vehicle location. This may be done, for example, by applying physical labels to each device or by electronically recording and/or capturing images of the peripherals. Step S 303  of the method includes connecting each of the devices into the system, e.g., to the controller  102  via a network, and assigning corresponding ID&#39;s using the software application. In some embodiments, it is necessary or desirable to select a series or category of products that the user wishes to assign. In a step S 305 , a new configuration is created (e.g., for a vehicle  200 ) and all associated hardware is added to the configuration. In a step S 307 , previously determined or newly created ID&#39;s are assigned to devices in the configuration. The configuration is then set up (step S 309 ) and transferred to the vehicle or controller therein (step S 311 ). 
       FIG. 4  is another flow chart illustrating a method and process of configuring the system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is carried out, in whole or in part, using the software application executing on a processor such as the processor of the computer  210 . The method includes a step S 401  of detecting all or at least some of a plurality of devices connected to a controller and/or one another in a serial network. The serial network may, for example, be a Controller Area Network within a vehicle. 
     In step S 403 , a display is generated providing data indicative of the plurality of devices that are detected. The display is preferably interactive to receive user input. A user selection of one of the devices is received, together with or followed by a user input indicative of an address to assign to the device (S 405 -S 407 ). The address is assigned to the selected device and stored in and/or associated with the device (S 409 ). 
     The method may further include completing a configuration of the plurality of devices and transferring the configuration and/or data indicative of the devices and their addresses to a vehicle. After configuration, a controller can send addressable messages to each peripheral device, e.g., using a, original/default address for some devices and assigned addresses for some devices. Each device recognizes its address and is able to respond to instructions addressed to it. 
       FIG. 5  shows a display  500  generated by the software application according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The display  500  includes a menu item  502  for selecting an “assign installation ID” function. Selecting this function initiates the process of addressing the peripherals. In some embodiments, it is necessary or desirable to select a series or category of products that the user wishes to assign. In the exemplary embodiment, the peripherals are associated with a “CenCom Core” product type or project and therefore “CenCom Core” is selected. In other embodiments, the peripherals are associated with a “Falcon” product type or project and therefore “Falcon” is selected. This is only exemplary and any number of different product types or project codes may selected. In some embodiments, no selection is necessary and/or one or more are automatically determined by the system. 
     Once the assign installation ID function is selected, the system attempts to detect and connect to one or the plurality of peripherals.  FIG. 6  illustrates a display  600  generated by the system while it searches for peripherals. Each peripheral is addressable, or necessary to address ancillary peripherals attached to its CAN network port. Once a peripheral, or multiple peripherals, are detected by the system, the software application generates a display indicating each detected peripheral and prompting the user for ID assignment. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a display  700  indicating all detected devices at a given time. As shown in  FIG. 7 , each device may be recognized by a name and/or serial number. The system may pre-assign a default or current ID for some peripherals and/or some peripherals may be unassigned. In some cases, two or more devices may have the same default ID and require changing. The display  700  illustrated in  FIG. 7  includes a drop-down menu that allows selection of a unique ID to assign to an unassigned device or to change the current ID of a device. In some embodiments, the ID is the same as the address used by the controller via the network. In other embodiments, the ID is only representative of the address. In the exemplary embodiment, the unique IDs selectable by the user include numerical IDs ranging from 1-99. However, other embodiments may have an increased range of numerical IDs, alphanumeric IDs, or both. Once a user selects a unique ID and clicks assign in display  700 , the new ID (and/or address) is stored on the assigned device in a memory location and the system completes assignment of the ID to the device. 
       FIG. 8  is another display generated by the system and/or the software application thereof. A user may create or edit a configuration for a particular application or vehicle under “My Hardware” and map the devices to that configuration. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a user may manipulate the device ID drop down and, by memory or reference, align the configuration ID for each of the peripherals attached to the CAN network that they wish to assign instructions to. 
     As noted above, after a configuration is complete, the configuration or portions thereof may be transferred. For example, the configuration including information concerning the devices and addresses of each device may be transferred to the vehicle  200  and/or controller  102 . In some embodiments, the information includes information identifying which of a group of devices of the same type is the primary device, the secondary device, and the ancillary device(s). 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated but fall within the scope of the appended claims.