Integrated trailer brake control system
First Claim
1. A method of actuating a brake on a trailer towed by a towing vehicle including a trailer brake controller having a processor with a memory, said method comprising:
- determining a yaw rate of the towing vehicle relative to a yaw axis of the towing vehicle;
determining a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle relative to a pitch axis of the towing vehicle;
determining a steering angle of the towing vehicle;
inputting the yaw rate, the lateral acceleration, and a steering angle into the memory of the processor;
calculating a desired braking force for the brake on the trailer in response to the inputted yaw rate, the inputted lateral acceleration, and the inputted steering angle;
sending an output to the brake on the trailer commensurate with the desired braking force to actuate the brake.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for actuating a trailer braking system on a trailer is disclosed. The control system includes a trailer brake controller in communication with an antilock braking controller and an electronic stability controller of a towing vehicle to receive a wheel speed, a brake pressure, a yaw rate, a lateral acceleration, and a steering angle. The trailer brake controller utilizes the wheel speed, the brake pressure, the yaw rate, the lateral acceleration, and the steering angle to determine the attitude of the towing vehicle, and to calculate a desired braking force for the trailer. The trailer brake controller sends an appropriate output to actuate the trailer braking system on the trailer to stabilize the towing vehicle during extreme braking conditions.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of actuating a brake on a trailer towed by a towing vehicle including a trailer brake controller having a processor with a memory, said method comprising:
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determining a yaw rate of the towing vehicle relative to a yaw axis of the towing vehicle; determining a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle relative to a pitch axis of the towing vehicle; determining a steering angle of the towing vehicle; inputting the yaw rate, the lateral acceleration, and a steering angle into the memory of the processor; calculating a desired braking force for the brake on the trailer in response to the inputted yaw rate, the inputted lateral acceleration, and the inputted steering angle; sending an output to the brake on the trailer commensurate with the desired braking force to actuate the brake. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control system for actuating a brake on a trailer towed by a towing vehicle, said control system comprising:
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an electronic stability controller including a yaw rate sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, and a steering angle sensor for gathering data on a change in an attitude of the towing vehicle relative to a yaw axis and a pitch axis of the towing vehicle; a trailer brake controller including a processor having a memory with said trailer brake controller in communication with said electronic stability controller for receiving data associated with a yaw rate from said yaw rate sensor, a lateral acceleration from said lateral acceleration sensor, and a steering angle from said steering angle sensor, with said trailer brake controller calculating a desired braking force for the brake on the trailer; and an output responsive to said yaw rate, said lateral acceleration, and said steering angle and commensurate with the desired braking force for coordinating the actuation of the brake on the trailer with the attitude of the towing vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification