Method & apparatus for stopping & Parking a commercial vehicle

• US 20040034462A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Grolle, Kenneth A., Weed, Thomas J., Macnamara, Joseph M., Thakkar, Kirit A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/21 using hidden switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/045 with locking and release means, e.g. providing parking brake application
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A receiver capable of receiving a remote vehicle stop request signal is mounted to a commercial vehicle and connected to the vehicle antilock braking ECU by a vehicle communication bus. The receiver may also be capable of transmitting a signal, thereby allowing the desired vehicle to be isolated. Furthermore, a user input device may be mounted to the vehicle that allows manual input of a park signal. When the park signal has been received by the vehicle ECU, the vehicle braking system is employed, thereby preventing the movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for stopping a vehicle comprising the steps of:

sending a signal requesting the vehicle to stop via an apparatus remote from the vehicle brake actuating device;

processing the signal within the vehicle antilock braking ECU;

sending a signal to the vehicle brake system to apply the brakes; and

applying the vehicle brake system to stop the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle stop request signal is sent from a remote source.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of receiving the vehicle stop request signal with a receiver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiver is mounted on a vehicle trailer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating the vehicle stop request signal to the vehicle antilock braking ECU via an existing vehicle communication bus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said vehicle communication bus is the vehicle Power Line Carrier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle stop request signal is generated manually.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle stop request signal is generated from within the vehicle cabin.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of encoding said vehicle stop request signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a brake release signal; and

releasing the vehicle brake system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of running diagnostic tests, wherein said diagnostic tests determine whether a vehicle stop request signal can be received.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of generating a vehicle stop request signal when any one of said diagnostic tests determines that a vehicle stop request signal cannot be received.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said diagnostic tests are performed prior to the release of the vehicle parking brakes.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of maintaining the vehicle parking brakes when any one of said diagnostic tests determines that a vehicle stop request signal cannot be received.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of applying the vehicle parking brakes once the vehicle has come to a stop.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sending an engine torque reduction signal after a vehicle stop request signal has been received; and

reducing the vehicle engine torque.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step processing the vehicle stop request signal only upon receipt of a vehicle stop identifier request signal.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of broadcasting a vehicle identifier signal when a vehicle stop identifier signal has been received.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of limiting the time the vehicle is stopped by a single vehicle stop request signal.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

loading a stop timer once a vehicle stop request signal has been received;

decrementing the stop time once the vehicle has come to a stop;

determining whether another vehicle stop request signal has been received; and

releasing the vehicle brake system if the stop time has expired and another vehicle stop request signal has not been received.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

22. A method of parking a vehicle comprising the steps of:

sending a signal requesting the vehicle to park via an apparatus remote from the vehicle brake actuating device;

processing the signal within the vehicle antilock braking ECU;

sending a signal to the vehicle brake system to apply the brakes; and

applying the vehicle brake system to park the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle brake system applied is the vehicle parking brake system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the vehicle parking brake system is a set of one or more air actuated spring brakes.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of communicating the vehicle park request signal to the vehicle antilock braking ECU via an existing vehicle communication bus.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said vehicle communication bus is the vehicle Power Line Carrier.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle park request signal is generated manually.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the vehicle park request signal is generated from within the vehicle cabin.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the vehicle park request signal is generated by a plug-in device.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the vehicle park request signal is generated by a switch or button.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of encoding said vehicle park request signal.

32. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

sending a brake release signal; and

releasing the vehicle brake system.

33. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of running diagnostic tests, wherein said diagnostic tests determine whether a vehicle park request signal can be received.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of generating a vehicle park request signal when any one of said diagnostic tests determines that a vehicle park request signal cannot be received.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said diagnostic tests are performed while the vehicle is being driven.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of applying the vehicle brake system when any one of said diagnostic tests determines that a vehicle park request signal cannot be received.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle stop request signal is stored in the non-volatile memory of the vehicle ECU.

38. A system for securing a vehicle comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving a remote vehicle stop request signal;

one or more vehicle communication busses that connect the receiver to a vehicle ECU; and

a set of one or more connections from the vehicle ECU to the vehicle brake system.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said vehicle ECU is the vehicle antilock braking ECU.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the vehicle communication busses used to connect the receiver to the vehicle ECU are preexisting vehicle busses.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the vehicle communication bus used to connect the receiver to the vehicle ECU is the vehicle Power Line Connector.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein said vehicle ECU comprises a non-volatile memory section capable of storing the remote vehicle stop request signal.

43. The system of claim 38 further comprising a park signal input device connected to the vehicle ECU via one or more vehicle communication busses.

44. The system of claim 38 further comprising an engine torque reducer.

45. The system of claim 38 further comprising a vehicle stop timer.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein said receiver is capable of sending a signal.

47. An apparatus for receiving a remote vehicle stop signal comprising a receiver that is connected to a vehicle ECU by one or mote vehicle communication busses.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said receiver is positioned on a commercial vehicle trailer.

49. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a secured enclosure for housing said receiver.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said receiver is capable of sending a signal.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said receiver is capable of receiving an encoded signal.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the vehicle ECU is the vehicle antilock braking ECU.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the vehicle communication busses that connect the receiver to the vehicle ECU are preexisting vehicle communication busses.