The present disclosure relates to a control unit for a vehicle and in particular,
relates to an Optical Encoder-based Rotary Gear Knob control unit.
BACKGROUND
With the advancement of technology in the realm of automobiles, a number
10 of control units, such as mechanical switches and touch-enabled control panels, are
employed for controlling various functionalities of a vehicle. The GearBox or Gear
Switch may include but are not limited to Shafts, Gear Pulley.
A wide variety of gear selectors for vehicles are known. The gear selector
enables the driver to control different operating modes of the vehicle, such as a
15 park, reverse, neutral, and drive, for example. The gear selector controls the
transmission and may control other vehicle components, such as a parking pawl.
Although the existing gear control units or systems enable the user to control
the defined functionalities, however, due to one or more disadvantages, including
but not limited to mechanical complexity, high cost, large size, and lack of
20 reliability, there is a need for improved gear control units or systems and methods
for vehicles.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a
25 simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the
invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive
concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the
invention.
30 The present invention discloses a rotary gear control unit for a vehicle. The
rotary gear control unit may include a rotary knob, a first optical encoder, and a
3
second optical encoder, a ribs circular array having a plurality of open zone and
dark zone, and a microcontroller interfaced with the photodetectors. Each of the
optical encoders may include one or more photodiodes, and one or more
photodetectors. The photodiodes may be configured to transmit one or more light
5 pulses. The photodetectors may be configured to receive the light pulses transmitted
by their respective photodiodes. The ribs circular array may be configured to rotate
in a clockwise or a coutner-clockwise direction by the rotation of the rotary knob
by a user, between the path of the light pulses. The ribs circular array may include
a plurality of open zones and a plurality of dark zones. The optical encoders are
10 configured to generate one or more singal patterns based on the light pulses received
by the photodetectors after passing through the ribs circular array, at a particular
time. The microcontroller may be configured to detect the movement of the ribs
circular array in the clockwise or counter-clockwise directions based on the signal
patterns.
15
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a
more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is
appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention
20 and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be
described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
25
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood when the following detailed description is read with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like
parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
30
4
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a rotary gear control unit for a
vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Figure 2a illustrates an architecture/block view of interfacing of an optical
5 encoder with a microcontroller of the rotary gear control unit of Fig. 1, according
to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Figure 2b illustrates a schematic view of the interfacing of an optical encoder
with a microcontroller of the rotary gear control unit of Fig. 1, according to an
10 embodiment of the present subject matter;
Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement of the optical encoder with rotary fringes
of the rotary gear control unit of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present
subject matter;
15
Figure 4 illustrates a waveform indicating a signal received from an optical
encoder of the rotary gear control unit of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the
present subject matter;
20 Figure 5 illustrates a waveform of the optical encoder with rotary fringes of
the rotary gear control unit of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present
subject matter;
Figure 6 illustrates an architectural view of a rotary gear control unit of Fig.
25 1, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
Figure 7 illustrate a block diagram view of of the rotary gear control unit of
Fig. 1, with input and output requirement from the vehicle side to make interfacing,
according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
30
5
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are
illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale.
For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent
steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention.
5 Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of
the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols,
and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to
understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the
drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
10 art having the benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
15 invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings
and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being
20 contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled
in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples
provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
25
For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none”
or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more
than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of
“some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology
30 and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some
embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be
6
construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their
equivalents in any way.
For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,”
5 “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or
restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more
features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken
to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements,
unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but
10 not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only
once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements”
or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms
15 “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none
of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language
including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more
element is required.”
20 Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or
scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly
understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood
25 that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features
and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been
described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which
the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfill the requirements
of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
30
7
Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first
embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one
embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,”
“other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”,
5 “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the
same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features
and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be
found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may
be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one
10 or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a
single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the
context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided
separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features
and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively
15 be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some
embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to
the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized
20 in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in
the description below.
