APPARATUS AND METHOD TO DYNAMICALLY ADJUST ELECTRONIC BRAKING USING TPMS

• US 20150006051A1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Matthew D, Deniau, Jean-Christophe, Farrell, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,150,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/108 to a trailer fluid system
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/06 Wheel load; Wheel lift
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1725 Using tyre sensors, e.g. Sidewall Torsion sensors [SWT] for tyre pressure and temperature detection B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1887 especially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

The dynamic footprint of a tire is received and the dynamic footprint is determined by and received from a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor. A weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle is calculated based at least in part on the footprint. Instructions to alter the operation of the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load are transmitted to the secondary vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically adjusting a braking system of a secondary vehicle being towed by a primary vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving the dynamic footprint of a tire, the dynamic footprint being determined by and received from a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor;

calculating a weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle based at least in part on the footprint;

transmitting instructions to alter the operation of the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load.

2. The method of claim l further comprising making an adjustment to the braking system of the secondary vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the adjustment is changing a voltage or current.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the adjustment is opening or closing a valve in the braking system in the secondary vehicle.

5. An electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in a primary vehicle and configured to communicate with a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor in a secondary vehicle, the ECU comprising:

an interface;

a receiver coupled to the interface, the receiver configured to receive the dynamic footprint of a tire, the dynamic footprint being determined by and received from the TPM sensor;

a transmitter coupled to the interface;

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor configured to calculating a weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle based at least in part on the footprint, the processor further configured to transmit instructions to a braking system via the transmitter, the instructions effective to make an adjustment to the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load.

7. The ECU of claim 6 wherein the adjustment is a change to a voltage or current.

8. The ECU of claim 6 wherein the adjustment is an opening or closing a valve in the braking system of the secondary vehicle.

9. A method of dynamically adjusting a braking system of a secondary vehicle being towed by a primary vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a dynamic footprint of a tire, the dynamic footprint of a tire of a secondary vehicle that is attached to a primary vehicle;

transmitting the dynamic footprint to a electronic control unit, the electronic control unit responsively calculating a weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle based at least in part on the footprint and transmitting instructions to alter the operation of the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising making an adjustment to the braking system of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the adjustment is changing a voltage or current.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the adjustment is opening or closing a valve in the braking system of the secondary vehicle.

13. A tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor disposed in a secondary vehicle that communicates with electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in a primary vehicle, the TPM comprising:

an interface;

a transmitter coupled to the interface;

a sensing apparatus for measuring tire pressure;

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor configured to determine a dynamic footprint of a tire based at least in part on the sensed readings of the sensing apparatus, the processor further configured to transmit the dynamic footprint of a tire of a secondary vehicle to the ECU, wherein the ECU determines the weight of the secondary vehicle based at least in part of the footprint and the ECU transmits instructions to a braking system of the secondary vehicle to make an adjustment based at least in part upon the weight.

14. The TPM sensor of claim 6 wherein the adjustment is a change to a voltage or current.

15. The TPM sensor of claim 6 wherein the adjustment is an opening or closing a valve in the braking system of the secondary vehicle.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving the dynamic footprint of a tire, the dynamic footprint being determined by and received from a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor;

calculating a weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle based at least in part on the footprint;

transmitting instructions to alter the operation of the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises making an adjustment to the braking system of the vehicle.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the adjustment is changing a voltage or current.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the adjustment is opening or closing a valve in the braking system.