Trailer ABS monitoring and warning system
First Claim
1. A tractor communication system for providing warning of a fault condition associated with an electrical system external to the tractor, comprising:
- an electrical connector mounted to a tractor and having a number of electrical terminals adapted for connection to an electrical system external to the tractor;
a tractor electrical system including a turn signal circuit having a turn signal circuit path connected to one of said electrical terminals of said electrical connector;
means disposed in a cab of said truck and responsive to a warning signal for providing a warning indicative of a fault condition associated with the electrical system external to said tractor; and
a communications device having a communications port connected to said turn signal circuit path, said communications port adapted to receive a fault signal indicative of said fault condition as long as said turn signal circuit is inactive, said communications device providing said warning signal in response to detection of said fault signal at said communications port.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication link between a tractor and trailer is established utilizing existing by dormant tractor and trailer circuitry. In one embodiment of the invention, a tractor communications device has a communications port connected to a turn signal circuit and a trailer communications device has a communications port connected to the same turn signal circuit. The two communications devices permit communications therebetween over the turn signal circuit as long as the turn signal circuit is inactive, and otherwise inhibits such communications. In another embodiment of the invention, such a communications link is used to transmit a fault signal, relating to an abnormally operating trailer anti-lock brake system (ABS), to the tractor for activation of an in-cab ABS warning device.
82 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tractor communication system for providing warning of a fault condition associated with an electrical system external to the tractor, comprising:
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an electrical connector mounted to a tractor and having a number of electrical terminals adapted for connection to an electrical system external to the tractor; a tractor electrical system including a turn signal circuit having a turn signal circuit path connected to one of said electrical terminals of said electrical connector; means disposed in a cab of said truck and responsive to a warning signal for providing a warning indicative of a fault condition associated with the electrical system external to said tractor; and a communications device having a communications port connected to said turn signal circuit path, said communications port adapted to receive a fault signal indicative of said fault condition as long as said turn signal circuit is inactive, said communications device providing said warning signal in response to detection of said fault signal at said communications port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A trailer communication system for providing a fault signal to a system external to the trailer, comprising:
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an electrical connector mounted to a trailer and having a number of electrical terminals adapted for connection to an electrical system external to the trailer; a trailer electrical system including a turn signal circuit having a turn signal circuit path connected to one of said electrical terminals of said electrical connector; a special purpose trailer electrical system producing an error signal in response to an abnormal operating condition thereof; and a communications device having a communications port connected to said turn signal circuit path, said communications device responsive to detection of said error signal to transmit a corresponding fault signal at said communications port if said turn signal circuit is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tractor/trailer communications system for providing a warning in a tractor of a fault condition associated with a special purpose electrical system in a trailer, comprising:
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a tractor communications device associated with a tractor and having a first communications port connected to a turn signal circuit path of said tractor; a trailer communications device associated with the trailer and having a second communications port connected to a corresponding turn signal circuit path of said trailer; a special purpose electrical system associated with the trailer and producing an error signal in response to an abnormal operating condition thereof; means responsive to a warning signal for providing a warning in the tractor of a fault condition associated with said special purpose electrical system; an electrical connection device extending between the tractor and trailer and connecting said turn signal circuit paths thereof to thereby complete a turn signal circuit, said trailer communications device responsive to detection of said error signal at said second communications port to transmit a corresponding fault signal on said turn signal circuit if said turn signal circuit is inactive, said tractor communications device responsive to detection of said fault signal at said first communications port to provide said warning signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification