TRAILER TANDEM POSITION SENSOR.

Abstract

A tandem position perception system includes a range sensor configured to emit a signal towards a sliding tandem and to measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, a sensor housing configured to hold the range sensor, the sensor housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal, and a coupling member attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a trailer body or chassis.

Description

TRAILER TANDEM POSITION SENSOR Field of Invention This description refers to truck-trailer systems and methods for using them. Background of the Invention Most semi-truck trailers in the United States have sliding tandem axles, which are eight-wheeled axles mounted on two axles that are movably attached to the rear underside of the trailer. The tandem axles can slide along a rail beneath the trailer to allow the trailer's weight distribution to be adjusted for better handling, control, and turning radius. Some states (e.g., Michigan and California) have laws regarding the minimum and maximum lengths to which the tandem axle can be adjusted to mitigate concerns about semi-truck handling and / or weight distribution on the road. It is currently the driver's responsibility to confirm that the tandem axle is set to a length permitted by the laws of the state in which the semi-truck will be traveling.Violation of these laws may result in violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ref. 339281 (English), fines and / or other driver offenses. Additionally, the tandem axle's position is a significant factor in the turning radius of the entire vehicle when connected to the semi-trailer. For example, a tandem axle positioned fully toward the rear of the trailer may have a significantly larger turning radius than one positioned closer to the front. Therefore, when entering the city center, some drivers may adjust the tandem axle to provide a better turning radius and avoid hitting curbs when turning in tight areas. In the related technique, observations regarding the tandem axle's position are made manually or visually by the driver. The above information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for the enhancement of the understanding of the background of the invention and therefore may contain information that does not form part of the prior art already known to a person of ordinary experience in the field. Brief Description of the Invention The modality aspects described herein pertain to a tandem position perception system mounted on the underside of a trailer or chassis, configured to measure the distance of the sliding tandem to a fixed position (e.g., the coupling pivot) beneath the trailer. According to some embodiments, the tandem position perception system is capable of communicating distance / position data to a dispatcher / fleet manager and / or a driver of the truck coupled to the trailer. According to some embodiments of the present description, a tandem position perception system is provided that includes: a range sensor configured to emit a signal towards a sliding tandem and to measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem; a sensor housing configured to hold the range sensor, the sensor housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal; and a coupling member attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a trailer body or chassis. In some models, the range sensor includes a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, and the signal includes a light signal or a sound wave. In some configurations, the range sensor includes: a transmitter configured to send the signal towards the sliding tandem; a receiver configured to accept a reflected signal from the sliding tandem; and a processing circuit configured to calculate the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem based on a signal emission time and a reflected signal reception time. In some configurations, the range sensor also includes: an electrical communication circuit with a telematics input circuit in the trailer or chassis and is configured to transmit data generated by the processing circuit to the telematics input circuit via a common Controller Area Network (CAN) link of the trailer or chassis, an RS232 / 485 connection, a Power Line Communication (PLC) connection, or a wireless communication link. In some models, the range sensor includes: an internal battery configured to provide electrical power to the range sensor. In some configurations, the range sensor is coupled to an electrical system of the trailer or chassis and receives electrical power from at least one of an electrical circuit of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) of the trailer or chassis, a lighting circuit that provides power to the lights of the trailer or chassis, and a power over Ethernet (PoE) connection. In some modalities, the range sensor is configured to periodically transmit data based on the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, and the data includes at least one of: the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, a distance between a coupling pivot of the trailer or chassis and the sliding tandem, a distance between a nose of the trailer or chassis and the sliding tandem, and an alert indicating an unlocked state of the sliding tandem while in transit. In some configurations, the sliding tandem includes a sliding trailer tandem or a sliding chassis tandem, and the sliding tandem has an adjustable position along the entire length of the trailer or chassis. In some embodiments, the sensor housing includes: a main body configured to house the range sensor and fixedly coupled