Patent ID: 7948120

Claim:
A modular power distribution backplane for a controller area network (CAN) of a vehicle having a J1939 bus, the modular power distribution backplane being configured to be housed in a housing with an access portion to physically access the modular power distribution backplane, and the modular power distribution backplane comprising: a base substrate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and being sized to fit entirely inside the housing; a plurality of receptacles coupled to the first side of the base substrate, each said receptacle being configured to receive a modular power component, at least one of said receptacles being configured to receive a modular power component in the form of a circuit board, and at least one of said receptacles being configured to receive a modular power component in the form of a power element; a controller coupled to the base substrate; and a plurality of dual-operation tags in one-to-one relationship with said receptacles, each said dual-operation tag being configured with a visual indicator and as a key for coupling modular power components to correct ones of said receptacles, wherein each said dual-operation tag is physically configured as the key for coupling modular components to the modular power distribution backplane, wherein each said dual-operation tag is physically configured as the visual indicator, wherein the visual indicators are visible via the access portion of the housing, wherein said controller is configured to generate information for the physical and electrical coupling of modular power components to receptacles of the modular power distribution backplane, to verify that the modular power components have been properly coupled, and to facilitate an indication of the verifying, and wherein said controller is configured to verify that the modular power components have been coupled based on the generated information for physical and electrical coupling, the generated information including instructions for placement of modular power components in the backplane.