Commercial Vehicle Trailer Control Interface Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicle trailers lack a simple and efficient operating interface for managing refrigeration and brake control systems, limiting user interaction and data management.

Innovation Solution

A commercial vehicle trailer with a user interface for inputting and displaying operating variables, connected to a control unit via a communication interface, allowing bidirectional data exchange and integration with remote control units, electronic brake control devices, and printers, using a CAN bus for reliable data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate control devices are used for refrigeration and brake systems, then each system can be controlled independently, but the number of devices increases and operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent system controlVSAvoidnumber of control devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control of refrigeration and brake systems into a single integrated control unit. The control unit receives sensor inputs from both systems and processes control commands centrally, reducing the number of separate control devices while maintaining independent controllability of each subsystem through unified interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate interfaces are provided for different control systems, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the ease of operation decreases due to multiple interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem-specific optimizationVSAvoidnumber of interfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control interface that can handle both refrigeration and brake system controls. The interface is designed to be multi-functional, accepting various input types (manual inputs, sensor data) and controlling different subsystems through a single unified interaction point, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining system-specific optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If data from multiple control systems is managed separately, then data integrity for each system is maintained, but data management efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata management efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data management for refrigeration and brake systems into a single centralized data processing unit. The control unit collects, processes, and manages data from both systems in one location, maintaining data integrity through standardized processing protocols while significantly improving data management efficiency by eliminating redundant separate management structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3392084B1Commercial vehicle trailer
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 SCHMITZ CARGOBULL AG
  • EP3392084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A commercial vehicle trailer, in particular a refrigerated semi-trailer or a refrigerated trailer, is described, comprising a cooling unit for cooling a cargo space, which has a user interface for inputting and displaying at least one operating parameter, and a control unit arranged outside an electronic brake control device, which is coupled to at least one remote control unit, characterized in that the user interface and the control unit can be connected to each other via a communication interface, wherein data output from the control unit is made via the user interface of the cooling unit.