Patent Publication Number: US-2012035813-A1

Title: Wall Movement Synchronization Slide-Out Room System and Method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/371,557 filed Aug. 6, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to slide-out rooms of recreational vehicles, and more particularly, slide-out rooms having multiple room slides. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some recreational vehicles include a slide-out room to increase the size of the living quarters while also providing an appropriate size for highway travel. Some slide-out rooms extend from the side of a vehicle and are moved by one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, electric drive screws, or electric gear drives located on the vehicle. In the case of multiple actuators, a controller may be used to ensure synchronized movement of the actuators. Otherwise, the actuators may move at different rates and thereby extend the slide-out room to a skewed position relative to the vehicle. In such a skewed position the slide-out room may not properly engage seals at interfaces between the slide-out room and the rest of the vehicle, which may ultimately cause leaks or drafts between the slide-out room and the outside environment. 
     In some previous recreational vehicle designs having a slide-out room, actuators were only provided at a single side of the slide-out room (e.g., below the floor). Such systems were capable of ensuring synchronized movement along the single side of the room and sufficiently engaging the seals at the single side of the room. Unfortunately, these systems could not ensure synchronized movement of the single side of the room with the other sides of the room (e.g., the ceiling and side walls) due to their distance from the actuators. Similarly, these systems sometimes did not evenly compress seals at the other sides of the room. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a slide-out room system for a vehicle. The system comprises a slide-out room movably connected to the vehicle and at least four room slides supported by the vehicle and operable to move the slide-out room relative to the vehicle. A first of the four room slides is disposed in a first quadrant at a first corner of the slide-out room, a second of the four room slides is disposed in a second quadrant at a second corner of the slide-out room, a third of the four room slides is disposed in a third quadrant at a third corner of the slide-out room, and a fourth of the four room slides is disposed in a fourth quadrant at a fourth corner of the slide-out room. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to each of the four room slides for independently controlling the motion of the four room slides and synchronizing the motion of the four room slides to move the quadrants in concert with one another. 
     In another aspect, the slide-out room system comprises a slide-out room movably connected to the vehicle. The slide-out room has a leading wall, a ceiling, a floor, and right and left side walls extending between the ceiling and the floor. The system further includes at least four room slides supported by the vehicle and operable to move the slide-out room relative to the vehicle. A first of the four room slides is disposed in a first quadrant defined by an upper half of the right side wall, a right half of the ceiling, and an upper right quarter of the leading wall, a second of the four room slides is disposed in a second quadrant defined by a left half of the ceiling, an upper half of the left side wall, and an upper left quarter of the leading wall, a third of the four room slides is disposed in a third quadrant defined by a bottom half of the left side wall, a left half of the floor, and a bottom left quarter of the leading wall, and a fourth of the four room slides is disposed in a fourth quadrant defined by a right half of the floor, a bottom half of the right side wall, and a bottom right quarter of the leading wall. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to each of the four room slides for independently controlling the motion of the four room slides and synchronizing the motion of the four room slides to move the slide-out room in concert with one another. A control panel operatively connects to the controller and includes inputs to receive commands from a user. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling motion of a slide-out room movably supported by a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: a) sending a feedback signal from each of four room slides connected to the slide-out room to a controller, a first of the four room slides being disposed in a first quadrant at a first corner of the slide-out room, a second of the four room slides being disposed in a second quadrant at a second corner of the slide-out room, a third of the four room slides being disposed in a third quadrant at a third corner of the slide-out room, a fourth of the four room slides being disposed in a fourth quadrant at a fourth corner of the slide-out room; b) sending a synchronized motion signal from the controller to each of the four room slides in response to the feedback signals; and c) actuating the room slides in a synchronized manner upon receiving the synchronized motion signals and thereby moving the slide-out room. 
     The foregoing and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a recreational vehicle with a slide-out room system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view of the area enclosed by line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view from line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the structure of a room slide of the slide-out room system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view from line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  showing the structure of the room slide of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view from line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the slide-out room of  FIG. 1  showing four quadrants in which room slides may be positioned; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a controller and the room slides of the slide-out room system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a control panel for the slide-out room; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the control panel for the slide-out room; 
         FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are a flow chart of a main program of the controller for controlling the room slides; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of a subroutine of the controller to check a lock limit switch; 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of a subroutine of the controller for manual motion of the slide-out room; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart of a subroutine of the controller for inward motion synchronization; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart of a subroutine of the controller for outward motion synchronization; 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart of a subroutine of the controller to set programmable stops for the room slides; and 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of an alternative subroutine of the controller for manual motion of the slide-out room. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A slide-out room system according to the present invention provides wall movement synchronization of several walls of the room, such as the ceiling, the floor, and the side walls. As such, the system ensures the slide-out room does not move to a skewed position relative to the vehicle. Moreover, the system provides sufficient engagement between the walls of the vehicle and seals on the slide-out room. These aspects of the invention are described in further detail in the following paragraphs, beginning with the structure of the slide-out room and concluding with methods for providing synchronized movement. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  6 , a recreational vehicle  10  supports the slide-out room  12  in an opening  14  of a vehicle side wall  16 . An interior of the slide-out room  12  is defined by a leading or outside wall  18 , side walls  20 , a ceiling  22 , and a floor  23  ( FIG. 5 ). The leading wall  18  includes a fascia  24 , and the plane of the fascia  24  is parallel to the respective planes of the opening  14  and the side wall  16 . The surface of the fascia  24  facing the side wall  16  includes a seal  26 . The seal  26  is compressed between the fascia  24  and the side wall  16  when the slide-out room  12  is retracted to prevent leaks between the cabin of the recreational vehicle  10  and the outside environment. The side walls  20  of the slide-out room  12  also include flanges (not shown) located inside the vehicle  10 . The surface of the flanges facing the side wall  16  also includes a seal (not shown) to prevent leaks between the cabin of the recreational vehicle  10  and its environment when the slide-out room  12  is extended. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , the slide-out room  12  is moved between the extended and retracted positions by four rooms slides  28 . In the following paragraphs, the general structure of the rooms slides  28  is first described followed by the positions of the room slides  28  on the slide-out room  12 . 
     Each of the room slides  28  is preferably a rack and pinion actuator. That is, each of the room slides  28  preferably includes a drive motor  30 , such as a 12V DC motor. In some embodiments, each drive motor  30  includes dynamic brakes (not shown) that are operatively connected to the same electrical circuit as the drive motor  30 . The dynamic brakes automatically engage at the instant power to the drive motor  30  is interrupted. The dynamic brakes may also be replaced by other well-known types of brakes. 
     Regardless of the presence or type of brakes, the drive motor  30  drives a speed reducer  32 , such as a planetary gear transmission, a spur gear transmission, a worm gear transmission, or the like, and the speed reducer  32  drives a pinion  34 . The drive motor  30 , speed reducer  32 , and the pinion  34  are mounted by a support bracket  35  disposed within the vehicle side wall  16  and proximate the opening  14  in the side wall  16 . The pinion  34  extends outwardly from the side wall  16  to engage and drive an elongated gear rack  36  connected to the slide-out room  12 . 
