Patent Abstract:
A control system for an electrical device includes a controller that outputs an AC device enable system when one or more monitored sensors are in a proper state for operation of the electrical device. The control system may also include a sensor signal integrity checking circuit that outputs a validation signal when the sensor is one of a discrete set of acceptable sensor states. The control system may also include a current monitor that monitors the current draw of the electrical device and compares the current draw to a range of acceptable current draw levels and durations and disables operation of the electrical device when the current draw falls outside of the range.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/891,900, entitled “Control Module,” filed on Feb. 27, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many outdoor utility vehicles include electrical or electronic control systems that disable operation of the vehicle&#39;s engine, ignition system, or power takeoff when certain operating conditions are not met. For example, the control system may prevent operation of the ignition circuit if the presence of an operator is not detected by a sensor, such as, for example a seat switch. Because outdoor utility vehicles are subject to relatively extreme environmental conditions, including moisture, control circuits are protected against the elements by such measures as sealed housings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The disclosed control systems and methods for an electrical device include features that protect against operation of the electrical device based on false data produced by malfunctioning components. The control system , in one embodiment may include a controller that controls operation of an electrical device based on the present state of one or more sensors. In a more specific embodiment, the controller generates an AC device enable signal when the outputs of each of the sensors indicates that operation of the device is appropriate. The control system prevents operation of the device in the absence of the AC device enable signal. The control system may alternatively or additionally provide a sensor integrity check component that polls a present state of the one or more sensors. The sensor integrity check component outputs a validation signal when the sensor exhibits an acceptable sensor state. The control system prevents operation of the device in the absence of the validation signal. The control system may alternatively or additionally monitor a current draw of the electrical device and disable operation of the device when the current draw exceeds predetermined current amounts for predetermined durations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a control system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a control system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3-6  are electrical schematics, that illustrate in their entirety an exemplary circuit constructed to implement a control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art simple tractor control system  10 . The control system includes a controller  14  that may be implemented in many different ways, including but not limited to a microprocessor, discrete components including analog or digital hardwired control circuits, or any other appropriate components and circuits. The controller  14  monitors the outputs of various sensors  12  that are located on the tractor. These sensors may include, for example, a seat switch that closes when an operator is present in the seat, a power brake switch that closes when the parking brake is engaged, a start switch that is closed when the key is turned to the start position, and a power takeoff (“PTO”) switch that is closed when the operator calls for operation of the PTO. When a present state of these sensors indicates that the tractor is in a proper condition for operation of one or more various electrical devices (not shown) on the tractor the controller  14  produces DC enable signals  16  that enable operation of each of those devices. The DC enable signals may, for example, trigger a relay to connect power to a given device. For example, the electrical devices that are enabled by the enable signals  16  may include a starter solenoid, a power takeoff (PTO), and a deck lift mechanism. The enable signals are input to power control circuits  18  to enable to flow of device power  19 , which may be supplied by a tractor battery (not shown), to the enabled device. 
         [0008]    The sensors  12  may be implemented as, for example, two position switches that present an open or closed state or two distinct output states. Due to the harsh environment in which they are used, the sensors  12  are susceptible to malfunction caused by contamination. For example, water may short or lower the impedance between the terminals of the switch and produce a false closed signal. Alternatively, foreign matter may interfere with a closed switch to produce a false open signal. Contamination may also produce faulty enable signals, which as noted above, are generally DC signals. The contamination in the control system may produce a DC signal that mimics an enable signal. In order to protect against faulty signals, many control systems are located in sealed modules and sensors are sealed against moisture and foreign material entry. As will be seen with reference to  FIGS. 2-6 , the control system described herein includes various measures that are taken within the control system to protect against faulty signals caused by contamination of the system by moisture and foreign material. While the control system described herein is within the context of a tractor control system, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the control system described herein could also be advantageous when used in any control environment in which it is desirable to protect against enabling operation of a device in response to a faulty signal that is generated by a control system component malfunction. 