The present disclosure relates to a gear control unit for a vehicle and in
particular, relates to an Optical Encoder-based Rotary Gear control unit. The rotary
25 gear control unit or shifter unit may be employed in various vehicles. The
application and using technology may include but are not limited to detect the gear
positions for Drive, Neutral, and Reverse mode.
The present disclosure offers the gear shifting mechanisms for a vehicle
30 which provide electrical mechanisms to provide directions (Drive, Neutral,
Reverse, Parking, ECO) for the vehicle by user operations, based on the rotations
8
of Encoder (Clockwise or Counter-clockwise) from the user on the gear
shifter/control unit. In an example, the user may feel the vehicle motions from rest
position after selection of the knob position of the gear shifter unit/ control unit,
which might be a forward direction or reverse directions or parking positions or eco
5 mode.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotary gear control unit
may be embodied as a Gear shifting or controlling. In such an embodiment, when
the user provides or selects the gear position input to the control unit, the gear
10 shifter/control unit may generate a corresponding signal to the master unit of the
vehicle to notify the user of receipt of the input.
The present invention discloses a rotary gear control unit for a vehicle. The
rotary gear control unit may include a rotary knob, a first optical encoder, and a
15 second optical encoder, ribs circular array having a plurality of open zones and a
plurality of dark zones, and a controller/microcontroller interfaced with the
photodetectors. Each of the optical encoders may include one or more photodiodes
and one or more photodetectors. The photodiodes may be configured to transmit
one or more light pulses. The photodetectors may be configured to receive the light
20 pulses transmitted by their respective photodiodes. The ribs circular array may be
configured to rotate in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction by the rotation
of the rotary knob by a user, between the path of the light pulses. The ribs circular
array may include a plurality of open zone and dark zone. The optical encoders are
configured to generate one or more signal patterns based on the light pulses received
25 by the photodetectors after passing through the ribs circular array, at a particular
time. The microcontroller may be configured to detect the movement of the ribs
circular array in the clockwise or counter-clockwise directions based on the signal
patterns.
9
In another embodiment, the microcontroller is configured to compare the
signal patterns generated by the first encoder and the second encoder, towards
confirming a non-failure and non-random signal integrity of the generated signals.
5 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described below in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention discloses a rotary gear control unit (100) for a vehicle.
The rotary gear control unit (100) may include a rotary knob (101), a first optical
10 encoder (201) and a second optical encoder (202), a ribs circular array (309) having
a plurality of open zone (311) and dark zone (310), and a microcontroller (207)
interfaced with the photodetectors (304, 306). Each of the optical encoders may
include one or more photodiodes (301, 302), and one or more photodetectors (304,
306). The photodiodes (301, 302) may be configured to transmit one or more light
15 pulses (203, 204, 205, 206). The photodetectors (304, 306) may be configured to
receive the light pulses transmitted by their respective photodiodes (301, 302). The
ribs circular array (309) may be configured to rotate in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction by the rotation of the rotary knob by a user, between the path
of the light pulses. The ribs circular array (309) may include a plurality of open
20 zones (311) and a plurality of dark zones (310). The optical encoders are configured
to generate one or more signal patterns (403, 404) based on the light pulses received
by the photodetectors (304, 306) after passing through the ribs circular array (309),
at a particular time. The controller (207) may be configured to detect the movement
of the ribs circular array (309) in the clockwise or counter-clockwise directions
25 based on the signal patterns (403, 404, 405, 406).
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a rotary gear control unit (100) for
a vehicle (not shown), according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
The rotary gear control unit (100) may be interchangeably referred to as a user
30 interface (100). The user interface (100) may include a Rotary knob (101),
interchangeably referred to as a panel (101), to receive a touch input from a user.
10
Figure 2a illustrates an architecture/block view of interfacing of an optical
encoder (201, 202) with a microcontroller or controller (207) of a rotary gear
shifter/control unit (200), according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
5 In an embodiment, the optical encoder (201, 202) may generate one or more signals
based on the knob positions by user input. The rotary gear control unit (200) may
include, but it is not limited to, a Power Supply source (not shown), a battery supply
(not shown), the optical encoder (201, 202), a plurality of signal lines with
filtrations and interfaced components (203, 204, 205, 206), and a microcontroller
10 unit (207). The optical encoder (201, 202) may be configured to transmit pulses to
the microcontroller (207), based on the input received from the user. The power
supply section and the ignition sense section may be provided with a protection and
filtering circuit to protect it from the incoming surge and transients.
