Stability enhancing system for tow-vehicle towing trailer-assembly with trailer sensors
First Claim
1. A stability enhancing control system for a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly, wherein the stability enhancing control system comprises:
- a. an electronic stability enhancing system;
b. a processor with memory located on the tow-vehicle and in communication with the electronic stability enhancing system;
c. tow-vehicle sensors located on the tow-vehicle for detecting the engagement with a trailer, wherein the tow-vehicle sensors are adapted to communicate with a trailer electrical system on the trailer and the processor on the tow-vehicle;
d. trailer sensors located on the trailer for detecting a force, a motion or combinations thereof, and communicating with the trailer electrical system and the processor on the tow-vehicle;
e. computer instructions adapted for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle, wherein the specifications comprise a member selected from the group consisting of;
a tow-vehicle length, a tow-vehicle height, a tow-vehicle width, a tow-vehicle weight, a tow-vehicle inertia value, a tow-vehicle wheel configuration, a tow-vehicle wheel size, a tow-vehicle tire characteristic, a tow-vehicle suspension characteristic, and combinations thereof;
f. computer instructions adapted for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the trailer, wherein the specifications comprise at least one trailer characteristic;
g. computer instructions adapted for calculating at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof, affecting the tow-vehicle and the connected trailer assembly, wherein the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, are a member selected from the group consisting of;
a lateral force, a lateral motion, a translational motion, an angular motion, a steering input, a steering rate, a vehicle speed, a braking force, a braking pressure, a throttle position, a brake pedal position, a wheel speed, and combinations thereof;
h. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly; and
i. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the trailer using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, the specifications of the tow-vehicle and connected trailer assembly, and the at least one trailer characteristic.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing enhanced stability, control, and management for a tow-vehicle towing a trailer assembly with trailer sensors is disclosed. The system includes a tow-vehicle with an electronic stability enhancing system in communication with a processor with memory and computer instructions. The system includes sensors located on the tow-vehicle and the trailer for detecting engagement with the trailer when communicating with an integrated circuit system and for detecting force, motion, and combinations thereof, when communicating with the processor. Computer instructions instruct the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly and to calculate force values and motion values affecting the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly. Computer instructions can provide instructions for braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle and the trailer using the force values, motion values, the electronic stability enhancing system, and specifications of the tow-vehicle and the trailer assembly.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A stability enhancing control system for a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly, wherein the stability enhancing control system comprises:
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a. an electronic stability enhancing system;
b. a processor with memory located on the tow-vehicle and in communication with the electronic stability enhancing system;
c. tow-vehicle sensors located on the tow-vehicle for detecting the engagement with a trailer, wherein the tow-vehicle sensors are adapted to communicate with a trailer electrical system on the trailer and the processor on the tow-vehicle;
d. trailer sensors located on the trailer for detecting a force, a motion or combinations thereof, and communicating with the trailer electrical system and the processor on the tow-vehicle;
e. computer instructions adapted for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle, wherein the specifications comprise a member selected from the group consisting of;
a tow-vehicle length, a tow-vehicle height, a tow-vehicle width, a tow-vehicle weight, a tow-vehicle inertia value, a tow-vehicle wheel configuration, a tow-vehicle wheel size, a tow-vehicle tire characteristic, a tow-vehicle suspension characteristic, and combinations thereof;
f. computer instructions adapted for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the trailer, wherein the specifications comprise at least one trailer characteristic;
g. computer instructions adapted for calculating at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof, affecting the tow-vehicle and the connected trailer assembly, wherein the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, are a member selected from the group consisting of;
a lateral force, a lateral motion, a translational motion, an angular motion, a steering input, a steering rate, a vehicle speed, a braking force, a braking pressure, a throttle position, a brake pedal position, a wheel speed, and combinations thereof;
h. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly; and
i. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the trailer using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, the specifications of the tow-vehicle and connected trailer assembly, and the at least one trailer characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification