Brake Controller Using Solid-State Accelerometers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake controllers for towed vehicles lack accurate measurement of acceleration, deceleration, and orientation, leading to inconsistent braking power application, and fail to compensate for environmental changes like heat and frequency of use, resulting in inadequate braking performance, especially in modern traffic conditions.

Innovation Solution

A microcontroller-based brake controller that utilizes multi-axis solid-state accelerometers to continuously monitor and analyze the towing vehicle's movement and orientation, providing proportional braking power to the towed vehicle through a customized algorithm, and includes a display for operator feedback, eliminating the need for mechanical inputs and allowing manual operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple relay or switch is used to sense brake operation and apply braking power, then the system is simple to implement, but the braking power cannot be proportionally controlled and locks the wheels providing excessive braking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller structureVSAvoidbraking power control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical brake linkages and manual controls with an electronic system using accelerometers and microcontrollers to sense vehicle deceleration and automatically control brake application, enabling proportional braking without mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle's own deceleration signals (through accelerometers) to automatically control brake application, eliminating the need for separate manual controls or complex mechanical linkages between towing and towed vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual controls are provided for proportional braking, then braking power can be adjusted, but it is difficult to simultaneously apply braking to both towing and towed vehicles proportionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking power proportionalityVSAvoidoperator control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically senses vehicle deceleration through accelerometers and proportionally applies brake power without requiring manual operator intervention, solving the difficulty of coordinating braking between two vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors deceleration signals from accelerometers and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust brake power application, ensuring proportional braking response to changing vehicle conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If mechanical accelerometers are used to sense deceleration, then automatic proportional braking can be achieved, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient for modern traffic conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic brake controlVSAvoiddeceleration sensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical accelerometers with solid-state accelerometers that provide more accurate deceleration sensing, enabling precise automatic brake control suitable for modern traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the sensing parameter from mechanical movement to electrical signals from solid-state accelerometers, improving measurement precision and response characteristics for automatic brake control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If brake controllers do not compensate for environmental changes, then the system remains simple, but braking performance becomes inadequate under varying conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidbraking performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from solid-state accelerometers to continuously monitor vehicle deceleration and automatically adjust brake power application, ensuring reliable braking performance under varying environmental conditions without adding complex manual adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system ensures precise and proportional braking power application, compensates for environmental changes, and provides comprehensive feedback to the operator, ensuring smooth and safe stops in various driving conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a multi-axis solid state accelerometer which measures acceleration, deceleration and orientation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

measures acceleration, deceleration and orientation of the towing vehicle in which the controller is mounted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial measurement: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS7347507B1Brake controller

Publication Date: 2008.03.25 TOW SAFE LLC

AI summary

Brake controller for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is provided. The controller includes microprocessor, an accelerometer, a storage array for storing a sequence of signals, and associated software for computing a moving average of accelerometer values thereby providing data on which the braking requirements of the towed vehicle can be determined. Feedback based on the power consumed during the braking event is likewise utilized to modify the power delivered to the braking system during subsequent braking events.