US 11,866,031 B2
Discretionary current input circuit
Mohit Dhawan, Gurgaon (IN); Namritha H Shenoy, Cary, NC (US); Kirk N. Eisenbeis, Cary, NC (US); and Sean M. Kennelly, Holly Springs, NC (US)
Assigned to DEERE & COMPANY, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/513,207.
Prior Publication US 2021/0016768 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. B60W 30/02 (2012.01); A01D 34/82 (2006.01); H01H 43/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/327 (2006.01); H02H 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 30/02 (2013.01) [A01D 34/828 (2013.01); G01R 31/3277 (2013.01); H01H 43/00 (2013.01); H02H 3/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An improved discretionary current input circuit comprising:
an off-road vehicle having a switch sensing an operating condition of the vehicle relating to safety or performance and having a first state if the operating condition is not satisfied and a second state if the operating condition is satisfied;
a microcontroller to deactivate at least one function of the vehicle if the switch is in the first state; the switch drawing a nominal current except during specified time intervals that are shorter than the time for drawing the nominal current; and
a power transistor connected through a diode and resistor to the switch, the power transistor normally being in an off condition, and being powered during the specified time intervals to an on condition to increase current above the nominal current to a threshold through the switch; the microcontroller reading if the switch is in the first state or the second state only during the specified time intervals;
a timer circuit that determines a duration of each specified time interval for sensing the vehicle operating condition such that the power transistor is turned off before the end of a task interval of the microcontroller.