WIRELESS VEHICLE TRAILER MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090219148A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Curt Manufacturing (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Donald Thomas LLC
• Inventors: Abrhams, Thomas, Limoge, Henry, Thomas, Donald A.
• Application Number:
  US12/260,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A wireless trailer monitor and control system is configured to monitor and control various electrical system within a trailer. The system employs a wireless interface for communication of monitoring and/or controlling information between the trailer and an associated towing vehicle.

Claims

1. A wireless vehicle trailer monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring circuit operatively coupled to a trailer controller, the monitoring circuit configured to detect a fault condition with an associated trailer;

a trailer wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the monitoring circuit; and

a towing vehicle wireless transceiver operatively coupled to an associated towing vehicle, wherein the trailer wireless transceiver is configured to communication wirelessly with the towing vehicle wireless transceiver.

2. The wireless vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driver alert module configured to wirelessly receive fault condition information from the towing vehicle wireless transceiver and to display the received fault condition information.

3. A wireless vehicle trailer monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring circuit operatively coupled to a portion of an associated trailer, the monitoring circuit configured to detect a fault condition with the associated trailer;

a trailer wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the monitoring circuit;

a towing vehicle wireless transceiver operatively coupled to an associated towing vehicle, wherein the trailer wireless transceiver is configured to communicate wirelessly with the towing vehicle wireless transceiver.

4. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect trailer brake malfunction or disconnection.

5. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect trailer light malfunction or disconnection.

6. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect a fault condition related to tongue weight

7. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect a fault condition related to status of cargo disposed within the trailer.

8. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect a fault condition related to of a status of a coupler coupling the trailer to the towing vehicle.

9. The vehicle trailer monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to detect a fault condition related to trailer yaw.

19. The system according to claim 3 wherein the system operates without hard wiring between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

10. A wireless vehicle trailer control system comprising:

a towing vehicle wireless transceiver operatively coupled to a control harness of a towing vehicle; and

a trailer wireless transceiver operatively coupled to a trailer controller, the trailer wireless transceiver configured to receive wireless trailer control signals from the towing vehicle wireless transceiver.

11. The wireless vehicle trailer control system according to claim 10, wherein the control signals are related to trailer light operation.

12. The wireless vehicle trailer control system according to claim 10, wherein the control signals are related to trailer braking.

13. The wireless vehicle trailer control system according to claim 10, wherein the control signals are related to trailer stability control or yaw.

14. A wireless brake monitoring system for a vehicle trailer comprising:

a trailer brake monitoring circuit configured to cooperate with an associated trailer brake controller and to detect a trailer brake failure condition;

a trailer wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the trailer brake monitoring circuit;

a vehicle transceiver operatively coupled to an associated towing vehicle, the first vehicle transceiver being configured to communicate wirelessly with the trailer wireless transceiver.

15. The wireless brake monitoring system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a driver alert module configured to wirelessly receive trailer brake failure condition information from the vehicle wireless transceiver and to display the received trailer brake failure condition information.

16. The wireless brake monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein the driver alert module is configured to provide an audible alert in response to receiving trailer brake failure condition information.

17. A trailer having lights, electric brakes and a trailer controller operatively coupled to the lights and electric brakes, the trailer comprising:

a trailer fault detection circuit operatively coupled to the trailer controller, the trailer fault detection circuit configured to detect a fault condition with the lights and/or electric brakes of the trailer; and

a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the trailer fault detection circuit, the transceiver being configured to wirelessly transmit fault detection information to a transceiver associated with a towing vehicle.

18. A trailer monitoring apparatus comprising:

a trailer fault detection circuit operatively coupled to a trailer controller, the trailer fault detection circuit configured to detect a fault condition an electrical system of a trailer; and

a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the trailer fault detection circuit, the transceiver being configured to wirelessly transmit fault detection information to a transceiver associated with a towing vehicle.