     Each of the room slides  28  may include a support leg  37  ( FIG. 3 ) received in a recess  40  of the gear rack  36  for additional support, although other suitable structures may also be used. Furthermore, each of the room slides  28  may include a rotatable wheel  42  ( FIG. 3 ) received in a channel or groove  44  of the gear rack  36 . The wheel  42  may have a v-shaped outer circumference and the groove  44  may have a mating inverted v-shaped surface. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 3-5 , the vehicle side wall  16  and the slide-out room side walls  20  are spaced apart to accommodate the gear racks  36 . In order to prevent drafts and leaks through these spaces, the vehicle side wall  16  preferably supports flexible seals  38 , such as elongated and generally flat polymer seals, on each side of the gear racks  36 . In other embodiments, the gear racks  36  could be recessed within the slide-out room side walls  20  instead of providing flexible seals  38  or in connection with smaller flexible seals  38 . 
     The room slides  28  may be other types of actuators, such as power screws and hydraulic actuators, without departing from the scope of the invention. However, rack and pinion actuators are preferred because the drive motors  30  may be relatively inconspicuously positioned within the vehicle side wall  16  as described above and are available at relatively low cost. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , two of the room slides  28  connect to one of the slide-out room side walls  20  and the other two of the room slides  28  connect to the other slide-out room side wall  20 . Furthermore, one of the room slides  28  connected to each side wall  20  is disposed proximate the upper edge of the side wall  20  and the other of the room slides  28  connected to each side wall  20  is disposed proximate the lower edge of the side wall  20 . As such, each of the room slides  28  is disposed proximate one of the edges between the side walls  20  and the ceiling  22  or floor  23 . This configuration, together with the operation of a controller as described below, provides wall movement synchronization of the ceiling  22 , floor  23 , and side walls  20  of the slide-out room  12 . That is, motion of the room slides  28  is synchronized from the top to the bottom of the slide-out room  12 , from side-to-side across the slide-out room  12 , and across the diagonals of the slide-out room  12 . Such synchronized movement ensures the slide-out room  12  does not move to a skewed position relative to the vehicle. Furthermore, this configuration permits the room slides  28  to provide sufficient engagement between the walls of the vehicle and the seals (e.g., the outer seal  26  and the inner seal, not shown) around the entire slide-out room  12 . 
     Other configurations of the room slides  28  also provide the above advantages. For example and referring particularly to  FIG. 6 , a single room slide  28  may be disposed at any position in one of four quadrants. As used herein, the term “quadrant” refers to one of the four spaces inside and outside of the leading wall  18 , the side walls  20 , the ceiling  22 , and the floor  23  and bounded by two lines  45  and  47  that intersect each other at right angles. Specifically, a first room slide  28 A is disposed in a first quadrant  46 A (i.e., a quadrant at a first corner of the slide-out room  12  defined by the upper half of the right side wall  20 , the right half of the ceiling  22 , and the upper right quarter of the leading wall  18 ). A second room slide  28 B is disposed in a second quadrant  46 B (i.e., a quadrant at a second corner of the slide-out room  12  defined by the left half of the ceiling  22 , the upper half of the left side wall  20 , and the upper left quarter of the leading wall  18 ). A third room slide  28 C is disposed in a third quadrant  46 C (i.e., a quadrant at a third corner of the slide-out room  12  defined by the bottom half of the left side wall  20 , the left half of the floor  23 , and the bottom left quarter of the leading wall  18 ). A fourth room slide  28 D is disposed in a fourth quadrant  46 D (i.e., a quadrant at a fourth corner of the slide-out room  12  defined by the right half of the floor  23 , the bottom half of the right side wall  20 , and the bottom right quarter of the leading wall  18 ). However, in such a configuration each room slide  28  is preferably closer to the nearest upper or lower edge of the slide-out room  12  than the nearest adjacent room slide  28 . 
     Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  7 - 9 , the drive motor  30  of each room slide  28  is operatively connected to a controller  49 . The controller  49  ensures synchronized motion of the room slides  28  by monitoring the position of each room slide  28  using a Hall effect sensor (not shown) attached to each drive motor  30 . The Hall effect sensors are preferably bi-directional Hall effect sensors that are capable of indicating the direction of motion of a motor in addition to its rotational position. Alternatively, the position of each room slide  28  can be monitored by any type of position sensor, such as an optical encoder or a potentiometer. Furthermore, each room slide  28  could include a sensor that provides a different type of signal instead of a position signal, such as a velocity signal. Regardless of the type of motion feedback signal that is used, by monitoring the signal from each sensor, power is supplied to each drive motor  30  in a manner which ensures uniform extension of the room slides  28 . Operation of the slide-out room will be discussed in further detail below. 
     A battery (not shown) is also electrically connected to the controller  49 . Any suitable battery may be used as long as it satisfies the power requirements of the controller  49 . Alternatively, the battery may be replaced by a power cord to connect to a 120V wall outlet. A transformer could be included in the circuit to modify the voltage obtained from the wall outlet. 
     The recreational vehicle  10  includes a control panel  57  that operatively connects to the controller  49 . The respective positions of the controller  49  and the control panel  57  are not limited to that shown in  FIG. 1 ; they may be located anywhere on the recreational vehicle  10 . Preferably, the controller  49  is located inside a wall since it does not need to be accessed by the end user. Also, the control panel  57  is preferably inside the cabin for protection from precipitation. The control panel  57  is accommodated in such a way that the end user has access to a front face  48  of the control panel  57  to interact with various command inputs (e.g., buttons, keys, switches, or the like). 
     Specifically, the front face  48  of the control panel  57  includes IN button  50 , OUT button  52 , green movement indicating LED  54 , and red fault indicating LED  56 . In general, the IN button  50  moves the slide-out room to the retracted position. The OUT button  52  moves the slide-out room  12  to the extended position. The green movement indicating LED  54  indicates movement of at least one component of the control system, and red fault indicating LED  56  indicates a fault within the system. The LEDs also provide diagnostic codes which will be discussed in further detail below. 
     The control panel  57  is also accommodated in such a way that the back face  58  is not normally accessible by the end user. Preferably, the control panel  57  is recessed in a wall of the recreational vehicle  10 . Alternatively, the back face  58  of the control panel  57  is fastened to an inner wall of the recreational vehicle  10 . In either case, the control panel  57  is held in place by bolts, screws, snap-fit tabs, or the like. The back face  58  of the control panel  57  includes a reset button  60 , and motor selection buttons  62 . These buttons are used for resetting the programmable stops. As used herein, the term ‘programmable stops’ refers to the extended and retracted positions of the slide-out room  12  stored in the memory of the controller  49 . The process for setting the programmable stops will be discussed in further detail below. 
     The recreational vehicle  10  also includes a lock  64  located near the slide-out room  12 . The position of the lock  64  may be on the side wall  16  of the vehicle  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the lock  64  may be on one of the side walls  20  or the ceiling  22  of the slide-out room  12 . The lock  64  is engaged when the slide-out room  12  is retracted. The lock  64  includes a lock motor (not shown) and a normally open limit switch (not shown). The lock motor and the limit switch are electrically connected to the controller. When closed, the limit switch indicates that the lock  64  is disengaged. The controller only supplies power to the room slides  28  if the lock  64  is disengaged. This process will be discussed in further detail below. In addition, the system preferably includes a current sensor (not shown) that indicates if the lock  64  is engaged. That is, the current supplied to the lock  64  will suddenly increase when the lock  64  has reached engagement. The current sensor sends a signal to the controller due to this sudden current increase and the controller stops powering the lock  64  thereafter. 
     As discussed above, each room slide  28 , the control panel  57 , and the lock  64  are electrically connected to the controller  49 . A schematic diagram of these components is shown in  FIG. 7 . The controller  49  preferably connects to each room slide  28  via five electrical leads  51 . Two leads  51  connect to the drive motor  30  of the room slide  28  and three leads  51  connect to the Hall effect sensor of the room slide  28 . Two leads  51  from the Hall effect sensor serve as common signal leads and the third lead  51  provides power from the controller  49 . In addition, a sixth lead  51  connects the Hall effect sensor to ground. 
