Apparatus and system for communicating a fault in a combination vehicle
First Claim
1. A controller for a towed vehicle comprising:
- a communications port for receiving and transmitting messages;
an output for transmitting a signal to an associated fault indicator on the towed vehicle; and
a processor having control logic, the control logic;
determining a status of the towed vehicle;
transmitting a status message through the communications port;
receiving a fault message from an associated other towed vehicle controller through the communications port;
terminating the transmission of the status message through the communications port in response to receiving the fault message from the associated other towed vehicle controller;
transmitting the fault message of the associated other towed vehicle controller through the communications port; and
transmitting a signal to illuminate the associated fault indicator in response to transmitting the fault message.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various examples of a controller and system for transmitting and indicating a fault in a combination vehicle are disclosed. A first towed vehicle controller comprises a communications port and a processor with control logic. The control logic determines the status of the first towed vehicle, receives fault messages on an associated vehicle communications bus, and transmits fault messages and status messages on the associated vehicle communications bus. When the control logic receives a fault message from an associated second towed vehicle controller on the associated vehicle communications bus, the control logic transmits the fault message of the associated second towed vehicle controller to the associated vehicle communications bus. The first towed vehicle controller may transmit the fault message at a first period in time, which is different than the second period in time in which the second towed vehicle controller transmitted the fault message.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A controller for a towed vehicle comprising:
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a communications port for receiving and transmitting messages; an output for transmitting a signal to an associated fault indicator on the towed vehicle; and a processor having control logic, the control logic; determining a status of the towed vehicle; transmitting a status message through the communications port; receiving a fault message from an associated other towed vehicle controller through the communications port; terminating the transmission of the status message through the communications port in response to receiving the fault message from the associated other towed vehicle controller; transmitting the fault message of the associated other towed vehicle controller through the communications port; and transmitting a signal to illuminate the associated fault indicator in response to transmitting the fault message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for a combination vehicle having a tractor and a plurality of towed vehicles comprising:
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a tractor controller on a tractor; a vehicle communications bus in communication with the tractor controller; a first towed vehicle controller on a first towed vehicle in communication with the vehicle communications bus;
wherein the first towed vehicle controller receives and transmits messages on the vehicle communications bus; anda second towed vehicle controller on a second towed vehicle in communication with the vehicle communications bus;
wherein the second towed vehicle receives and transmits messages on the vehicle communications bus;
the second towed vehicle controller transmits a fault message on the vehicle communications bus and the first towed vehicle controller transmits the fault message of the second towed vehicle controller to the vehicle communications bus in response to receiving the fault message from the second towed vehicle controller;
the first towed vehicle controller terminates transmission of a status message in response to receiving the fault message from the second towed vehicle controller; and
the tractor controller receives the fault message on the vehicle communications bus and illuminates a fault indicator in the tractor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification