Brake controller
First Claim
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1. An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle, the electronic brake controller comprising:
- a sensor for producing a first brake control signal which is representative of a desired automatic braking level for the towed vehicle;
a manually operated switch movable from a first position to a second position to produce a second brake control signal which is representative of a first manual braking level, said first manual braking level being between zero braking level and the desired automatic braking level, said manually operated switch being movable from said second position to a third position to produce a third brake control signal which is representative of a second manual braking level, said second manual braking level being between the desired automatic braking level and a one-hundred percent braking level, said manually operated switch including a detent for defining said second position; and
a control device adapted to be connected to a vehicle power source and responsive to said first, second and third brake control signals for generating an output signal for actuating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle.
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Abstract
An electronic brake controller operates in both an automatic and manual mode. In the automatic mode, the electronic brake controller applies a pre-specified percentage of braking for the brakes of a towed vehicle. In the manual mode, the electronic brake controller is capable of applying one-hundred percent of braking regardless of the setting for the pre-specified percentage of braking set for the automatic mode.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle, the electronic brake controller comprising:
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a sensor for producing a first brake control signal which is representative of a desired automatic braking level for the towed vehicle;
a manually operated switch movable from a first position to a second position to produce a second brake control signal which is representative of a first manual braking level, said first manual braking level being between zero braking level and the desired automatic braking level, said manually operated switch being movable from said second position to a third position to produce a third brake control signal which is representative of a second manual braking level, said second manual braking level being between the desired automatic braking level and a one-hundred percent braking level, said manually operated switch including a detent for defining said second position; and
a control device adapted to be connected to a vehicle power source and responsive to said first, second and third brake control signals for generating an output signal for actuating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle, the electronic brake controller comprising:
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a sensor for producing a first brake control signal which is representative of a desired automatic braking level for the towed vehicle;
a manually operated switch movable from a first position to a second position to produce a second brake control signal which is representative of a first manual braking level, said first manual braking level being between zero braking level and the desired automatic braking level, said manually operated switch being movable from said second position to a third position to produce a third brake control signal which is representative of a second manual braking level, said second manual braking level being between the desired automatic braking level and a one-hundred percent braking level; and
a control device adapted to be connected to a vehicle power source and responsive to said first, second and third brake control signals for generating an output signal for actuating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle;
whereinsaid manually operated switch comprises a lever, an integral portion of said lever forming a biasing member, said biasing member urging said manually operated switch into its first position.
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14. An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle, the electronic brake controller comprising:
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a sensor for producing a first brake control signal which is representative of a desired automatic braking level for the towed vehicle;
a manually operated switch movable from a first position to a second position to produce a second brake control signal which is representative of a first manual braking level, said first manual braking level being between zero braking level and the desired automatic braking level, said manually operated switch being movable from said second position to a third position to produce a third brake control signal which is representative of a second manual braking level, said second manual braking level being between the desired automatic braking level and a one-hundred percent braking level; and
a control device adapted to be connected to a vehicle power source and responsive to said first, second and third brake control signals for generating an output signal for actuating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle;
whereinmovement of said manually operated switch is sensed by the breaking of a light beam by a comb-like component.
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Specification