METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINING LOAD CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRAILER
First Claim
1. A method of determining a plurality of characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle that includes an electronic stability control system, the method comprising:
- sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions using sensors connected to the electronic stability control system;
measuring a first force at a first junction of a vehicle trailer hitch with an intelligent fastener;
measuring a second force at the first junction of the vehicle trailer hitch,wherein the first and second forces are in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle;
determining a first characteristic of the trailer based on the first force and the second force; and
compensating the motion of the vehicle based on the first characteristic of the trailer and the plurality of vehicle conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for determining characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle that includes an electronic stability control (“ESC”) system. The trailer is coupled to the vehicle using a trailer hitch. The hitch is configured to fasten the trailer to the vehicle using at least one intelligent bolt or fastener. The intelligent fastener has structural characteristics similar to those of traditional bolts for fastening a trailer to a vehicle (e.g., shear strength, diameter, etc.), but the intelligent fastener is configured to sense forces at a junction between the trailer and the vehicle. The ESC system receives force readings from the intelligent fastener sensors and uses them in conjunction with signals from a plurality of other sensors connected to the ESC system to determine one or more characteristics of the trailer. The characteristics of the trailer include a trailer weight, a trailer sway, and a trailer center of gravity. The ESC system compensates the motion of the vehicle based on the forces sensed at the junction and the characteristics of the trailer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining a plurality of characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle that includes an electronic stability control system, the method comprising:
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sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions using sensors connected to the electronic stability control system; measuring a first force at a first junction of a vehicle trailer hitch with an intelligent fastener; measuring a second force at the first junction of the vehicle trailer hitch, wherein the first and second forces are in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle; determining a first characteristic of the trailer based on the first force and the second force; and compensating the motion of the vehicle based on the first characteristic of the trailer and the plurality of vehicle conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for determining a plurality of characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors configured to sense a plurality of conditions of the vehicle; a first fastening device configured to measure a first longitudinal force and a second longitudinal force at a first junction between the vehicle and a vehicle trailer hitch; and a control system configured to receive signals indicative of the first and second forces from the first fastening device and signals indicative of the plurality of conditions of the vehicle from the plurality of sensors, wherein the control system determines a first characteristic of the trailer based on the first force and the second force, and wherein the control system compensates the motion of the vehicle based on the first characteristic of the trailer and the plurality of vehicle conditions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of determining a plurality of characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle that includes an electronic stability control system, the method comprising:
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sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions using sensors connected to the electronic stability control system; measuring a first force at a first junction between the vehicle and the trailer with an intelligent fastener; measuring a second force at the first junction between the vehicle and the trailer, wherein the first and second forces are in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle; determining a first characteristic of the trailer based on the first force and the second force; and compensating the motion of the vehicle based on the first characteristic of the trailer and the plurality of vehicle conditions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification