Abstract: A switch guard for preventing accidental actuation of a control switch is disclosed. The switch guard includes a rigid wall structure comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls arranged to accommodate positioning of the control switch therein, each of the pair of end walls including at least one opening formed therein. The switch guard also includes a mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure, with each mating feature being a separate component from the rigid wall structure and being configured to selectively translate through the at least one opening formed in the respective end wall between a first position and a second position to secure the switch guard about the control switch.

Abstract: A vehicle switch module includes a sub-network having switches connected thereto and a sub-network controller in operative communication with the sub-network and the switches. Each switch includes a microprocessor programmed to generate switch messages that include address and switch logic state data. The sub-network controller transmits switch queries onto the sub-network to a number of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of switches in the switch module and receives switch messages responsive to the queries from switches at addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted. The received switch messages verify the identity of a switch in the module and provide a switch state for the switch. The sub-network controller interprets the received switch messages and—based on the switch address and switch state data in the messages—controls operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the switches.

Abstract: A switch guard for preventing accidental actuation of a control switch is disclosed. The switch guard includes a rigid wall structure comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls arranged to accommodate positioning of the control switch therein, each of the pair of end walls including at least one opening formed therein. The switch guard also includes a mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure, with each mating feature being a separate component from the rigid wall structure and being configured to selectively translate through the at least one opening formed in the respective end wall between a first position and a second position to secure the switch guard about the control switch.

Abstract: A vehicle switch module includes a sub-network having switches connected thereto and a sub-network controller in operative communication with the sub-network and the switches. Each switch includes a microprocessor programmed to generate switch messages that include address and switch logic state data. The sub-network controller transmits switch queries onto the sub-network to a number of switch addresses to determine a connection status and switch state of switches in the switch module and receives switch messages responsive to the queries from switches at addresses to which the switch queries were transmitted. The received switch messages verify the identity of a switch in the module and provide a switch state for the switch. The sub-network controller interprets the received switch messages and—based on the switch address and switch state data in the messages—controls operation of a vehicle output or load associated with each of the switches.