Trailer Hitch Connection Detection Using Suspension and Tire Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the connection status of a trailer to a vehicle are unreliable and inefficient, posing safety risks and increasing operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing air suspension pressure sensors and tire pressure sensors to calculate pressure differences at two distinct times, with a control unit determining the trailer connection status based on these differences, using threshold values to distinguish genuine mechanical coupling or uncoupling from spurious changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing methods are used to determine trailer connection status, then the system is simple, but the reliability is poor and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines air suspension pressure sensing and tire pressure sensing into a unified control unit that processes both signals to determine trailer connection status. This merging approach improves reliability by using multiple sensing modalities while avoiding the need for separate dedicated trailer connection sensors, thus maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it monitors air suspension pressure, monitors tire pressure, and determines trailer connection status based on changes in both parameters. This multi-functionality allows existing sensors to serve dual purposes, improving reliability without adding dedicated trailer connection detection hardware.
2Measurement precision
If existing methods are used to determine trailer connection status, then the implementation is straightforward, but the measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical connection detection with indirect sensing through pressure measurements. By monitoring changes in air suspension pressure and tire pressure, the system infers trailer connection status without requiring mechanical switches or direct physical contact sensors, thereby improving measurement precision while keeping the sensing system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects trailer connection status by monitoring parameter changes in air suspension pressure and tire pressure over time. The control unit compares pressure values at different time points to identify genuine connection events versus normal operational variations, thereby improving detection precision through temporal parameter analysis.
3Reliability
If additional systems are added to ensure robust determination, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit processes multiple sensor inputs (air suspension pressure and tire pressure) to perform a single function of determining trailer connection status. This approach improves reliability by using redundant sensing information while avoiding the need for additional dedicated trailer connection detection systems, thereby controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing air suspension and tire pressure monitoring infrastructure to determine trailer connection status. By making the control unit self-sufficient in processing multiple pressure signals, the system achieves improved reliability without requiring external additional sensing systems or complex external hardware additions.
Data Source
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Figure 5(a)~5(b)
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for determining a trailer connection status for a vehicle comprising: a trailer hitch arrangement (118); an air suspension pressure sensor (106); a tire pressure sensor (110) and a control unit (114). The method (200) comprises: determining (202), at a first point in time, T1, a first air suspension pressure value, PAS1, and a corresponding first tire pressure value, PT1; determining (204), at a second point in time, T2, a second air suspension pressure value, PAS2, and, a corresponding second tire pressure value, PT2, the second point in time, T2; receiving (206), the first and the second air suspension pressure values, PAS1, PAS2 and the first and the second tire pressure values PT1, PT2, to determine (208, 210) an air suspension pressure difference value, ΔPAS, and a tire pressure difference value, ΔPT; and determining (212), the trailer connection status based on the determined pressure difference values, ΔPAS, ΔPT.