Towing load detection system

• US 20070103280A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Kanafani, Fadi
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/248 for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices

Abstract

A towing load detection system for detecting whether a vehicle is towing an object. The system includes a controller and at least one proximity sensor operable to detect the presence of the object being towed. The controller is operable to cause a vehicle effect when the proximity sensor detects that the vehicle is towing an object.

Claims

1. A towing load detection system for detecting whether a vehicle is towing an object comprising:

a controller; and

at least one proximity sensor operable to detect the presence of the object;

wherein the controller is operable to cause a vehicle effect when the at least one proximity sensor detects that the vehicle is towing the object.

2. The towing load detection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one proximity sensor is an acoustic proximity sensor.

3. The towing load detection system of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor operable to calculate whether the vehicle is subject to an increased load, and wherein the at least one proximity sensor is operable to detect the presence of the object to thereby confirm that the increased load on the vehicle is the object being towed.

4. The towing load detection system of claim 1 further comprising a timer apparatus operable to measure the amount of time that the at least one sensor detects the presence of the object, and wherein the controller causes the vehicle effect once the sensor has detected the presence of the object for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The towing load detection system of claim 4, wherein the timer apparatus increases toward a threshold amount of time when the presence of the object is detected and wherein the timer apparatus decreases away from the threshold amount of time when the object is undetected, and wherein the controller causes the vehicle effect once the timer apparatus reaches the threshold amount of time.

6. The towing load detection system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle effect caused by the controller is chosen from a group consisting of transmission regulation, cooling system control, towing indication, and a combination thereof.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a controller; and

at least one proximity sensor operable to detect the presence of an object being towed by the vehicle;

wherein the controller is operable to cause a vehicle effect when the at least one proximity sensor detects the object being towed.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a bumper and wherein the at least one proximity sensor is mounted to the bumper.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the at least one proximity sensor is an acoustic proximity sensor.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a microprocessor operable to calculate whether the vehicle is subject to an increased load, and wherein the at least one proximity sensor is operable to detect the presence of the object to thereby confirm that the increased load on the vehicle is the object being towed.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a timer apparatus operable to measure the amount of time that the at least one sensor detects the presence of the object, and wherein the controller causes the vehicle effect once the sensor has detected the presence of the object for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the timer apparatus increases toward a threshold amount of time when the presence of the object is detected and wherein the timer apparatus decreases away from the threshold amount of time when the object is undetected, and wherein the controller causes the vehicle effect once the timer apparatus reaches the threshold amount of time.

13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle effect caused by the controller is chosen from a group consisting of transmission regulation, cooling system control, towing indication, and a combination thereof.

14. A method of detecting whether a vehicle is towing an object comprising the steps of:

detecting with at least one proximity sensor whether the vehicle is towing the object; and

causing a vehicle effect when the proximity sensor detects that the vehicle is towing the object.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the proximity sensor is an acoustic proximity sensor.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of calculating whether the vehicle is subject to an increased load and confirming with the at least one proximity sensor that the increased load on the vehicle is the object being towed.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of measuring the amount of time that the at least one sensor detects the presence of the tow object, and wherein the step of causing the vehicle effect occurs once the sensor detects the presence of the object for a predetermined amount of time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of increasing a timer apparatus toward a threshold amount of time when the presence of the object is detected, decreasing the timer apparatus away from the threshold amount of time when the object is undetected, and causing the vehicle effect when the timer apparatus reaches the threshold amount of time.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of causing a vehicle effect comprises at least one of regulating a transmission of the vehicle, controlling the cooling system of the vehicle, and indicating that the object is being towed.