Method for Signaling a Braking Process on a Trailer Vehicle, Control Device, and Trailer Vehicle

• US 20140172261A1
• Filed: 06/09/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barlsen, Holger, Risse, Rainer, Stender, Axel, Bleckmann, Bjorn
• Granted Patent: US 9,352,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

In a method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one light on the trailer is actuated with an emergency brake signal during emergency braking and with a normal signal during a different driving state. The emergency brake signal causes a different actuation of the light than does the normal signal. The light can be actuated by a control signal of the towing vehicle, and the actuation state of the light can be influenced by at least one control device on the trailer. The control device detects the control signal generated by the towing vehicle and fed to the trailer to actuate the light, and analyzes the control signal. If it detects that the control signal is an emergency brake signal, it does not carry out a dedicated actuation of the light, or it effects a different actuation of the light than in other cases.

Claims

1. A method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one light disposed on the trailer vehicle being operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal and being operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, the emergency braking signal causing different operation of the at least one light than the normal signal, and the at least one light disposed on the trailer vehicle being operable by a control signal of the towing vehicle and influenceable in its operating state by at least one control device disposed on the trailer vehicle, the method comprising, using the at least one control device, detecting and analyzing a control signal for operating the at least one light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle, and when the control signal is an emergency braking signal, one of avoiding a separate operation of the at least one light and effecting a different operation.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising detecting a pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle in the control device as an emergency braking signal, and avoiding generation of an anti-phase pulsed control signal for the light that cancels the pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device, on detecting that the control signal is an emergency braking signal, one of:

a) passes the control signal from the towing vehicle through to the light,

b) inhibits the control signal from the towing vehicle and outputs a separate pulsed control signal to the light, and

c) outputs a separate control signal to the light that is synchronized with the brake light signal of the towing vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device, based on at least one of (i) at least one sensor signal of at least one sensor disposed on the trailer vehicle and delivered to the control device and (ii) braking data supplied to the control device from the towing vehicle, determines whether or not a braking process of the trailer vehicle is emergency braking, and operates the light disposed on the trailer vehicle with an emergency braking signal generated by the control device at least when the control device does not detect that the control signal generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle is an emergency braking signal.

6. A control device, comprising at least one light control signal input terminal;

and at least one data processor, the control device being configured to carry out the process as claimed in claim 1.

7. A trailer vehicle, comprising the control device as claimed in claim 6;

at least one light; and

an electrical connector for connecting an electrical system of the trailer vehicle to an electrical system of the towing vehicle, wherein the light is indirectly connected to the electrical connector via at least one electrical line of the electrical system of the trailer vehicle such that the light is connected to the connector via one of the control device and one of a shut-off device and a changeover device controllable by the control device.

5. (canceled)

8. A method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one brake light disposed on the trailer vehicle being operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal and being operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, the emergency braking signal causing different operation of the at least one brake light than the normal braking signal, and the at least one brake light being operable by a brake light signal of the towing vehicle and influenceable in its operating state by at least one control device disposed on the trailer vehicle, the method comprising, using the at least one control device, detecting and analyzing a brake light signal for operating the at least one brake light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle, and when the brake light signal is an emergency braking signal, one of avoiding a separate operation of the at least one brake light and effecting a different operation.