Recreational vehicle power control modules and systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are control modules and methods for controlling recreational vehicle power in auxiliary systems. The control modules may be installed and/or retrofitted to connect with power systems in recreational vehicles and thereby control operation of auxiliary components, such as slide-outs and awnings, for example. The disclosed control modules and systems may be remotely and/or automatically operated and programmed via wireless devices and/or software applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a power system connected to a vehicle;   an auxiliary system installed on the vehicle and configured to receive power from the power system to move one or more movable components between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position; and   a control module mounted on the vehicle, the control module configured to provide power from the power system to the auxiliary system for extending the one or more movable components toward the fully extended position or for retracting the one or more movable components toward the fully retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the power system includes a vehicle battery and a DC motor, the DC motor configured to operate in a forward direction to extend the one or more movable components toward the fully extended position and to operate in a reverse direction to retract the one or more movable components toward the fully retracted position 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power system further includes a plurality of switches connected in an H-bridge configuration, wherein, when first and second switches of the plurality of switches are closed, the vehicle battery is electrically connected to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in the forward direction, and wherein, when third and fourth switches of the plurality of switches are closed, the vehicle battery is electrically connected to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in the reverse direction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power system further includes a first relay and a second relay, wherein the first relay is configured to connect a first electrical lead of the DC motor to one of a positive terminal of the vehicle battery and a negative terminal of the vehicle battery, and wherein the second relay is configured to connect a second electrical lead of the DC motor to one of the positive terminal of the vehicle battery and the negative terminal of the vehicle battery. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power system is configured to connect a positive terminal of the vehicle battery to a forward relay coil of the DC motor or a reverse relay coil of the DC motor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the power system further includes a single-pole, double-throw, center-off rocker switch, wherein, when switched to a first contact, the rocker switch is configured to connect the positive terminal of the vehicle battery to the forward relay coil, and wherein, when switched to a second contact, the rocker switch is configured to connect the positive terminal of the vehicle battery to the reverse relay coil. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the power system further includes first, second, third, and fourth switches, whereby closing the first switch causes the vehicle battery to provide power to the forward relay coil, whereby closing the second switch causes the vehicle batter to provide power to the reverse relay coil, whereby closing the third switch connects the forward relay coil to ground, and whereby closing the fourth switch connects the reverse relay coil to ground. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the power system further includes electronics, whereby closing the third switch causes the vehicle battery to provide power to the forward relay coil via the electronics, and whereby closing the fourth switch causes the vehicle battery to provide power to the reverse relay coil via the electronics. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless device in wireless communication with the control module, the wireless device configured to store a software application for enabling remote operation of the auxiliary system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the software application includes a programmable module configured to enable a user to program one or more of an automatic extending procedure and an automatic retracting procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the programmable module is configured to:
 receive a user programming input;   measure a time period needed for the one or more movable components of the auxiliary system to move between the fully extended position and the fully retracted position; and   store the measured time period in memory.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein, in response to receiving an automatic activation signal, the control module is configured to:
 retrieve the measured time period from the memory;   activate the auxiliary system for a duration equal to the measured time period for moving the movable components between the fully extended position and the fully retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a recreational vehicle (RV) and the auxiliary system includes one of a slide-out room extension, an awning, a jack, and a stabilizer. 
     
     
         14 . A power system comprising:
 a power supply;   a DC motor; and   a switching device arranged between the power supply and the DC motor;   wherein, in a first configuration, the switching device electrically connects the power supply to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in a forward direction;   wherein, a second configuration, the switching device electrically connects the power supply to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in a reverse direction.   
     
     
         15 . The power system of  claim 14 , wherein the DC motor is configured to operate in the forward direction to extend one or more movable components toward a fully extended position and is configured to operate in the reverse direction to retract the one or more movable components toward a fully retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The power system of  claim 14 , wherein the power supply is a battery mounted in a vehicle, and wherein the one or more movable components are extendable and retractable with respect to the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The power system of  claim 14 , wherein the switching device includes a plurality of switches connected in an H-bridge configuration, wherein, when first and fourth switches of the plurality of switches are closed, the power supply is electrically connected to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in the forward direction, and wherein, when second and third switches of the plurality of switches are closed, the power supply is electrically connected to the DC motor in a manner to cause the DC motor to operate in the reverse direction. 
     
     
         18 . The power system of  claim 14 , wherein the switching device includes a first relay and a second relay, wherein the first relay is configured to connect a first electrical lead of the DC motor to one of a positive terminal of the power supply and a negative terminal of the power supply, and wherein the second relay is configured to connect a second electrical lead of the DC motor to one of the positive terminal of the power supply and the negative terminal of the power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The power system of  claim 14 , wherein the switching device is configured to connect a positive terminal of the power supply to a forward relay coil of the DC motor or a reverse relay coil of the DC motor. 
     
     
         20 . The power system of  claim 19 , wherein the switching device includes a single-pole, double-throw, center-off rocker switch, wherein, when switched to a first contact, the rocker switch is configured to connect the positive terminal of the power supply to the forward relay coil, and wherein, when switched to a second contact, the rocker switch is configured to connect the positive terminal of the power supply to the reverse relay coil. 
     
     
         21 . The power system of  claim 19 , wherein the switching device includes first, second, third, and fourth switches, whereby closing the first switch causes the power supply to provide power to the forward relay coil, whereby closing the second switch causes the power supply to provide power to the reverse relay coil, whereby closing the third switch connects the forward relay coil to a ground terminal, and whereby closing the fourth switch connects the reverse relay coil to the ground terminal. 
     
     
         22 . The power system of  claim 21 , further comprising electronics, whereby closing the third switch causes the power supply to provide power to the forward relay coil via the electronics, and whereby closing the fourth switch causes the power supply to provide power to the reverse relay coil via the electronics.