Towed Vehicle Control Link Without Multi-Pin Socket Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connection systems between towing and towed vehicles are prone to failure due to exposure to the environment, leading to weakened electrical and mechanical contacts, and are complicated by the need for multiple pins and wires, making them difficult to maintain and prone to faults that can compromise safety.
Innovation Solution
A two-wire communication system that transmits control signals wirelessly, using a slave unit connected to the towing vehicle's ECU and a master unit in the towed vehicle, with security verification, and incorporates Bluetooth for remote monitoring and control, reducing the need for complex wiring and enabling remote diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated electrical socket with multiple pins is used to connect towing and towed vehicles, then control signals can be transmitted to operate indicator lamps and brakes, but the connection is exposed to environmental damage (rain, wear) which weakens electrical and mechanical contacts over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical socket and pin connection system with a wireless communication system. The towing vehicle transmits control signals wirelessly to the towed vehicle, eliminating the need for physical electrical contacts that are exposed to environmental damage. This substitution of mechanical connection with wireless communication resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable signal transmission without vulnerable physical contacts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pins and dedicated wiring systems are used to control various features, then comprehensive control of electrical components is achieved, but the wiring system becomes extremely complicated and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal wireless communication interface that can control multiple electrical components (indicator lamps, brakes, and future features) through a single communication channel. Instead of dedicated wiring for each function, the wireless system transmits standardized control messages that can be adapted to control various components, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses dynamic, software-based configuration rather than fixed physical wiring. Control signals are transmitted wirelessly and routed through software protocols that can be reconfigured to control different components as needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different control requirements without requiring physical rewiring, significantly reducing system complexity.
3Reliability
If conventional electrical connections are used, then basic safety requirements are met, but faults go undetected and can cause accidents due to brake failures or indicator malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the towed vehicle acknowledges receipt of control signals and reports its status back to the towing vehicle. This bidirectional communication allows the system to detect transmission errors, verify signal reception, and identify faults in real-time. If a fault is detected (such as a failed brake control signal), the system can alert the driver or log the error for diagnosis, significantly improving fault detectability compared to passive electrical connections.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a communication system for delivering power and control signals to control the activation of electrical components in a vehicle comprising: a power source for generating a power signal to supply power to the electrical components; a computer controller for generating control signals to control operation of the electrical components; a slave unit operatively connected to both the power source and the computer controller to receive the control signals and to convert the control signals into data signals for transmission to the electrical components; a power supply line for carrying the power signal, or the power signal and the data signals, from the slave unit to each electrical component; and a master unit located remote from said slave unit and configured to receive the data signals from the slave unit and to verify the data signals for further delivery to the required electrical component.