Principles of Operation

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

NOTE: The smart junction box (SJB) is also known as the generic electronic module (GEM).

Dimmable Backlighting
When the parking lamps or the headlamps are in the ON position, the SJB monitors the input from the instrument panel dimmer switch. The SJB sends a pulse-width modulated (PWM) voltage to the dimmable components and switches based on input received from the instrument panel dimmer switch. The SJB also sends a message over the controller area network (CAN) to the audio unit, and the instrument cluster (IC) to indicate the backlighting intensity level.

The ACM and IC default to full nighttime brightness if they do not receive the illumination message.

Fixed Backlighting
When the accessory delay relay is energized, switched voltage is supplied to the non-dimmable components and switches. The window control switches and the door lock switches are the only non-dimmable components.

Field-Effect Transistor (FET) Protection
The SJB utilizes a FET protective circuit strategy for many of its outputs (for example, the headlamp output circuit). Output loads (current level) are monitored for excessive current (typically short circuits) and are shut down (turns off the voltage or ground provided by the module) when a fault is detected. A continuous DTC is stored at that time for the fault. The circuit will then reset after a customer demand of the function (switching the component on, battery saver being energized). When an excessive circuit load occurs several times, the module shuts down the output until a repair procedure is carried out. At the same time, the continuous DTC that was stored on the first failure will not clear by a command to clear the continuous DTCs. The module will not allow this code to be cleared or the circuit restored to normal until a successful on-demand self-test proves that the fault has been repaired. After the on-demand self-test has successfully completed (no on-demand DTCs present), the continuous DTC will have been cleared and the circuit function will return.

Each circuit has 3 predefined levels of short circuit tolerance established in the module based on each circuits' capability. When the first or second level is reached, the continuous DTC associated with the circuit sets along with DTC B106E. These DTCs may be cleared using the Clear DTC operation on the scan tool as long as the fault itself has been corrected. If any of the circuits are shorted past the third level, then DTCs B106F and B1342 set along with the associated continuous DTC. These DTCs cannot be cleared and the module must be replaced.

The SJB FET protected output circuits for the instrument panel illumination system are for the LED backlighting output circuit.