to the coupling member; and a cylinder extending away from the main body, usually along a range sensor signal path. In some versions, the sensor housing includes a glass-filled nylon material. In some embodiments, the coupling member includes a first fastener and a second fastener attached to an upper portion of the sensor housing and oriented towards each other; the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to tighten a flange of a double T-beam on the underside of the trailer or chassis. In some embodiments, the first fastener includes: a first U-shaped clamp having two parallel arms extending along and overlapping a flange of a double T-beam, one of the two parallel arms having a threaded through-hole to enable a screw to be threaded through and apply a compressive force against the flange of the double T-beam and to fasten the first U-shaped clamp to the double T-beam; and a first stem extending from the other of the two parallel arms and configured to be attached to the sensor housing. In some embodiments, the coupling member further includes: a U-shaped mounting bracket coupled to the first and second fastener and configured to be mounted on two sides of the sensor housing, and wherein the U-shaped mounting bracket is configured to be screwed to the sensor housing through a plurality of threaded through holes in the sides of the sensor housing. In some models, the tandem position perception system also includes: a reflector configured to be mounted on the sliding tandem and to reflect the signal back to the range sensor. In some embodiments, the reflector includes: a mounting bracket configured to attach to a surface of the sliding tandem; a reflector portion having a reflective surface configured to reflect the signal back to the range sensor; and a folding arm attached to the mounting bracket and reflector portion and configured to bend at a joint to adjust to an angle relative to the mounting bracket and reflector portion. In some models, the reflector includes a glass-filled nylon material. Brief Description of the Figures To facilitate a more complete understanding of this description, reference is now made to the associated figures, in which similar elements are identified by similar numbers. These figures should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of this description but are intended for illustrative purposes only. FIGURE 1 illustrates a vehicle using the tandem position perception system, according to some modalities of the present description. FIGURE 2 illustrates a block diagram of a range sensor of the tandem position perception system, according to some modalities of the present description. Figures 3A-3C illustrate various perspective views of the tandem position sensor, according to some modalities of the present description. FIGURE 3D illustrates a perspective view of the tandem position sensor in which its various constituent components are attached to each other, according to some modalities of the present description. FIGURE 4 illustrates a side view of a tandem position sensor coupling member, according to some embodiments of the present description. FIGURES 5A-5B illustrate perspective views of a reflector of the tandem position perception system, according to some modalities of the present description. FIGURE 5C illustrates a side view of the reflector, according to some modalities of the present description. Detailed Description of the Invention The detailed description set forth below in relation to the accompanying figures is intended as an illustrative description of a towing system that includes a tandem position sensor, as described herein, and is not intended to represent the only ways in which this description may be implemented or used. The description sets forth the features of this description in relation to the illustrated embodiments. However, it should be understood that identical or equivalent functions and structures may be performed by different embodiments, which are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this description. As indicated elsewhere in this document, similar item numbers are intended to denote similar elements or features. The modality aspects of the present description are directed to a tandem position perception system mounted on a trailer or chassis frame, which is capable of measuring the position of the sliding tandem of the trailer / chassis and reporting this information to the vehicle driver and / or the sending / external server. Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle using the tandem position perception system, according to some of the modalities described herein. Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a range sensor of the tandem position perception system, according to some of the modalities described herein. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the heavy utility vehicle 100 includes a tractor 102 coupled to a trailer / chassis 104, which has a sliding tandem axle 106 with a set of wheels that can slide along the entire length of the trailer / chassis 104. In some embodiments, the trailer 104 includes a tandem position perception system 150, which includes a tandem position sensor 200 fixedly mounted to the underside (e.g., a frame) of the trailer / chassis 104 and pointed at a target on the sliding tandem axle 106. In some examples, the tandem position sensor 200 can be mounted on a crossbar (e.g., a double T-beam) 108 on the frame of the trailer / chassis 104 in a position between the trailer / chassis coupling pivot. 110 and the front part of the sliding tandem 106.In some examples, the position sensor of the tandem 200 is mounted on the end of the rail on which the tandem 106 slides and points towards a target on the tandem 106. According to some embodiments, the tandem position sensor 200 includes a range sensor (e.g., a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor) that emits a signal, such as a light signal (e.g., a laser beam) or a sound wave (e.g., an ultrasonic sound wave), toward an object and measures the time it takes for the reflected signal to return to sensor 200 after reflecting off the object. This allows the tandem position sensor 200 to measure the distance between itself and the object. In some examples, the tandem position sensor 200 emits the signal toward a surface (e.g., a vertical surface) of the sliding tandem 106; however, the embodiments described herein are not limited to this.In some examples, the tandem 150 position perception system further includes a reflector 300 that is mounted on, and moves with, the sliding tandem 106 and is able to reflect the signal emitted from the range sensor back to the tandem 200 position sensor. Since the position of the tandem position sensor 200 relative to the trailer / chassis coupling pivot 110 is fixed and a known value, the tandem position sensor 200 can be calibrated to determine the distance between the coupling pivot 110 and the sliding tandem 106 (i.e., the center of the sliding tandem) at any given time. The distance between the coupling pivot 110 and the center of the sliding tandem 106 is referred to as the wheelbase and is an important parameter for a driver to understand, as it affects weight distribution on the road, driving control, handling, and the vehicle's turning radius 100. Additionally, the permissible wheelbase range is regulated by some states, and violations of these regulations can result in severe fines.In some configurations, the Tandem 150 position perception system is able to communicate the wheelbase, as well as other information, to the driver and / or the shipping / fleet manager, thereby making it easier to comply with these state regulations and improve handling and driving control. With reference to FIGURE 2, in some embodiments, the tandem position sensor 200 includes a range sensor 210 housed within a sensor enclosure. The range sensor 210 includes an emitter (e.g., a light source such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or laser beam) 211 configured to emit a signal (e.g., light or laser beam) toward the sliding tandem 106, a receiver configured to accept the reflected signal from the sliding tandem 106, and a processing circuit configured to calculate the distance between the range sensor 210 and the sliding tandem 106 based on the signal emission time and the reflected signal reception time (i.e., the flight time). In some configurations, the range sensor 210 is coupled to the electrical system of the trailer / chassis 104 and is electrically powered from the electrical circuit of an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the lighting circuit that powers the lights of the trailer / chassis 104, a solar panel on the roof of the trailer 104, a Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection, wireless power transmission, and / or any other suitable power source. For example, the range sensor 210 may include an internal battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery) 218 ​​that can provide power for the operation of the range sensor 210. The range sensor 210 may also include a communication block (e.g., a communication circuit) 216 to communicate the data generated by the processing circuit 214 to external sources. In some examples, the communication block 216 may communicate directly with a telematics input (e.g., a telematics input circuit) 114, which may be located in the nose box of the trailer / chassis 104 and may have wireless communication capability, so that the data from the processing circuit 214 can be transmitted via a cellular or broadband connection to an external server for monitoring. The communication block 216 may transmit data to the telematics input 114 via a common controller area network (CAN) link of the trailer / chassis 104, an RS232 / 485 connection, a power line communication (PLC) connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other connection via a protocol. ΜΛ / t / zuzj / uz and appropriate yoz. As used in this document, the term processing circuit includes any combination of hardware (physical components), firmware (unchangeable software), and software (programming elements) used to process digital data or signals. Processing circuit hardware may include, for example, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), general-purpose or special-purpose central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and programmable logic devices such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).In a processing circuit, as used in this document, each function is performed either by hardware configured—that is, directly connected—to perform that function, or by more general-purpose hardware, such as a CPU, configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transient storage medium. A processing circuit can be fabricated on a single printed circuit board (PWB) or distributed across several interconnected PWBs. A processing circuit can contain other processing circuits; for example, a processing circuit might include two processing circuits, an FPGA and a CPU, interconnected on a single PWB. In some examples, the telematics input 114 can use a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to communicate with a remote server 10 (e.g., a cloud-based remote server 10), which can further compile and process the received data. A user device 30 associated with the driver, which can be a receiver and display in the truck cab 102 or a mobile device (e.g., a tablet or phone) belonging to the driver, can receive information, such as the wheelbase calculated from the remote server 10, via a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. However, the modalities described herein are not limited to this, and the range sensor 210 can communicate directly with the user device 30 via a wireless connection, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. According to some embodiments, the range sensor 210 is configured to periodically measure the distance to the sliding tandem 106 and to periodically process and transmit data based on the measured distance to the telematics door 114. The transmitted data may include at least one of the distances between the range sensor 210 and the sliding tandem 106, a distance between a coupling pivot 110 of the trailer, or The processing circuit 214 can determine the locked / unlocked state of the sliding tandem 106 based on the detection that the tandem position sensor 200 is in motion (for example, via an accelerometer 219 in the tandem position sensor 200) and the concurrent determination that the distance measurement is changing (for example, increasing) over time. The chassis 104 and the center of the sliding tandem 106 are also considered, as well as the distance between a nose of the trailer or chassis 104 and the sliding tandem (for example, the center of the sliding tandem) 106, and an alert indicating an unlocked state of the sliding tandem 106 while in transit. This determination may indicate that the sliding tandem 106 is not locked to the trailer / chassis 104 and is sliding while the vehicle 100 is in motion.When transmitted to a driver or dispatcher, this information can be critical to ensuring the proper functionality and safety of the 106 tandem. In modes where the range sensor lacks an accelerometer or similar motion detection device, the telematics input 114 or remote server 10 may be able to determine the movement of vehicle 100 based on vehicle 100 GPS speed and / or position data and provide an alert of the unlocked status of the sliding tandem 106 to the user device 30. In addition to alerting the driver to potentially critical safety issues, the data gathered by the tandem position sensor 200 can be incorporated into online or offline algorithms (which may be running on the remote server 10) to alert the driver when CSA violations are pending or changes in the vehicle's turning radius are anticipated. In some examples, the remote server 10 can monitor the location of vehicle 100 and inform the driver of the need to adjust the tandem position when the vehicle crosses a state line requiring adjustment. The Tandem 200 position sensor is designed to be easily installed during trailer manufacturing or refurbishment. Figures 3A-3C illustrate various perspective views of the Tandem 200 position sensor, according to some embodiments of the present description. Figure 3D illustrates a perspective view of the Tandem 200 position sensor in which its various constituent components are clamped together, according to some embodiments of the present description. In some configurations, the range sensor 210 is housed within the sensor 230 housing, which ML / E / ZuZo / uZuZ protects the range sensor 210 from the elements. The sensor housing 230 is attached to a coupling member 240 that is configured to couple the sensor housing 230 to the trailer body / chassis 104. The sensor housing 230 includes a main body 232 configured to hold the range sensor 210 and is fixedly coupled to (e.g., screwed to) the coupling member 240. The sensor housing 230 further includes a cylindrical portion 234 extending away from the main body 232 and having a first opening 236 through which the emitted and reflected signals can travel to reach the sliding tandem 106 and the receiver 212, respectively. The main body 232 can generally be extended in a first direction DI, and the cylindrical portion 234 can be extended in a second direction D2 through the first direction DI.The first direction DI can be a vertical direction when the tandem position sensor 200 is mounted on the trailer / chassis 104, and the second direction D2 can be orthogonal to the first direction and aligned with or substantially aligned with the range sensor 210 signal path. While the tandem 200 position sensor is installed until it is facing backwards, when the vehicle is in motion, the currents of Eddy currents can form a circular airflow near the first opening 236, which can cause dirt and debris to move toward the first opening 236 and potentially enter the cylinder portion 234. However, the length of the cylinder portion 234 is set so as to prevent or substantially prevent debris from reaching the range sensor 210 or any of the sensitive electronic circuitry associated with the range sensor 210, which are located at the rear of the sensor housing 230 opposite the first opening 236. In this way, the construction of the sensor housing 230 prevents contaminants, debris, dirt, and other particulate matter from covering the screen of the range sensor 210 so that it can continue to operate under less than ideal environmental conditions. While FIGURES 3A-3D illustrate the portion of cylinder 234 having a rectangular cross-section, the modalities of the present description are not limited to this. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the portions of cylinder 234 may be circular, elliptical, or any other suitable shape. The sensor housing 230 may also have one or more second openings on the back of the housing 230 to allow one or more electrical wires or cables transmitting electrical signals to and from the range sensor 210 to pass through the sensor housing 230. In some embodiments, the material constituting the housing of sensor 230 may include glass-filled nylon; however, the embodiments of the present description are not limited to it, and the housing of sensor 230 may include any suitable material. According to some embodiments, the coupling member 240 is configured to mount the sensor housing 230 onto a double T-beam 105 of the trailer frame / chassis 104. In some embodiments, the coupling member 240 includes a first fastener 242 and a second fastener 244 attached to an upper side of the sensor housing 230 and facing each other, and a U-shaped mounting bracket 246 coupled to the first and second fasteners 242 and 244 and configured to be mounted on two sides (front and rear sides) of the sensor housing 230. The mounting bracket 246 is configured to be bolted to the sensor housing 230 through a plurality of threaded through-holes in the sides of the sensor housing. FIGURE 4 illustrates a side view of a coupling member 240 of the tandem position sensor 200, according to some embodiments of the present description.In some embodiments, the first and second fasteners 242 and 244 are formed to tighten a flange 105a of a double T-beam 105 on a lower side of the trailer / chassis 104. Each of the fasteners 242 / 244 includes a U-shaped clamp 250 having two parallel arms 252 that extend along and overlap a flange 105a of a double T-beam 105 of the trailer / chassis 104. In some examples, the parallel arms 252 extend along the second direction D2. One of the two parallel arms (e.g., the upper arm when mounted) has a threaded through hole to make it possible for a screw to be threaded through and apply a compressive force against the flange of the double T-beam and fasten the first U-shaped clamp 250 to the double T-beam 105 (see, e.g., FIGURE 3D).Each of the fasteners 242 / 244 also includes a stem 254 extending from one of the two parallel arms (e.g., the lower arm when mounted) and configured to be secured to the sensor housing 230 (e.g., by means of a screw or a nut and screw; see FIGURE 3D). The spacing between the two stems 254 (e.g., defined along the second direction D2) can be adjusted to accommodate I-beams with different flange widths (e.g., measured along the second direction D2). This allows the tandem position sensor to be used with a wide variety of trailers / chassis. As indicated above, in some examples, the sliding tandem 106 can provide large surfaces to reflect the signal sent by the emitter 211 of the range sensor 210 back to the receiver 212. However, if the sliding tandem lacks a suitable reflective surface, a reflector 300 can be used, as indicated above. In some modalities, the tandem 150 position perception system also includes a reflector 300 that is configured to be mounted to the sliding tandem 106 and to reflect a signal back to the range sensor 210. Figures 5A-5B illustrate perspective views of the 300 reflector, according to some embodiments of the present description. Figure 5C illustrates a side view of the 300 reflector, according to some embodiments of the present description. According to some embodiments, the reflector 300 includes a mounting bracket 302 that is configured to attach to a surface of the sliding tandem 106, for example, by means of double-sided adhesive, a screw, or any other suitable fastening mechanism. The reflector The reflector 300 also includes a reflector portion 304 having a flat reflective surface 304a configured to reflect the signal back to the range sensor 210, and a folding arm 306 that couples to the mounting bracket 302 and the reflector portion 304. The folding arm 306 is configured to bend at a joint 306a to adjust the relative angle of the mounting bracket and the reflector portion. This angle adjustability provides greater flexibility in terms of the surfaces to which the reflector can be mounted on the sliding tandem 106. The material constituting the reflector 300 may include glass-filled nylon; however, the modalities of this description are not limited to it, and the reflector 300 may include any suitable material. As described previously, the tandem position perception system measures and reports the wheelbase of a trailer / chassis, as well as other relevant information related to the position and status of the sliding tandem. For example, the Tandem Position Sensor 200 can alert the driver (or, in the case of an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle controller) about the expected turning radius of the coupled trailer. This information can be particularly useful before entering a city center or other locations where tighter turning radii are expected or required. Furthermore, the Tandem Position Sensor 200 can alert a driver and / or dispatcher to tandem positions that violate local laws or ordinances before law enforcement officers notice or have a chance to react to the violation, thereby preventing fines, CSA violations, and / or similar infractions.Additionally, the sensor data can also be used to confirm whether the sliding tandem 106 has inadvertently moved during operation, indicating an unlocked tandem 106, which can be a potentially critical safety issue. It is understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections shall not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section introduced later may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept. The terminology used herein is intended to describe particular modalities and is not intended to limit the inventive