| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20120039217 | INTERFACE MODULE AND CONTROLLER NETWORK - An interface module is provided for connecting a device to a controller within a controller network. The controller is adapted to supply and/or receive data according to a network protocol, and the device is adapted to supply and/or receive data according to a device protocol. The interface module comprises: a network connector supporting a plurality of network channels for connecting the interface module to the controller via the controller network; a device connector supporting a plurality of device channels for connecting the interface module to the device; a conversion unit arranged to receive the plurality of network channels from the network connector, and adapted to convert data between the network protocol and the device protocol, the conversion unit having one or more signal terminals for supplying and/or receiving signals to or from the device; and a configuration unit between the conversion unit and the device connector, adapted to configure the interface module to the device by routing selected device channels to selected signal terminals of the conversion unit. The configuration unit is separable from and removably coupled to the conversion unit such that the interface module may be configured for use with a different device by replacement of the configuration unit. Also provided is a controller network comprising one or more devices and a controller for control of the devices, each of the devices being connected to the controller via an interface module. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120041572 | CONTROLLER NETWORK AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A CONTROLLER NETWORK - A method of controlling a controller network is provided, the controller network comprising a plurality of devices, a controller for outputting control data to the devices, and a plurality of interface modules, each interface module being arranged to connect a respective device to the controller via the network. The method comprises: outputting, from the controller, a control message addressed to a first device, the control message corresponding to an action to be performed by the first device; receiving, at a first interface module connecting the first device to the network, the control message; storing the control message in a memory of the first interface module; broadcasting, from the controller, a trigger message addressed to at least the first device; receiving, at the first interface module, the trigger message; and passing, in response to the trigger message, the control message to the first device such that the action corresponding to the control message is performed. A corresponding controller network is also provided. | 02-16-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090000375 | MULTI-SLOPE VARIABLE RESISTANCE FUEL SENDER UNIT - A fuel sender unit is provided for deployment on a vehicle having a fuel tank. The fuel sender unit includes a float arm configured to move in relation to the volume of fuel held within the fuel tank. A fuel level sensor is coupled to the float arm. The fuel level sensor produces a resistance that varies with the position of the float arm to thereby produce a multi-slope sender profile including at least first, second, and third successive profile segments. The first profile segment has an average slope that is greater than that of the second profile segment, and the second profile segment has an average slope that is greater than that of the third profile segment. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090230674 | Fuel Port Elbow Having a Truncated Conductive Insert Tube - A fuel port elbow composed of a plastic port body overmolding an electrically conductive, truncated insert tube such that there is no external dissimilar materials boundary. The tube has a tube first segment, a tube elbow segment and a tube second segment truncated such that the dissimilar materials boundary at the tube truncation is internal to the port body. A port body is integral with the plastic of a flange cover, and overmolds part of the tube first segment and all of the tube elbow and second segments. The port body has a port body second segment having a port body passage communicating with the tube passage and extending remotely from the tube truncation, being adapted for connecting with a fuel line. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20100065023 | Anti-Clogging Fuel Pump Module - A by-pass fuel system in which the plumbing of the fuel pump module is configured to ensure by-pass strained (and filtered) fuel remains separate from the reservoir fuel after by-pass such that it is not re-strained before re-entry to the fuel pump. The anti-clogging fuel pump module is plumbed such that the by-pass strained fuel is directed to the fuel pump separately with respect to the reservoir fuel, wherein it never mixes with reservoir fuel except after the reservoir fuel has passed through the strainer. Thus, the by-pass strained fuel only mixes with strained fuel from the strainer before its entry to the fuel pump. Accordingly, only reservoir fuel in the fuel pump module is passed through the strainer, whereby the clogging rate of the strainer is minimized. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100132675 | MULTI-PUMP FUEL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicular fuel system includes a suction pump having an inlet and an outlet, a priming pump having an inlet and an outlet, a valve and a fluid conduit assembly having a first port coupled to the outlet of the priming pump, a second port coupled to the inlet of the suction pump, and a third port coupled to the valve. The fluid conduit assembly and the valve are configured such that when the priming pump is operated, fluid flows from the outlet of the priming pump, through the first port and second ports, and into the inlet of the suction pump and when the suction pump is operated, fluid flows through the valve and the third and second ports, and into the inlet of the suction pump. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20110041931 | Diesel Fuel Pump Module with Fuel Wax By-Pass - A by-pass fuel system configured so that in the event diesel fuel has waxed and/or ice crystals have formed such that the fuel cannot pass easily through the fuel pump fuel strainer, the diesel fuel is selectively able to pass through an auxiliary fuel port via a by-pass valve, thereby ensuring adequate fuel flow to the diesel engine. Return fuel heated by the engine is preferably directed directly onto the fuel pump fuel strainer to help dissolve the waxing and crystallization. An auxiliary coarse fuel strainer optionally provides coarse fuel straining of the by-passed fuel. | 02-24-2011 |
