Low Voltage System Controller for a Truck

Abstract

A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The truck cap assembly may include a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck; a cap door located on the cap; a latch bar located on the cap; a controller located on the cap door; and a latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm. The controller is in electrical communication with an actuator that is coupled to a latch arm. A signal from the controller activates the actuator to move the latch arm. The latch arm is releasable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of moving a door that is part of a truck cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising of:
 providing a first latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;   providing a second latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;   providing an input and a controller;   supplying power to the controller;   waiting for a predetermined period of time;   determining whether a wake command has been received by the controller, wherein when the wake command has not been received by the controller, the reverts to a wait mode;   determining the input is selected from the group consisting of a wired input source and a wireless input source when the wake command is received by the controller;   confirming a sequence is received from the input is a predetermined sequence;   signaling a status of the sequence;   energizing a power relay when the predetermined sequence is confirmed;   directing power from a power source to the actuator of the first latch release assembly and to the actuator of the second latch release assembly;   energizing the actuator of the first latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the first latch release assembly; and   energizing the actuator of the second latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the second latch release assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of denergizing the actuator of the first latch release assembly and of the actuator of the second latch release assembly, wherein subsequently the controller reverts to the wait mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wired input source is a keypad. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless input source is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the sequence is selected from the group consisting of the predetermined sequence and a nonpredetermined sequence. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of signaling the status of the sequence in a form of at least one flashing light. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of directing power from the power source to the actuator of the first latch release assembly and to the actuator of the second latch release assembly when the wake command is received from the wireless input source. 
     
     
         8 . A method of moving a door that is part of a truck cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising of:
 providing a first latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;   providing a second latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;   providing an input and a controller;   supplying power to the controller;   determining whether a wake command has been received by the controller, wherein when the wake command has not been received by the controller, the reverts to a wait mode;   directing power from a power source to the actuator of the first latch release assembly and to the actuator of the second latch release assembly;   energizing the actuator of the first latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the first latch release assembly; and   energizing the actuator of the second latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the second latch release assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining the input is selected from the group consisting of a wired input source and a wireless input source when the wake command is received by the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of confirming a sequence is received from the input is a predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of signaling a status of the sequence. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of energizing a power relay when the predetermined sequence is confirmed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of denergizing the actuator of the first latch release assembly and of the actuator of the second latch release assembly, wherein subsequently the controller reverts to the wait mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wired input source is a keypad. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless input source is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the status of the sequence is selected from the group consisting of the predetermined sequence and a nonpredetermined sequence. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of directing power from the power source to the actuator of the first latch release assembly and to the actuator of the second latch release assembly when the wake command is received from a wireless input source. 
     
     
         18 . A method of moving a door that is part of a truck cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising of:
 providing at least one latch release assembly which includes at least one actuator and at least one latch arm;   providing an input and a controller;   supplying power to the controller;   determining whether a wake command has been received by the controller, wherein when the wake command has not been received by the controller, the reverts to a wait mode;   determining the input is selected from the group consisting of a wired input source and a wireless input source when the wake command is received by the controller;   confirming a sequence is received from the input is a predetermined sequence;   signaling a status of the sequence;   energizing a power relay when the predetermined sequence is confirmed;   directing power from a power source to the at least one actuator of the at least one latch release assembly; and   energizing the at least one actuator of the at least one latch release assembly to move the at least one latch arm.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one latch release assembly is a plurality of latch release assemblies. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of latch release assemblies includes its own actuator and latch arm.