concept. As used herein, the singular forms "a" and "an" are intended to include the plural forms "also," unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that the terms "include," "which includes," "comprises," and / or "comprising," when used in this description, specify the presence of established features, whole numbers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, whole numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements. For the purposes of this description, at least one of X, Y, and Z, and at least one selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z, may be interpreted as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for example, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. Furthermore, the use of "may" when describing modalities of the inventive concept refers to one or more modalities of the inventive concept. Also, the term "exemplary" is intended to refer to an example or illustration. When an element or layer is referred to as being on, connected to, coupled to, or adjacent to another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or adjacent to the other element or layer, or one or more intermediate elements or layers may be present. When an element or layer is referred to as being directly on, directly connected to, directly coupled to, or immediately adjacent to another element or layer, no intermediate elements or layers are present. As used in this document, the terms substantially, approximately, and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of measurement, and are intended to account for inherent variations in measured or calculated values ​​that would be recognized by those of ordinary experience in the field. As used in this document, the terms use, that uses, and used can be considered synonymous with the terms utilize, that uses, and used, respectively. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document have the same meaning as ML / IZ / ZUZO / ZUZ is the term commonly understood by a person of ordinary experience in the field to which the present inventive concept belongs. It is further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and / or the present description and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined as such in this document. The range sensor 210 and / or any other relevant device or component according to embodiments of the present invention described herein may also be implemented using any hardware, firmware (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit), suitable software, or a suitable combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of the range sensor 210 may be formed on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip or on separate IC chips. Furthermore, the various components of the range sensor 210 may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a single substrate. Additionally, the various components of the range sensor 210 may be a process or A computer program, which runs on one or more processors, on one or more computing devices, executes computer program instructions and interacts with other system components to perform the various functionalities described in this document. The computer program instructions are stored in memory, which can be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device, such as random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions can also be stored on other non-transient, computer-readable media such as a CD-ROM, high-speed memory, or similar.Also, a person skilled in the field should recognize that the functionality of several computing devices can be combined or integrated into a single computing device or the functionality of a particular computing device can be distributed through one or more other computing devices without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of this description should not be limited by the specific modalities described herein. In fact, various other modalities and modifications to this description, in addition to those described herein, may be evident to those with ordinary experience in the field from the preceding description and associated figures. It is intended that these other modalities and modifications fall within the scope of this description. Furthermore, although this description has been presented herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those with ordinary experience in the field may recognize that its usefulness is not limited to these and that this description can be profitably implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes.Therefore, the claims set forth below should be interpreted in view of the full scope and spirit of the present description as set forth herein and equivalents thereof. Descriptions of features or aspects within each modality should typically be considered as available for similar features or aspects in other modalities. While one or more modalities have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary experience in the field that various changes in form and detail may be made in this document without departing from the spirit and scope defined by the following claims and their equivalents. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A tandem position perception system, characterized in that it comprises: a range sensor configured to emit a signal towards a sliding tandem and measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem; a sensor housing configured to hold the range sensor, the sensor housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal; and a coupling member attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a trailer body or chassis.

2. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the range sensor comprises a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and the signal comprises a light signal or a sound wave.

3. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the range sensor comprises: a transmitter configured to send the signal towards the sliding tandem; a receiver configured to accept a reflected signal from the sliding tandem; and a processing circuit configured to calculate the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem based on a signal emission time and a reflected signal reception time.

4. The tandem position perception system according to claim 3, characterized in that the range sensor further comprises: a communication circuit in electrical communication with a telematics input circuit in the trailer or chassis and is configured to transmit data generated by the processing circuit to the telematics input circuit via a common controller area network (CAN) link of the trailer or chassis, an RS232 / 485 connection, a power line communication (PLC) connection, or a wireless communication link.

5. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the range sensor comprises: an internal battery configured to provide electrical power to the range sensor.

6. The position perception system of the MLE / E / ZuZO / uZuZ tandem according to claim 1, characterized in that the range sensor is coupled to an electrical system of the trailer or chassis and receives electrical power from at least one of an electrical circuit of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) of the trailer or chassis, a lighting circuit that provides power to lights of the trailer or chassis and a power connection via Ethernet (PoE).

7. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the range sensor is configured to periodically transmit data based on the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, and wherein the data comprises at least one of: the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, a distance between a coupling pivot of the trailer or chassis and the sliding tandem, a distance between a nose of the trailer or chassis and the sliding tandem, and an alert indicating an unlocked state of the sliding tandem while in transit.

8. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding tandem comprises a sliding trailer tandem or a sliding chassis tandem, and wherein the sliding tandem has an adjustable position along the entire length of the trailer or chassis.

9. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor housing comprises: a main body configured to hold the range sensor and fixedly coupled to the coupling member; and a cylinder extending away from the main body generally along a range sensor signal path.

10. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor housing comprises a glass-filled nylon material.

11. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling member comprises a first fastener and a second fastener attached to an upper portion of the sensor housing and oriented towards each other, the first fastener and the second fastener being configured to tighten a flange of a double T-beam on a lower side of the trailer or chassis.

12. The tandem position perception system according to claim 11, characterized in that the first fastener comprises: a first U-shaped clamp having two parallel arms extending along and overlapping a flange of a double T-beam, one of the two parallel arms having a threaded through-hole to enable a screw to be threaded through and apply a compressive force against the flange of the double T-beam and to fasten the first U-shaped clamp to the double T-beam; and a first stem extending from another of the two parallel arms and configured to be attached to the sensor housing.

13. The tandem position perception system according to claim 11, characterized in that the coupling member further comprises: a U-shaped mounting bracket coupled to the first and second fasteners and configured to be mounted on two sides of the sensor housing, and wherein the U-shaped mounting bracket is configured to be screwed to the sensor housing through a plurality of threaded through holes in the sides of the sensor housing.

14. The tandem position perception system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: a reflector configured to be mounted on the sliding tandem and to reflect the signal back to the range sensor.

15. The tandem position perception system according to claim 14, characterized in that the reflector comprises: a mounting bracket configured to attach to a surface of the sliding tandem; a reflective portion having a reflective surface configured to reflect the signal back to the range sensor; and a folding arm coupled to the mounting bracket and the reflective portion and configured to bend at a joint to adjust a relative angle of the mounting bracket and the reflective portion.

16. The tandem position perception system according to claim 14, characterized in that the reflector comprises a glass-filled nylon material.

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