         [0009]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a function block diagram depicts a control system  20 . The control system  20  functions in a similar manner to the control system  10  but includes features that are directed to discerning between signals that are generated by false signals caused by contamination and signals that are properly generated by the controller and/or sensors. To check the signals from sensors, the control system  20  includes a signal integrity check  40  that pulls current from a normally open sensor or pushes current through a normally closed sensor to verify that signal from the sensor  45  results from the closing or opening of a sensor and not a signal caused by contamination. The controller  60  receives validation signals  47  (corresponding to normally open sensors) and  147  (corresponding to normally closed sensors) from the signal integrity check  40 . Based on the validation signals  47 ,  147 , the controller  60  outputs DC and AC enable signals  62  and  66 . 
         [0010]    The signal integrity check  40  may be controlled by the controller  60  to poll and validate the various sensors  45  and pass the status of the various sensors by way of a validation signal  47 ,  147  to the controller. To this end, the controller  60  sends a sequence of sets of selection signals  49  to a decoder  65 . In response, the decoder  65  outputs an enable single on one sample enable line  41  from the decoder. Each sample enable line  41  selects a sensor  45  to be connected by a connection  46  to the integrity circuit  43 . The integrity circuit  43  verifies that the output of the sensor  45  is the result of a proper operational state, for example an open or closed switch position. The integrity circuit outputs a validation signal  47 ,  147  that indicates that the sensor state is proper and the validation signal is passed back to the controller  60 . The controller matches the validation signal  47 ,  147  to the selection signals  49  to determine which sensor&#39;s signal was polled by the integrity check  40 . While the integrity check  40  is shown as part of an overall control system  20 , it will be understood that the integrity check  40  may be used alone or in combination with the other features described herein. 
         [0011]    To protect against false enable signals, the controller  60  outputs two AC enable signals  66  (only one shown in  FIG. 2 ) that enable passage of electrical power  67  to two selected electrical devices, such as, for example, the starter solenoid and PTO clutch (not shown). The AC enable signals  66  are readily distinguishable from a signal caused by contamination, which would likely be DC. If an AC enable signal  66  is not present, the control system prevents power from passing to the starter solenoid or PTO clutch. In the described embodiment, the controller  60  also outputs DC control signals  62  to other tractor devices such as the fuel pump or deck lift mechanism. It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that any number of the enable signals generated by the controller may be AC. 
         [0012]    The controller  60  outputs the DC control signals  62  and AC enable signals  66  based on the validation signal  47 ,  147  from the signal integrity check  40 . Each AC enable signal  66  is detected by an enable signal check  70  that, functionally speaking, allows passage of electrical power  67  to the electrical device from a vehicle power source, generally indicated as  64 , when the AC enable signal is present. The enable signal check  70  may condition the AC signal to allow it to be better processed by other components in the control system. For example, as will be described below, the AC enable may be transformed into a pulse train prior to use of the enable signal to enable power being passed to the device. The controller  60  operates according to an algorithm that specifies which combinations of past and present sensor states should result in the output of the AC enable signal. Of course, the controller may be implemented as a hard wired control circuit or any other appropriate means. The use of AC enable signals is shown in conjunction with many different features, however, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that an AC control signal may be used alone or in connection with any number of features. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  also functionally illustrates circuit protection measures taken to limit the heating effects of high current draw during operation. These protective measures facilitate implementation of the control system using solid state components. A surge protector  87  prevents the flow of current in the event of high current draw, such as, for example, a starter solenoid current draw of over 20 A for longer than a relatively short period of time. The controller  60  monitors device power sources  64  of the various devices as shown functionally in  FIG. 1  by a monitoring line  73 . The controller  60  monitors the device power with internal timing mechanisms and counters. These timing mechanisms monitor a duration of time during which power is being provided to the electrical device. If power is provided for a longer period of time than allowed, the AC enable signal corresponding to the device is interrupted and a counter is incremented. If the AC enable signal is interrupted by the controller a predetermined number of times, such as, for example, three times, the control system  20  disallows the flow of power to the electrical device by ceasing to output the AC enable signal  66  until the controller resets after a predetermined amount of time. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 3-6  are circuit schematics illustrating an exemplary circuit implementation of the control system  20 . These schematics will be described in functional terms, without detailing component values or exhaustively describing the function of each component. Referring first to  FIG. 3 , in the described embodiment, the controller  60  is a microprocessor that has among its inputs: validation signals  47 ,  147 , PTO clutch monitor and starter monitor signals  75 , and a current monitor  73  that is used for circuit protection. The controller  60  outputs four DC control signals (described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 7 ). The DC control signals control such devices as, for example, a magneto interrupt signal, a diagnostic LED signal, a fuel solenoid enable signal, and a deck lift enable signal. The controller  60  also outputs the AC enable signals  66  (described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 5 ), one for the starter solenoid and one for the PTO clutch. The PTO clutch monitor and starter monitor signals  75  are used as the controller as part of a diagnostic check. As will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 5 , these signals should indicate that power is flowing to the PTO clutch and/or starter solenoid when the AC enable signal  66  is being generated and operation of the PTO clutch and/or starter solenoid is called for. If these signals indicate that power is not flowing, an error condition is detected by the controller. 
