ADAPTIVE VEHICLE CONFIGURATION
First Claim
1. A method for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
- sensing a vehicle load;
providing a vehicle load sensing output to a vehicle-mounted programmable device;
calculating a load imparted to the vehicle from the load sensing output;
comparing the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; and
automatically adjusting a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, including service methods, program products and systems are provided for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle. Vehicle-mounted load sensors sense vehicle loads, a vehicle processing means calculating a load imparted to the vehicle and comparing imparted loads to load capacity ratings or thresholds and responsively adjusting a vehicle cooling, transmission, braking, suspension or engine system into a revised operating mode. Modifying a component may entail revising a load capacity rating or threshold and repeating sensing, calculating, comparing and adjusting until the revised rating or threshold is met, or progressively adjusting in proportion to a change in a historic sensed load. Adjusting of the vehicle system may be biased to a performance characteristic or a load distribution. A supervisory entity may override automatic adjustment.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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sensing a vehicle load; providing a vehicle load sensing output to a vehicle-mounted programmable device; calculating a load imparted to the vehicle from the load sensing output; comparing the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; and automatically adjusting a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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producing computer executable program code; storing the code on a computer readable medium; and providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system;
the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to;calculate a load imparted to a vehicle from a vehicle-mounted load sensor output; compare the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; adjust a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the vehicle load capacity rating or the threshold, the vehicle system selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system; revise at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold in response to a modification of a vehicle component or a load trailer component; and repeat sensing the vehicle load, calculating the load imparted, comparing the imparted load and adjusting the vehicle system into a revised operating mode.
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13. A method for deploying an application for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a computer infrastructure being operable to; calculate a load imparted to a vehicle from a vehicle-mounted load sensor output; compare the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; adjust a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the vehicle load capacity rating or the threshold, the vehicle system selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system; revise at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold in response to a modification of a vehicle component or a load trailer component; and repeat sensing the vehicle load, calculating the load imparted, comparing the imparted load and adjusting the vehicle system into a revised operating mode.
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14. A system for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle-mounted load sensor configured to sense a vehicle load and provide a load output; a vehicle processing means in communication with the load sensor configured to calculate a load imparted to the vehicle from the load sensor output, compare the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold and adjust a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, and wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification