Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling tractor/trailer vehicle systems
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a tractor including a tractor cab for housing a tractor/trailer operator;
a trailer mechanically and electrically connected to said tractor, said trailer including an antilock braking system and an antilock braking system interface responsive to said antilock braking system which produces a data signal representing a status of said antilock braking system;
a power bus which distributes electrical power to said antilock braking system;
power line carrier communicating means responsive to said antilock braking system interface for producing a data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal, wherein said power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the antilock braking system, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal; and
status determining means responsive to said power bus for determining the status of said antilock braking system from said data communications signal, wherein said status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the antilock braking system from said spread spectrum data communications signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A status of one or more subsystems positioned on one or more trailers is communicated to a tractor electrically and mechanically connected to the trailer. The status may be automatically supplied by the subsystem or may be requested either by the operator of the tractor/trailer combination or automatically by another subsystem on either the tractor or the trailer. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the status of a respective subsystem is superposed on the power bus. The status of the respective subsystem can then be determined from the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the status of the subsystem is indicated to an operator positioned on the tractor. A command for controlling a subsystem on a trailer can also be communicated from the tractor to the trailer over the power bus. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the command is produced on the power bus, and the subsystem is controlled based on the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the command is received from an operator positioned in the tractor.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a tractor including a tractor cab for housing a tractor/trailer operator;
a trailer mechanically and electrically connected to said tractor, said trailer including an antilock braking system and an antilock braking system interface responsive to said antilock braking system which produces a data signal representing a status of said antilock braking system;
a power bus which distributes electrical power to said antilock braking system;
power line carrier communicating means responsive to said antilock braking system interface for producing a data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal, wherein said power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the antilock braking system, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal; and
status determining means responsive to said power bus for determining the status of said antilock braking system from said data communications signal, wherein said status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the antilock braking system from said spread spectrum data communications signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12-50. -50. (canceled)
Specification