         [0015]    To conduct the polling of the status sensors  45  ( FIG. 2 ), the controller  60  outputs the selection signals  49  to two decoders  65 . Based on the selection signals, each decoder  65  outputs a single sample enable signal  41  that selects one of four sensor outputs to be connected to the signal integrity check circuits  43 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , an exemplary circuit embodiment of the validation check  40  is shown. The circuit shown in  FIG. 4   b  is analogous to that shown in  FIG. 4   a  except that it processes the outputs of four different sensors not processed by the circuit of  FIG. 4   a . In  FIG. 4   a , output signals from four sensors  45 , a left steering arm switch and a right steering arm switch, a deck lift switch, and a PTO stop switch are each input to the integrity check circuit  43  through an enable circuit  44 . Each enable circuit  44  connects the sensor  45  to which it is connected to the signal integrity check circuit  43  for validation when the corresponding sample enable signal  41  is present. Hence, based on the input to the decoder  65  ( FIG. 1 and 2   a ), at any given time, the output of one of the four sensors  45  is connected to the signal integrity check circuit  43 . 
         [0016]    The signal integrity check circuit  43  checks for the presence of foreign material, such as moisture, bridging the terminals of the sensor  45  and producing a false closed signal. When the sensor is connected to the signal integrity check circuit  43 , the signal integrity check circuit attempts to sink sufficient current out of the sensor to discern whether the sensor is truly closed or merely shorted by foreign material. In general, a first leg  43   a  of the signal integrity check circuit  43  is set up as a constant current sink by virtue of a zener diode  144  that maintains a constant voltage across a resistor  148  connected to the emitter of a first transistor  145 . In the disclosed embodiment, the first leg of the circuit sinks about 35 mA. A second leg of the circuit  43   b  produces the validation signal  47  when a second transistor  146  is turned on by current in excess of 35 mA passing through a second resistor  149  connected to its base. When the sensor is producing a closed output caused by the switch being closed, the sufficient current can be pulled through the sensor to turn on the second transistor  146  and produce the validation signal. When the sensor is shorted by foreign material, it is unlikely that sufficient current can be pulled through the shorted sensor and the validation signal will not be produced.  FIG. 4   b  illustrates a second signal integrity check circuit  43  that tests inputs from a start switch, a PTO switch, a seat switch, and a parking brake switch. The circuit of  FIG. 4   b  operates in the same manner just described for  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary circuit is shown that includes the enable signal check circuit  70  that processes the AC enable signals  66  and allows passage of power  67  to the starter solenoid and PTO electromagnetic clutch. The exemplary circuit also includes an embodiment of the surge protector  87 .  FIG. 5  includes two exemplary circuits, a top circuit that outputs power  67  to the starter solenoid and a bottom circuit that outputs power to the PTO electromagnetic clutch. As both circuits function in substantially the same manner, only the top circuit will be described in detail here. The AC enable signal  66  is input to the enable signal check  70 . The various circuit components filter and rectify the AC signal to transform the AC signal into a DC pulse train. The DC pulse train is the gate input to a MOSFET  165  that closes when a pulse train is present to form an enable signal along line  61  for the remainder of the circuit. When a pulse train is not present, an AC enable signal has not been generated by the controller, and the MOSFET  165  opens to disable the circuit. In this manner, a false enable signal caused by a shorted component likely cannot enable the flow of power to the starter solenoid. 
