Accessory control using a vehicle communication bus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168451-B2
Application number	US-201916559276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling vehicle accessories using a vehicle communication bus. A vehicle integration controller may be configured to monitor messages written to the vehicle communication bus to control one or more accessories equipped on the vehicle. The vehicle may be equipped with an accessory communication bus to which one or more accessory controllers are coupled. Accordingly, the vehicle integration controller may write messages to the accessory communication bus to control operation of the vehicle accessories. Additionally, the vehicle integration controller may write messages to the vehicle communication bus to adapt to operation of the vehicle accessories.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling vehicle lighting and a vehicle accessory having accessory lighting, the method comprising:
detecting, at a non-vehicle original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle integration controller, an input to enable accessory lighting;
generating, by one or more processors of the vehicle integration controller, (i) a first instruction to disable vehicle lighting, and (ii) a second instruction to enable accessory lighting;
transmitting, by the vehicle integration controller and over a vehicle communication bus, the first instruction to disable vehicle lighting, wherein the vehicle communication bus is a controller area network (CAN) bus; and
transmitting the second instruction to enable accessory lighting.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second instruction comprises:
transmitting the second instruction to an accessory controller.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the second instruction to the accessory controller comprises:
transmitting the second instruction over the vehicle communication bus.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the second instruction to the accessory controller comprises:
transmitting the second instruction via a dedicated communication link between the vehicle integration controller and the accessory controller.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the second instruction to the accessory controller comprises:
transmitting the second instruction over an accessory communication bus.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second instruction comprises:
directly controlling control circuitry of the vehicle accessory.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring, by the one or more processors, the vehicle communication bus to detect a message indicative of a speed of the vehicle; and
based on the speed of the vehicle, transmitting, to the vehicle accessory, a third instruction to adjust operation of the vehicle accessory.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the input comprises:
receiving, from a pendant device in wired or wireless communication with the vehicle integration controller, user input.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically detecting, by the one or more processors, that the vehicle accessory is attached to the vehicle; and
transmitting, over the vehicle communication bus, a command to modify operation of the vehicle to account for the vehicle accessory being attached to the vehicle.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the input to enable accessory lighting comprises:
detecting, by the vehicle integration controller, a command over the vehicle communication bus transmitted in response to a user interacting with a vehicle control.

11. A computer-implemented method for controlling vehicle lighting and a vehicle accessory having accessory lighting, the method comprising:
detecting, at a vehicle integration controller, an input to enable accessory lighting;
generating, by one or more processors of the vehicle integration controller, (i) a first instruction to disable vehicle lighting, and (ii) a second instruction to enable accessory lighting, wherein generating the first instruction to disable vehicle lighting comprises querying, by the one or more processors, a local or remote memory that stores vehicle communication bus messages to disable vehicle lighting;
transmitting, over a vehicle communication bus, the first instruction to disable vehicle lighting; and
transmitting the second instruction to enable accessory lighting.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the first instruction includes a plurality of messages configured to disable vehicle lighting for a plurality of different types of vehicles.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the stored vehicle communication bus messages includes messages that are interpreted by a vehicle communication bus gateway that controls access to another network to which a controller of the vehicle lighting is connected.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein:
the vehicle integration controller is connected to the same network as a controller of the vehicle lighting; and
the stored vehicle communication bus messages includes messages that are interpreted by the controller of the vehicle lighting.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
automatically detecting, by the one or more processors, that the vehicle accessory is attached to the vehicle; and
transmitting, over the vehicle communication bus, a command to modify operation of the vehicle to account for the vehicle accessory being attached to the vehicle.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
monitoring, by the one or more processors, the vehicle communication bus to detect a message indicative of a speed of the vehicle; and
based on the speed of the vehicle, transmitting, to the vehicle accessory, a third instruction to adjust operation of the vehicle accessory.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the input to enable accessory lighting comprises:
detecting, by the vehicle integration controller, a command over the vehicle communication bus transmitted in response to a user interacting with a vehicle control.

18. A computer-implemented method for controlling vehicle lighting, the method comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors of a vehicle integration controller, a vehicle communication bus to detect a series of messages that correspond to a user performing a predetermined series of lighting controls, wherein the vehicle communication bus is a controller area network (CAN) bus;
correlating, by the one or more processors, the lighting controls to the corresponding detected message;
updating, by the one or more processors, a local or remote database to store an indication of the correlated lighting control and the vehicle communication bus message;
detecting, at the vehicle integration controller, an input to control accessory lighting; and
transmitting, over the vehicle communication bus, a message to control vehicle lighting based on the stored correlations and the detected input.

19. A computer-implemented method for controlling vehicle lighting, the method comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors, a vehicle communication bus to determine a vehicle identification number (VIN) for a vehicle;
based on the VIN, determining, by the one or more processors, a make and/or model of the vehicle;
using the make and/or model of the vehicle, accessing a local or remote memory that stores vehicle communication bus messages to control vehicle lighting for vehicle of the determined make and/or model;
receiving, from an in-vehicle controller, an input to control accessory lighting; and
transmitting, over the vehicle communication bus, a message to control vehicle lighting based on the accessed messages and the input.

20. A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle accessory via an accessory communication bus, the method comprising:
detecting, at a vehicle integration controller, a first message on a vehicle communication bus indicative of a change of state to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication bus is a contro

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Coyne Jonathan
• Johnson Jacob

Classifications

• H04L12/40

  Bus networks · CPC title

• B60Q2200/00

  Special features or arrangements of vehicle headlamps · CPC title

• B60W40/105

  Speed · CPC title

• E01H5/066 Primary

  Snow-plough blade accessories, e.g. deflector plates, skid shoes · CPC title

• B60Q1/2661

  mounted on parts having other functions (on wheels B60Q1/326) · CPC title