SMART TRAILER RFID SYSTEM

• US 20130041524A1
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Brey, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

A smart trailer RFID system includes a vehicle such as a trailer or cargo van having one or more RFID tag readers configured to acquire load-specific data from RFID tags attached to a load. The load-specific data is collected by a computer and conveyed wirelessly to a tow vehicle. Depending on the nature of the load, the load data can be used to control or change operation of the tow vehicle or be displayed to a vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a processor;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a communications device coupled to the processor; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to obtain information from a RFID tag attached to a load to be transported by the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from the RFID tag reader to a mechanically attached tow vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from the RFID tag reader to a mechanically attached tow vehicle, which is configured to adapt its operation responsive to information obtained from the RFID tag reader.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to adapt its operation responsive to information obtained from the RFID tag reader.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from the RFID tag reader to at least one of:

a tow vehicle engine control unit (ECU);

a tow vehicle braking system control computer; and

a tow vehicle stability control computer.

7. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the plurality of RFID tag readers are configured to wirelessly obtain information from a RFID tag attached to a load.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein information obtained from an RFID tag comprises at least one:

location of an object on the vehicle, to which an RFID tag is attached;

weight information for an object to which an RFID tag is attached;

center of gravity location information for an object to which an RFID tag is attached;

identification information for an object to which an RFID tag is attached;

manufacture information for an object to which an RFID tag is attached;

dimension information for an object to which an RFID tag is attached;

9. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the memory device is configured to store program instructions, which when executed cause the processor to:

obtain information from at least one of the plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers; and

provide information obtained from the at least one radio frequency identification tag readers to the communications device.

10. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to transmit information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers.

11. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to transmit information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to a mechanically-attached tow vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers, to a control computer for the vehicle. (implies that the vehicle of cl. 4 is e.g., a truck)

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control computer is at least one of:

an engine control unit (ECU);

a braking system control computer;

a vehicle stability control computer.

(implies that the vehicle of cl. 4 is e.g., a truck)

14. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to a mechanically attached tow vehicle. (implies that the vehicle of cl. 4 is a trailer)

15. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to a mechanically attached tow vehicle, configured to adapt its operation responsive to information obtained from at least one of the RFID tag readers.

16. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the vehicle is configured to adapt its operation responsive to information obtained from at least one of the RFID tag readers.

17. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to at least one of:

a tow vehicle engine control unit (ECU);

a tow vehicle braking system control computer;

a tow vehicle stability control computer.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a processor;

a memory device coupled to the processor and configured to store executable program instructions for the processor therein;

a communications device coupled to the processor; and

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers operatively coupled to at least one of the processor and the communications device and configured to wirelessly obtain information from a radio frequency identification tag.

18. A method of operating a vehicle comprising:

obtaining information from a RFID tag attached to a load on the vehicle;

sending the information obtained from the RFID tag to a controller for the vehicle; and

adapting operation of the vehicle responsive to information received from the RFID tag.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is a trailer and wherein the step of sending information comprises:

sending the information to a controller for a trailer tow vehicle.