15 Figure 2b illustrates a schematic view of the optical encoder interfacing and
working view of a rotary gear control unit (208), according to an embodiment of
the present subject matter. The rotary gear control unit (208) may include a housing
assembly (not shown) for encapsulating various components of the gear
shifter/control unit. The optical encoder (209, 210) may be connected with a supply
20 of, for example, +5 Volt (supply section not shown). The Optical Encoders (209,
210) may include, but is not limited to, a plurality of photodiodes (217, 218), and a
plurality of phototransistors (219, 220; 221, 222, respectively). As shown, terminal
‘K’ of the optical encoder (209, 210) may be connected with a circuit ground to
make operating conditions of a photodiode (217, 218) directly sending infrared light
25 to a plurality of phototransistor/photodetectors (219, 220; 221, 222, respectively).
The common terminal may also be connected with a supply of, for example, +5
Volt (supply section not shown). The Emitter terminal of the
Phototransistor/Detectors (219, 220, 221, 222) may directly be connected with the
microcontroller (207) on an external interrupt port using some kind of filter &
30 current control device to make a safe signal to protect it from the incoming surge,
transients, and any disturbance.
11
Further, a Vcc supply (211, 212) may be provided to the emitter terminals
(219 and 220) of the encoders. The encoder may come in functioning if an object
comes in the path of the light from the photodiode to the photoresistors of the
5 Optical Encoders (209 and 210). The emitters may have a phase shift during signal
generation. The signal generated due to such an event may reach the microcontroller
unit (207). The object movement in clockwise directions and counter-clockwise
directions may also be indicated. As can be seen in Fig. 2b and also described later
in conjunction with Fig. 3, two optical encoders having reciprocal/complement
10 signal generations. The confirmation of the generated signal to get non-failure and
non-random signal integrity may be sensed by the microcontroller unit (207). Based
on the input signal received from the optical encoder (217 and 218), the
microcontroller (207) may detect the object's movement in clockwise or counterclockwise directions. Further, the microcontroller (207) may take decisions to do
15 something as per design, to operate any device, or send the signals using some
protocol to another device. The microcontroller (207) is configured to compare the
signal patterns generated by the first encoder (201) and the second encoder (202),
towards confirming a non-failure and non-random signal integrity of the generated
signals (403, 404, 405, 406).
20
Figure 3 illustrates an architectural view of an optical encoder (301, 302)
with a ribs circular array (309) of a rotary gear control unit (300), according to an
embodiment of the present subject matter. The rotary gear control unit (300) may
include, but is not limited to, the ribs circular array (309) having as a plurality of
25 dark zones (310) and a plurality of open zones (311) for transmitting the infrared
light. The optical encoder (301) may transmit infrared light (307) to a
phototransistor (304). For a compliment pulse, the optical encoder (302) may face
the ribs circular array (305) in normal/static conditions. The Dark zone (310) may
stay on the optical encoder (302) and the open zone (311) may stay on the optical
30 encoder (301). Thus, the pulse signal output may be a compliment to each other. As
discussed earlier, the microcontroller (207) is configured to compare the signal
12
patterns generated by the first encoder (201) and the second encoder (202), towards
confirming a non-failure and non-random signal integrity of the generated signals
(403, 404, 405, 406).
5 Figure 4 illustrates an optical encoder (401, 402) with a plurality of signal patterns
(403, 404, 405, 406) generated by moving a ribs array (309 of Fig. 3), according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The emitters (E1, E2, shown as 219, 220,
in Fig. 2) of the first encoder (401) may emit a light pulse leading to generate the
signal patterns (403, 404). Similarly, the second encoder (402) may emit a light
10 pulse leading to generate the signal patterns (405, 406). As can be seen, the
borderlines (407, 409) represent the time duration for the complimentary signal
patterns (403, 405). That means, the signal pattern (403) having a Low signal ‘0’
and the complementary signal pattern (405) having a High signal ‘+5volt’, can be
detected by the microcontroller interrupt port. Similarly, as can be seen, borderlines
15 (408, 410) represent the time duration for the complimentary signal patterns (404,
406).
Further, borderlines (407, 408) represent the time duration between the signal
pulses/patterns (403, 404), which may be the same for the signal patterns (405, 406).
20 The time durations may represent the ribs array movement directions, as discussed
in the later part of this disclosure.
Figure 5 illustrates the Pulse pattern by the ribs array movement in the
clockwise direction or counter-clockwise directions, according to an embodiment
25 of the present subject matter. As illustrated, the optical encoder (501) may be in
communications with the movement of the ribs array (309 of Fig. 3) by the user.
There may be several signal combinations as well sequences to detect them.
Case 1:
30 While the ribs array (309) starts moving in clockwise directions between an
optical encoder (501), the signal pulses (502, 503) may be generated by the emitter
13
E1 and E2 of the encoder (501). There may be some sequence of signal patterns to
verify the clockwise or counter-clockwise.
A sequence of detecting the direction of rotations: Clockwise rotations
5 pattern00  01  11  10  00  01  11  10  00  01  11  10
10
Above mentioned pulse data may be Sequential. After detecting the ‘10’, it
may get again ‘00’ from the Emitter E1 and E2 after ‘10’ and so on, till the user
rotate the rotary knob (101).
15 Case 2:
While ribs array (309), starts moving in counter-clockwise directions,
Phototransistor – 1 (E1) may first activate a signal pattern (508) thereafter another
signal pattern (509) (the detected pulse data may be shown as 506). Phototransistor
– 2 (E2) may activate the signal after some time delay. The difference between them
20 may be as discussed earlier.
A sequence of detecting the direction of rotations: Counter-clockwise
rotations pattern25 00  10  11  01  00  10  11  01  00  10  11  01
Above mentioned pulse data will be Sequential, after detecting ‘01’, it will
30 get again ‘00’ from the Emitter E1 and E2. Thereafter ‘01’ may be detected and so
on till the user rotate the rotary knob (101).
1st detent movement 2nd detent
movement
3rd detent
movement
1st detent
movement
2nd detent
movement
3rd detent
movement
14
The number of detection during rotations of the roatary knob (101) may be
counted by the controller (207). At steady-state conditions, the rotary knob (101)
calibrated on the Natural positions, and the indicator also glow with that. Now based
5 on the rotations, clockwise or counter-clockwise directions, it may go to DRIVE or
REVERSE mode as well. For the feedback indicator, the Microcontroller (207) may
operate the indicators as per the mode selected.
Figure 6 illustrates an architectural view of a rotary gear control unit (600),
10 according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The rotary gear control
unit (600) may include, but is not limited to, an input-output connector (601) to
receive the supply, a plurality of power supply sections (602) to provide the
regulated supply to operate the included device within the operating voltage ranges,
an optical encoder (603) connected with an MCU (606) for detecting a drive, a
15 neutral, and a reverse position using current control device (not showing), a first
tact switch (604) for detecting the Parking positions, a second tact switch (605) for
detecting the Eco mode, the main microcontroller (606) to get all input data and
correspondingly convert into operable output signals, a first set of LEDs (607) for
illuminating the designed symbol, a second set of LEDs (608) for displaying the
20 feedback acknowledgment signal to the user, and a Local Interconnect Network
(LIN) transmitter (609) for sending the data over the LIN as MCU (606) gives
instructions to the LIN transmitter (609).
As earlier mentioned about the optical encoder and its functionality, the rotary
25 gear control unit may receive the battery and ignitions supply from the vehicle via
pathways having an input-output connector (601), and power supply sections (602).
The connector (601) of the rotary gear control unit (600) may have 8 ports. The
supply may be converted into clean, green, and surge-free, by using a suitable
mechanism, before the use by the various components/parts (603, 604, 605, 609,
30 607, 608) as well. The optical encoder (603) may provide the signal to recognize
the positions of the rotary knob, corresponded indicator LED may be powered up
15
to illuminate. Further, a message may be transmitted via the MCU (606) through
the LIN transmitter (609) to a master ECU (not shown). The user may operate the
tact switches (604, 605) for the Parking function or the ECO functions. The
information may reach the MCU (606) in the signal format, and the corresponding
5 indicator LED may be illuminated and the LIN data may be transmitted to the
Master ECU.
Figure 7 illustrates a block view of a complete rotary gear control unit with
input and output requirements from the vehicle side to make interfacing, according
10 to an embodiment of the present subject matter. As discussed earlier, the rotary gear
control unit may include a connector having 8 ports to receive the various supplies
including a power supply. The connector (700) may include, but not limited to, an
Ignition supply (701), a battery supply voltage (702) both coming via terminals
(703, 704, 705, 707) getting the supply internal after filtrations from surges, an
15 illumination control (708) via external signal supply from the vehicle, an
illumination supply (711) interacting with the vehicle supply, and a master ECU
(709) of the vehicle getting the LIN data directly via a line/path (710).
In an example, the interfacing connector (700) may make an interface with
20 the vehicle connector (not shown), to give supply to operate the overall
functionality. Corresponding to the operations by the user, the LIN data may pass
on from the rotary gear control unit to the vehicle ECU (not shown). The control
unit may illuminate the night mode depending on the user operations. The functions
independently operated by the vehicle signals, may be detected via path/line (711)
25 from the MCU (707) for achieving the additional objects.
The major advantages of the technical solutions proposed by the present
disclosure include the fact that not only the accuracy of the rotary gear control unit
of the vehicle is increasd but also the reliability of the rotary gear control unit is
30 increased apart from the reduced mechanical complexity, cost, and size.
16
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter,
any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent
to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in
order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the
5 forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a
single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple
functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another
embodiment.

WE CLAIM:
1. A rotary gear control unit (100) for a vehicle, having a rotary knob (101), the
5 rotary gear control unit (100) comprising:
a first optical encoder (201) and a second optical encoder (202), each of
the optical encoders comprising:
at least one photodiodes (301, 302) configured to transmit one or
more light pulses (203, 204, 205, 206); and
10 at least one photodetectors (304, 306), configured to receive the light
pulses transmitted by their respective photodiodes (301, 302);
a ribs circular array (309) having a plurality of open zones (311) and a
plurality of dark zones (310) configured to rotate in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction by the rotation of the rotary knob (101) between the path of
15 the light pulses, wherein the optical encoders are configured to generate at least
one signal pattern (403, 404) based on the light pulses received by the
photodetectors (304, 306) after passing through the ribs circular array (309) at a
particular time; and
a controller (207) interfaced with the photodetectors (304, 306) and
20 configured to detect the movement of the ribs circular array (309) in the
clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, based on the signal patterns (403, 404,
405, 406).
2. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller
25 is configured to compare the signal patterns generated by the first optical encoder
(201) and the second optical encoder (202), towards confirming a non-failure and
non-random signal integrity of the generated signals (403, 404, 405, 406).
3. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a power
30 supply section (602) for supplying a clean, green, and surge free power within the
operating voltage ranges.
18
4. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first tact
switch (604) adapted to detect the Parking positions.
5 5. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second tact
switch (605) adapted to detect an Eco mode of the vehicle.
6. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller
(207) is configured to receive the input data and correspondingly convert it into
10 operable output signals.
7. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first set of
LEDs (607) adapted to illuminate a designed symbol.
15 8. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second set
of LEDs (608) adapted to illuminate feedback acknowledgment signal.
9. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a Local
Interconnect Network (LIN) transmitter (609) adapted to send data over LIN as
20 MCU (606) provides instructions to the LIN transmitter (609).
10. The rotary gear control unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an inputoutput connector (601) to receive the various supply.