7 results about "Trailer brake controller" patented technology

A towed vehicle controller combines a trailer brake controller and lighting driver. The towed vehicle controller can include a trailer battery charging circuit. The towed vehicle controller operates towed vehicle braking, towed vehicle lighting and towed vehicle battery charge functions.

A method and system for providing maximum trailer braking during a high pressure demand, such as during autonomous emergency braking (AEB), for tractor-trailers is provided. The system can include a brake controller of the trailer that uses only tractor anti-lock brake system (ABS) data from the tractor wheels, without using any trailer ABS information, to estimate the surface friction and generate a high or low pressure command to be sent to the trailer based on only the tractor ABS data. The estimation of surface friction may be accomplished using the ABS information from the tractor and the pressure being demanded to determine a percent reduction of pressure requested by the tractor that may be compared to a threshold percentage to differentiate between high and low mu surfaces in real time.

A towed vehicle controller integrates trailer braking, lighting, and battery charging functions into a single unit communicatively coupled to a towing vehicle data bus. The controller includes a processor, a trailer brake controller component, a trailer lighting component with multiple light drivers, and a trailer battery charge component. The processor receives inputs via the vehicle communication bus and other interfaces, executes brake control algorithms, coordinates activation of trailer lamps, and manages trailer battery charging, including foregoing charging based on braking state or vehicle conditions. Integration of these functions reduces wiring and component count, facilitates OEM or aftermarket installation, and enables coordinated control, diagnostics, and display of trailer status through the towing vehicle's existing electronic systems.

The present invention relates to a braking system with redundant trailer communication. In one embodiment, a braking control system for a tractor-trailer comprises a primary brake controller in a tractor configured to communicate with a trailer brake controller in a trailer via a first communication channel, and a redundant brake controller in the tractor configured to communicate with the trailer brake controller via a second communication channel. The primary brake controller is further configured to serve as the master brake controller for the trailer and to communicate with an automated driving computer in the tractor. The redundant brake controller is further configured to assume the role of master brake controller in response to the determination that the primary brake controller can no longer serve as the master brake controller.

A method and system for providing maximum trailer braking during a high pressure demand, such as during autonomous emergency braking (AEB), for tractor-trailers is provided. The system can include a brake controller of the trailer that uses only tractor anti-lock brake system (ABS) data from the tractor wheels, without using any trailer ABS information, to estimate the surface friction and generate a high or low pressure command to be sent to the trailer based on only the tractor ABS data. The estimation of surface friction may be accomplished using the ABS information from the tractor and the pressure being demanded to determine a percent reduction of pressure requested by the tractor that may be compared to a threshold percentage to differentiate between high and low mu surfaces in real time.

A trailer brake control apparatus is provided for enabling a lead trailer of a vehicle train to provide a selected braking signal for delivery to a rear trailer of the vehicle train. The trailer brake control apparatus comprises a number of pneumatic devices arranged to select one of a plurality of braking signals. The trailer brake control apparatus also comprises a trailer braking controller arranged to (i) receive a first braking signal to apply trailer service brakes of the vehicle train, (ii) produce a second braking signal based upon roll stability activation, and (iii) control the number of pneumatic devices in response to the roll stability activation to select either the first braking signal or the second braking signal for delivery to the rear trailer of the vehicle train.

A motor vehicle includes an adaptive cruise control (“ACC”) that is configured to generate requests to actuate a speed reduction system of the vehicle and / or an active speed reduction system of a trailer. The actuation requests are based, at least in part, on sensor data from one or more sensors. The ACC may be configured to determine effects of an active speed reduction system of a trailer, and the ACC may adjust the speed reduction requests to the vehicle and / or the trailer based, at least in part, on measured effects of the speed reduction system of the trailer.