Remote-control operating system and method for selectively addressing code-addressable receivers, particularly to execute switching function in automotive vehicles

To eliminate separate clock, control, and acknowledgment communication lines in a ring-connected remote-control operating system, for example a system applied to a vehicle in which switches (29) or command signals derived from a central station (10) generate code signals to which receivers (11, 12) are responsive to carry out commands, such as energization of a relay (18), a lamp (17), a motor (16, 20) or the like, or cause retransmission to the central station of a sensed operating signal, for example fuel level, for display on a display unit (28), only a single communication line (8), preferably in form of a light guide (15), is provided coupled to the central station (10) and to the respective receivers. The coding is effected by applying to the single line (15) cyclical pulse sequences. The pulse sequences are arranged to form codes which are derived by making the pulses of different pulse widths, and the pulse gaps of respectively different pulse gap widths, and sensing the number of pulses, the pulse widths, and the duration of the pulse gaps between the pulses to thereby obtain coding which is related to clock signals (B), synchronization signals (C), control signals (0, 1), as well as acknowledgment signals (B'). The decoding system includes timing circuits which respond respectively, to the timing pulse pauses and to the time duration of individual pulses.