     The controller  49  preferably connects to the control panel  57  via ten electrical leads  53 ; each lead  53  corresponds to one of the seven buttons or one of the two LEDs on the control panel  57 , and one lead  53  provides power from the controller  49  to the control panel  57 . The controller  49  preferably connects to the lock  64  via four leads  55 . Two leads  55  connect to the limit switch of the lock  64  and two leads  55  connect to the lock motor. Any appropriate gage size may be used for the leads  51 ,  53 , and  55  and any appropriate electrical connectors may be connected to the ends of the leads to physically connect the aforementioned components. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10   a - 16 , operation of the slide-out room  12  begins when a button on the control panel  57  is pressed. As indicated at program step  68 , the controller  49  receives the input from the control panel  57 . At  70 , the controller  49  determines if the reset button  60  has been held for five seconds, which starts the subroutine to set the programmable stops  72 . The subroutine to set the programmable stops  72  will be discussed in further detail below. If the reset button  60  as not been held for five seconds, the controller  49  determines if the programmable stops are set at  74 . If the programmable stops are not set, the program ends. Otherwise, the controller  49  proceeds to determine if either the IN button  50  or the OUT button  52  has been pushed at  76 . If neither has been pushed, the program ends. Otherwise, the controller  49  checks the limit switch attached to the lock  64  using a subroutine at  77 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , the controller  49  receives a signal from the limit switch at  78 . If the limit switch is not closed at  80 , the lock  64  moves towards disengagement at  82 . The OUT button  52  must be held during this subroutine  77  for the lock  64  to be disengaged as indicted at  83 . Once the lock  64  is disengaged at  80 , the subroutine  77  ends. However, if the OUT button  52  is released before the lock  64  is disengaged at  80 , the lock  64  will move toward engagement at  85 . As the lock  64  moves toward engagement at  85 , the controller  49  continues to monitor the OUT button  52  at  83 . If the lock  64  reaches engagement at  87 , the program ends. In addition, the program will not continue at  84  on  FIG. 10   a , but will instead restart at the beginning since the lock  64  is engaged. Returning to the main program, the controller  49  next determines which button has been pushed at  84 . If the IN button  50  has been pressed, the controller  49  checks if the slide-out room  12  is already in the retracted position at  86 . If this is the case, the program does not move the room slides  28  and moves the lock  64  towards engagement. Otherwise, the controller  49  provides power to the drive motors  30  such that the slide-out room  12  moves towards the retracted position at  88 . 
     As the drive motors  30  move the slide-out room  12 , the controller  49  uses an inward motion synchronization subroutine  85  ( FIG. 13 ) to monitor the position of each room slide  28 . First, the controller  49  checks the position of a first room slide (e.g., room slide  28 A) relative to the other room slides at  90 . If the first room slide is further from the retracted position than any other room slide by a preset limit, all other room slides are stopped momentarily at  92 . All other room slides remain stationary until the first room slide is no longer further from the retracted position than any other room slide by the preset limit, as shown at  94 . The controller  49  also checks the locations of the second, third, and fourth room slides (e.g., room slides  28 B,  28 C, and  28 D, respectively) at  96 ,  102 , and  108  respectively. If the second, third, or fourth room slide is further from the retracted position than any other room slide by the preset limit, all other room slides are stopped momentarily at  98 ,  104 , and  110  respectively. All other room slides remain stationary until the second, third, or fourth room slide is no longer further from the retracted position than any other room slide by the preset limit, as shown at  100 ,  106 , and  112 , respectively. At  114 , the controller  49  checks the position of the room slides  28 . If the room slides  28  are not in the retracted position, the drive motors  30  continue to run and the controller  49  continues to synchronize the motion of the room slides  28 . Otherwise, the drive motors  30  are stopped at  116 . 
     The lock  64  is automatically engaged as follows. At  118 , the lock motor receives power from the controller  49  and moves the lock  64  towards the engagement position. If the lock  64  reaches the engagement position at  120 , the program ends. However, while the lock  64  is moving, the OUT button  52  may be pressed as shown at  122 . Pressing and holding the OUT button  52  moves the lock  64  towards disengagement at  124 . If the OUT button  52  is released before the lock is disengaged at  126 , the lock  64  will return to  118  and move towards engagement. Otherwise, if the lock is disengaged at  126 , the program will extend the room slides  28  starting at  86 ′. 
     It should be noted that the process to move the slide-out room  12  to the extended position is similar to the process described above. Specifically, this process includes the steps  86 ′,  88 ′,  90 ′,  92 ′,  94 ′,  96 ′,  98 ′,  100 ′,  102 ′,  104 ′,  106 ′,  108 ′,  110 ′,  112 ′,  114 ′, and  116 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 10   a  and  14 . However, the lock  64  is not engaged after the slide-out room  12  reaches the extended position. 
