GB2213656A - Selectively connected fused link for vehicle circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for programming connections, particularly in an anti-theft, window regulator and/or door unfastening- fastening circuit in a motor vehicle, includes a fused link (1) cooperating with contacts (3) of the circuit (2, 20) so as to define a particular circuit configuration. A signal (V) in path 12A is directed along either of paths 12B or 12C according to the position of the fused link. The single central contact of path 12A may be replaced with a pair of such contacts. Various configurations of a radio-controlled actuating circuit of a door-operating mechanism may be selected by choice of position of the fused links in the circuit (Fig 2, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTION PROGRAMMING DEVICE USING FUSE-HOLDER MEANS, PARTICULARLY IN ANTI-THEFT, WINDOW REGULATOR AND DOOR UNFASTENING-FASTENING DEVICES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES This invention relates to a device for programming connections, particularly in a motor vehicle electrical circuit such as an anti-theft circuit, a window regulator circuit, and/or a door unfastening-fastening circuit. Such a circuit is generally connected to a power supply or to a known control circuit by means of wires or two-way switches.

This involves a certain laboriousness in making the external connections, and also means that considerable care must be taken during such work to prevent the possibility of erroneous contacts leading to short-circuits which can damage the circuit, for example the anti-theft circuit.

The same problem is encountered in the connections between the various internal components or blocks of said circuit. Again, erroneous connections between the blocks can lead to short-circuits which can cause considerable damage to the circuit even to the extent of destroying it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which enables the circuit to be connected simply and cheaply to the power supply and/or to other circuits of various types (control or others) positioned upstream of the anti-theft circuit or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for connecting internal parts or circuit blocks to the circuit, while preventing circuit damage caused by any short-circuits which may arise either from the connections or within the circuit itself.

Accordingly the present invention provides a device for programming connections in an electric circuit, comprising co-operating first and second means in said circuit so as to define a particular circuit configuration chosen in such a manner as to selectively direct, along a predetermined path within said circuit, an entering signal or a signal already present in the circuit; said second means being present in groups of at least three adjacently disposed elements of which at least one is arranged to receive the signal to be selectively directed within the circuit; and said first means being removably engageable with only two of said adjacent second means of which one receives the signal to be directed within the circuit or circuit system; wherein said first means also include a fuse able to safeguard said system against short-circuits due to erroneous circuit connections.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the co-operating first and second means constituting the device of the invention, in a first embodiment; and FIGURE 2 is a door unfastening-fastening circuit of a motor vehicle using the device of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, the device of the present invention comprises first means 1 which in the practical application of said device co-operate with second means 3 in a circuit 2. The first means 1 (of which only one is shown in the drawing) each comprise an insulating body 4 having two feet 6 extending downwardly from the bottom 5, orthogonally to said bottom, and terminating within the body 4 in proximity to the top 7 of said body. Specifically, each foot 6 comprises a lower part 8 and an upper part 9. Said upper parts 9 are connected together by a fuse 10. Each lower part 9 is arranged to co-operate with one of the second means 3 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) on the support board 11 of the circuit 2.Three adjacent second means 3 are provided, namely elements or openings 3A, 3B and 3C, from which extend connection tracks 12A, 12B and 12C which have been previously printed on the circuit board 11.

Specifically, from the central opening 3A of Figure ,1 there extends the connection track 12A by which the circuit 2 is connected to an external circuit (not shown) which may for example be a power supply circuit, or a circuit for controlling the operation of the circuit 2 on the support board 11. The connection tracks 12B and 12C extend, respectively, from the openings 3B and 3C to either side of the opening 3A. In this manner the opening 3B is arranged for example for connection to a first circuit block 13, and the opening 3C is arranged for connection to a second circuit block 14. Each of said blocks 13 and 14 performs a different function and can itself be connected by contacts, not shown, either to further circuit blocks (also not shown) forming part. of the circuit 2, or to circuits other than the circuit 2.

The use of the device applied to the circuit 1 is apparent. By inserting the lower parts 8 of the feet 6 of the first means 1 into two of the adjacent openings of the second means 3, one of said openings being the central opening 3A, one of the two blocks 13 or 14 becomes connected to the external circuit. Specifically (see Figure 1), by inserting the feet 6 of the first means 1 into the openings 3A and 3B the non-illustrated external circuit is connected to the circuit block 13. In this manner the signal V originating externally of the circuit 2 is directed along the connection track 12B to the circuit block 13, by way of the feet 6 of the first means 1 and the fuse 10 carried by the first means 1.

The aforesaid connection protects the circuit 2 even if short-circuits occur. In this respect, if for example within the connection between the circuit 2 and the external circuit a short-circuit current arises which exceeds the maximum allowable current appropriate to-the fuse 10 carried by the first means 1, the fuse 10 blows to prevent damage to the circuit block 13 and any other blocks connected to it.

Figure 2 shows the use of the device according to ,the present invention in connecting together different circuit blocks pertaining to the same circuit. Figure 3 Shows specifically a vehicle door unfastening-fastening circuit 20. The circuit 20 is connected to an anti-theft circuit 21 (by which its operation is enabled) and to power supply 22. The anti-theft circuit 21 is controlled in known manner, not shown, for example by radio-control.

The circuit 20 comprises a microprocessor 23 which operates two contactors 24 and 25 by means of relays, not shown. The contactors 24 and 25 are disposed on a first circuit block 26 to which there is connected an electric motor M which fastens or unfastens the vehicle door in known manner.

