Trailer Sensor Wiring for Low-Latency Video Over Common Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera monitoring systems in commercial vehicles face challenges in providing visibility to the rear of trailers due to long wire runs and high installation costs associated with dedicated wiring for transmitting video signals, while also requiring minimal latency for real-time object display.
Innovation Solution
A sensor communications system that utilizes common wires in the trailer's existing wiring harness to transmit sensor signals, including a processor to transform and filter the signals, and filters to reduce noise, allowing for high-speed transmission without dedicated wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated wiring is used to transmit sensor signals from the trailer to the tractor, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but installation cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing trailer wiring harness, originally designed solely for control signals, is made multi-functional by enabling it to carry both control signals and sensor video signals through the same physical medium. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated wiring for sensor signals, reducing installation cost and complexity while maintaining transmission reliability through proper signal conditioning
Solution Approach 2:
Signal conditioning devices including transformers and filters are introduced as intermediaries between the sensor and the wiring harness. These devices transform the sensor output signals into forms suitable for transmission over the existing control wiring, enabling reliable signal transmission without requiring dedicated sensor wiring
2Adaptability or versatility
If long wire runs are used to transmit video signals across the trailer-tractor interface, then sensor placement flexibility is improved, but signal quality and latency performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Signal conditioning devices transform the electrical characteristics of sensor signals to maintain signal integrity over long wire runs. Transformers impedance-match the signals and filters remove noise, enabling high-speed transmission with minimal latency despite the long physical distance between trailer-mounted sensors and tractor-mounted displays
3Ease of manufacture
If existing trailer wiring harness is used to carry both control signals and sensor signals, then installation cost is reduced, but signal noise and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
Filters are introduced as intermediary devices in the signal path to remove noise and interference from both control signals and sensor signals. These filters enable the shared wiring harness to carry both signal types simultaneously without excessive cross-interference, maintaining signal quality while reducing installation cost
Solution Approach 2:
Noise and interference are extracted and removed from the signals using filter devices. The filters separate the desired signal components from unwanted noise, enabling reliable transmission over the shared wiring harness despite the presence of multiple electrical devices generating interference
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle communications system including a tractor and a trailer. The vehicle communications system comprising: a first processor connected to a first filter and configured to be provided on a tractor, the first filter being configured to receive at least one control signal from at least one vehicle control and communicate the at least one control signal to at least one trailer component; a second processor connected to a second filter and configured to be provided on a trailer, the second filter interconnected between the second processor and the at least one trailer component; a sensor connected to the second processor and configured to be provided on the trailer and to generate a sensor signal; and a wiring harness configured to be in communication with the first filter and the at least one vehicle control on the tractor and with the second filter and the at least one trailer component on the trailer, the wiring harness having common wires that are configured to carry the at least one control signal from the first filter to the at least one trailer component via the second filter, and the common wires configured to carry the sensor signal transformed by the second processor from the second filter to the first processor via the first filter.