     Holding the reset button  60  for five seconds starts the subroutine to set the programmable stops  72 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the green movement indicating LED  54  flashes and the red fault indicating LED  56  is lit at  136  to indicate the subroutine to set the programmable stops  72  has been entered. At  77 , the lock limit switch is checked using the subroutine  77 . Next, the program enters a manual motion subroutine  139  ( FIG. 12 ) permitting the user to move the slide-out room  12  to the retracted position. The user presses any combination of the motor selection buttons  62 . The controller  49  receives a signal from the control panel  57  specifying which motor selection buttons  62  are pressed at  140 . Next, the controller  49  determines whether the IN button  50  or the OUT button  52  is pressed at  142 . If the IN button  50  is pressed, the selected drive motors  30  are powered and move the slide-out room  12  towards the cabin at  143 . The selected drive motors  30  are powered as long as the IN button  50  is held, as indicated by  144 . When the IN button  50  is released, the drive motors  30  are stopped at  145 . Next, the controller  49  determines if the previous combination of motor selection buttons  62  is still held at  146 . If this is the case, the program returns to determine whether the IN button  50  or the OUT button  52  is pressed at  142 . Otherwise, the program proceeds to determine if the reset button  60  is pressed at  147 . If it is not, the program returns to the beginning of the manual motion subroutine  139 . If the reset button  60  is pressed, the retracted position of the slide-out room  12  is stored at  148 . It should be understood that pressing the OUT button  52  results in using similar programming steps ( 143 ′,  144 ′,  145 ′, and  146 ′) to those of pressing the IN button  50 . 
     Next, the user proceeds to set the extended position of the slide-out room  12 . This is indicated by the red fault indicating LED  56  flashing and the green movement indicating LED  54  remaining lit at  150 . The program calls the manual motion subroutine  139  permitting the user to move the slide-out room  12  to the extended position. The manual motion subroutine  139  ends when the reset button is pushed at  147 , and the extended position of the slide-out room  12  is stored at  152 . The green movement indicating LED  54  and the red fault indicating LED  56  turn off at  154  to indicate that the retracted and extended positions have been programmed successfully. Alternatively, the green movement indicating LED  54  flashes rapidly for 10 seconds to indicate that the retracted and extended positions have not been programmed successfully. In addition, the controller  49  includes a timeout mechanism in the subroutine to set the programmable stops  72 . If no button is pushed for 45 seconds, the program will exit this subroutine and return to the main program. 
     An alternative manual motion subroutine  141  can use the inward motion synchronization subroutine  85  and the outward motion synchronization subroutine  85 ′ as shown in  FIG. 16 . In this subroutine, the controller  49  determines whether the IN button  50  or the OUT button  52  has been pressed at  156 . If the IN button  50  has been pressed, the drive motors  30  are powered to move the slide-out room  12  towards the cabin of the recreational vehicle  10 . As long as the IN button  50  is held, the drive motors  30  continue to move using the inward motion synchronization subroutine  85 . When the IN button  50  is released, the drive motors  30  are stopped at  158 . At  160 , the controller  49  determines if the reset button  60  has been pressed. If the reset button  60  has not been pressed, the program returns to step  156  to determine if the IN button  50  or the OUT button  52  has been pressed. If the reset button  60  has been pressed, the program exits the subroutine. It should be understood that pressing the OUT button  52  results in using similar programming steps ( 85 ′,  158 ′, and  160 ′) to those of pressing the IN button  50 . 
     The controller  49  also includes fault detection capabilities and a means for communicating faults to the user. Motion of the slide-out room  12  will automatically stop in any part of the program if any fault is detected. The slide-out room  12  will not move until the fault is resolved. The faults recognized by the controller  49  include those listed in the following table. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fault 
                 Fault 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Code 
                 Type 
                 Description 
                 Probable Cause 
                 Solution 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Major 
                 Stops not programmed. 
                 No programmable stops 
                 Set programmable stops. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 have been set for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 control. 
               