The contactors 24 and 25 enable the first circuit block 26 to be selectively connected to one or other of two branches 27 and 28 of a second circuit block 29 which comprises the microprocessor 23 and is connected to the power supply 22.

The circuit branches 27 and 28 comprise at one of their ends second means 3 which are identical to those already described and shown in Figure 1, and which are arranged to co-operate with the first means 1 to form with them the device of the present invention.

Specifically, each of these second means 3 comprises an element 3A connected to that circuit branch 27 or 28 at the end of which said second means has been disposed. A second element 3B of each second means 3 disposed in the circuit branches 27 and 28 is connected to a respective branch 30 or 31 arranged to connect the second circuit block 29 to the first circuit block 26 by way of one of the contactors 24 and 25. Finally, a third element 3C of each second means 3 is connected to earth.

Second means 3', identical to the second means 3 shown in Figure 1, are also present in the branches 32 and 33 of the first circuit block 26, these branches being selectively connected to the motor M by the contactors 24 and 25. These branches 32 and 33 are connected to elements 3A' of each second means 3', whereas a second element 3C' of each second means 3' is connected to earth.

The use of the device according to the invention applied to the circuit 20 of Figure 2 is as follows: The fuse-holder first means 1 (identical to those shown in Figure 1) are arranged in such a manner as to connect together the elements 3A and 3B of each of the "socket" second means in the branches 27 and 28 of the second block 29 of circuit 20. In the same manner, the first means 1 are arranged to connect together the elements 3A' and 3C' of each of the second means 3' in the branches 31 of the first circuit block 26 of said circuit 20.

In this manner, within the circuit 20 connections are created which are able to operate the motor M in order to unfasten or fasten the vehicle locks.

In particular, starting from the position of the switches 24 and 25 shown in Figure 2 it will be assumed that the vehicle locks (not shown) to which the anti-theft circuit 21 is applied are fastened, and that the anti-theft circuit is therefore operative.

Using, for example, radio-control as mentioned above, the anti-theft circuit 21 is now disenabled. As a result of this operation the anti-theft circuit 21 feeds a signal Va to the microprocessor 23 which switches the contactor 25 by means of the above-mentioned relay, not shown. Specifically, the contactor 25 separates from the branch 33 of the first circuit block 26 and makes contact instead with the branch 31 of the second circuit block 29.

In this manner a signal Vb from the power supply 22 passes by way of the branch 28 of the second circuit block 29 and by way of the contactor 25 to the first circuit block 26 where it reaches one terminal 50 of the electric motor M.

The other motor terminal 60 is connected to earth by way of the contactor 24, the branch 32, and the elements 3A' and 3C' (connected together by the fuse-holder first means 1).

In this manner the circuit 20 can operate the electric motor M with consequent unfastening of the vehicle locks. The electric motor M continues operating until the microprocessor 23 actuates said relay, in accordance with a predetermined program, to bring the contactor 25 into contact with the branch 33 of the first circuit block 26, thereby halting the movement of the electric motor M. At this point the doors can be opened by the user.

The vehicle locks -can be fastened in obvious manner by again operating the electric motor M by means of the circuit 20. The configuration assumed by circuit 20 in this second case is that shown in Figure 2, but with the position of the contactor 24 changed. When applied to the circuit 20 of Figure 2, the device prevents the second circuit block 29 suffering any damage by short-circuit currents which may arise within the first circuit block 26. Moreover, if the fuse-holder first means 1 have been erroneously positioned in the counter-means 3, for example by placing the first means 1 across the elements 3B and 3C of the second means 3 disposed at the ends of the branches 27 and 28 of the second circuit block 29, the circuit 20 suffers no damage of any kind.

It is apparent from the examples of the use of the invention that the device of the invention allows circuits and circuit blocks to be easily and reliably connected together.

The above examples describe one embodiment of the fuse-holder first means 1 and socket second means 3.

However, the first means 1 and second means 3 can be constructed in various ways within the scope of the present invention. One such embodiment can be obtained by providing the second means 3 with four mutually adajcent elements, the central elements being connected together and arranged to receive the signal to be directed selectively within the circuit in which said counter-means 3 are disposed. The first means 1 will then be positioned to co-operate with two ,of said elements, of which one will be that receiving the signal to be directed selectively within the circuit.

In this manner increasingly complex circuit configurations are obtainable which can be programmed in accordance with the required use. For this, it is necessary only to change the position of the fuse-holder first means -1 appropriately, so that they co-operate with those socket second means 3 which give the circuit comprising said second means the required configuration for the particular use.

Claims (5)

1. A device for programming connections in an electric circuit, comprising co-operating first and second means in said circuit so as to define a particular circuit configuration chosen in such a manner as to selectively direct, along a predetermined path within said circuit, an entering signal or a signal already present in the circuit; said second means being present in groups of at least three adjacently disposed elements of which at least one is arranged to receive the signal to be selectively directed within the circuit; and said first means being removably engageable with only two of said adjacent second means of which one receives the signal to be directed within the circuit or circuit system; wherein said first means also include a fuse able to safeguard said system against short-circuits due to erroneous circuit connections.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second means comprise four elements, the central ones of which are arranged to receive said signal to be selectively directed within the circuit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first means comprise an insulated body having extending from and orthogonally to its bottom two fee which terminate within the body in proximity to the top of the body where they are interconnected by a fuse.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when incorporated in ail anti-theft circuit, a window regulator circuit, and/or a door unfastening-fastening circuit for a motor vehicle.

5. A connection programming device constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.