         [0018]    A start voltage  64  is connected to the surge protection  87  portion of the circuit when the key is turned to the start position. During normal operating conditions, the start voltage is essentially passed through to the starter solenoid at output  67 . When the AC signal is present and MOSFET  165  is conducting current between its drain and base, a voltage is present across resistor  172 . This voltage is input to a comparator  178  that in response to the presence of a voltage on this input produces an output that enables passage of power to the starter solenoid. When the MOSFET  165  is conducting, a MOSFET  166  is turned off so that the output of the comparator  178  is not grounded through the MOSFET  166 . In this state, the output of the comparator  178  turns on a MOSFET  169  that in turn turns on a MOSFET  167  to allow the passage of current through the output  67  to the solenoid. When the AC enable signal  66  is not present, the MOSFET  165  turns off causing the MOSFET  166  to turn on and pull the output of the comparator to ground. With the output of the comparator grounded, the MOSFET  169  is off as is the MOSFET  167  and current cannot pass through the MOSFET  167  to power the starter solenoid. 
         [0019]    The surge protector  87  is implemented in the circuit shown in  FIG. 5  by virtue of a timed shut off feature that is dependent upon the amount of current that flows through a resistor  191 . Two capacitors,  193 ,  173  are initially charged to a specific level. When a high current surge is present for more than a preset amount of time, the capacitor  173  discharges. When the voltage of the capacitor  173  reaches that of the other capacitor  193 , the output of the comparator  178  will be switched to ground. As already discussed, when the output of the comparator is grounded, the MOSFET  167  will be turned off and power cannot pass to the output  67 . In the described embodiment, the output of the comparator will switch to ground when a current of 30 A is present for longer than approximately 0.1 seconds. 
         [0020]    A secondary surge protection mechanism is also present in the circuit. When the drain of the MOSFET is shorted to ground and the circuit is enabled, the voltage that develops across the resistor  191  will be imposed across the emitter to base junction of a transistor  195 . This will cause the transistor to turn on and allow current to flow from emitter to collector. This current flow will cause the voltage across the capacitor  193  to increase at a rapid rate. When the voltage of the capacitor  193  reaches that of the other capacitor  173 , the output of the comparator  178  will switch to ground. As already discussed, when the output of the comparator  178  is grounded, the MOSFET  167  will be turned off. This part of the circuit operates at a speed approximately 1000 times faster than the circuit operation described in the previous paragraph. 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates various circuits that are enabled by the DC enable signals  62   a - 62   e  that are generated by the controller (also shown in  FIG. 1 ). A diagnostic LED enable signal  62   a  is passed to a diagnostic LED illumination output  110  to cause the LED to flash in various patterns depending on operating conditions detected by the controller. A deck lift enable signal  62   b  controls a relay  125  that switches 12V to a deck lift actuator  120  in the presence of the enable signal  62   b . Similarly, a fuel pump enable signal  62   c  controls a relay  132  that switches 12V to the fuel pump  130  in the presence of the enable signal  62   c . When a magneto disable signal  62   d  is present, magneto power  150  is allowed to flow to the magneto during normal operating conditions. Also shown in  FIG. 6  is a signal integrity check circuit  43 ′ that acts on an engine over-temperature sensor. Since this is a normally open sensor, the signal integrity check circuit  43 ′ acts as a current source that pumps current through the over temperature sensor to detect a false open condition. The validation output  147  is output when current cannot be passed through the sensor. 
         [0022]    As can be seen from the foregoing description, a control system that includes a signal integrity check on input signals to the controller and/or an AC enable output helps protect against faulty control based on false signals caused by component malfunction. It should be understood that the embodiments discussed above are representative of aspects of the inventions and are provided as examples and not an exhaustive description of implementations of an aspect of one or more of the inventions. 
         [0023]    While various aspects of the inventions are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and subs combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the inventions, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, software, hardware, control logic and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the inventions into additional embodiments within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present inventions however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8