               
                 2 
                 Minor 
                 Battery dropout voltage; 
                 Bad lead connection from 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                 voltage dropped below 8.0 V 
                 battery to control or low 
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                 while room was moving. 
                 battery. 
                 battery. 
               
               
                 3 
                 Minor 
                 Low battery voltage; voltage 
                 Bad lead connection from 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is below 10.5 V when room 
                 battery to control or low 
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                 movement was initiated. 
                 battery. 
                 battery. 
               
               
                 4 
                 Minor 
                 Excessive battery voltage; 
                 Bad battery. 
                 Replace battery. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 battery voltage is above 
               
               
                   
                   
                 18.0 V when room movement 
               
               
                   
                   
                 was initiated. 
               
               
                 5 
                 Major 
                 Drive motor drawing 
                 Excessive system/room 
                 Remove obstruction, re- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 excessive current. 
                 drag, obstruction, 
                 adjust room, reset stops 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 improper stop locations or 
                 or replace damaged 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 damaged component. 
                 component. 
               
               
                 6 
                 Major 
                 Drive motor shorted. 
                 Shorted wiring or motor. 
                 Inspect motor harness 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 leads and motor for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 shorts; replace shorted 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 component. 
               
               
                 7 
                 Major 
                 Drive motor open. 
                 Bad connection or motor. 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 motor. 
               
               
                 8 
                 Major 
                 No signal on motor sensor 
                 Bad lead connection or 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                 OUT 1 (yellow) lead. 
                 sensor. 
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 motor. 
               
               
                 9 
                 Major 
                 No signal on motor sensor 
                 Bad lead connection or 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                 OUT 2 (blue) lead. 
                 sensor. 
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 motor. 
               
               
                 10 
                 Major 
                 No signal on motor sensor 
                 Bad lead connection or 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                 OUT 1 (yellow) lead and no 
                 sensor. 
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                 signal on motor sensor OUT 
                   
                 motor. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2 (blue) lead. 
               
               
                 11 
                 Major 
                 Lock motor drawing 
                 Excessive drag or 
                 Remove obstruction or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 excessive current. 
                 obstruction or damaged 
                 replace damaged 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 component. 
                 component. 
               
               
                 12 
                 Major 
                 Lock motor short. 
                 Shorted wiring or motor. 
                 Inspect motor harness 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 leads and motor for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 shorts; replace shorted 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 component. 
               
               
                 13 
                 Major 
                 Lock motor open. 
                 Bad connection or motor. 
                 Repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 motor 
               
               
                 14 
                 Minor 
                 Lock timeout. 
                 Obstruction or low 
                 Remove obstruction, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 voltage. 
                 repair bad lead 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 connection or replace 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 battery. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Minor faults are addressed using the solutions in the fifth column. The IN button  50  and the OUT button  52  may be used to move the slide-out room  12  immediately after a minor fault is resolved. Major faults are also addressed using the solutions in the fifth column. However, the reset button  60  must be pressed before the IN button  50  and the OUT button  52  may be used to move the slide-out room  12  after a major fault is resolved. 
     Faults are communicated to the user via the LEDs  54  and  56 . The red fault indicating LED  56  flashes a number of times corresponding to the fault code number listed in the table. Additionally, some faults may only occur for individual drive motors  30 . The green movement indicating LED  54  flashes a number of times corresponding to the number of the affected motor. Additionally, the battery dropout voltage, low battery voltage, and excessive battery voltage values (8.0V, 10.5V, and 18.0V in the table) can be modified to any values appropriate for the battery used with the recreational vehicle  10 . Also, the excessive current value can be specified based on the current input requirements of the drive motors  30  and the lock motor. 
     The structure of the above system may be modified in various manners or operate in different manners without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of providing synchronized motion as described above, the system may achieve synchronized motion using methods as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,823, U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,854, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,275, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,813, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. As another example, the system could have more than four room slides, and multiple room slides could be positioned in one or more of the four quadrants outside the slide-out room. 
     It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as defined within the scope of the following claims.