Mark E Mathews

US Patent:

6795871, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742549

Inventors:

Tam Nolan - Solana Beach CA
Wolfgang Daum - Erie PA
Rollie Richard Herzog - Louisville KY
Mark Robert Mathews - Lombard IL
Robert Marten Bultman - Smithfield KY
John Steven Holmes - Sellersburg IN

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

710 8, 710 9, 710 11, 710 15, 710 16, 710 33

Abstract:

A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.