Method and system for exchanging data in a vehicle train via a PLC data bus

• US 6,970,772 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weihe, Ulrich, Radtke, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US10/405,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/24, 701/33, 701/36, 701/19, 303/121, 303/122.06, 303/123, 303/124, 340/431
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02

Abstract

A method for exchanging data in a vehicle train having a tractor, at least one trailer coupled to the tractor, and vehicle electronics allocated to the tractor and trailer interconnected via a PLC data bus used to provide programmed input and output functions for the vehicle electronics of the trailer. Data representing the programmed functionality is provided automatically and cyclically via the PLC data bus to the vehicle electronics. The vehicle electronics can be configured as ABS control electronics, the programmed input and output functions providing functionality beyond that of the ABS function. Control of these additional functions in the trailer vehicle electronics equipped with the specific functionality is then exercised via an input/output unit provided in the tractor and connected to the PLC data bus either directly or indirectly via the tractor ABS control electronics.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle train including a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, vehicle train electronic control units including a tractor electronic control unit in said tractor and a trailer electronic control unit in at least one trailer in which at least one of electronic measuring and operating functions are implemented, said tractor and trailer electronic control units each including a powerline carrier interface, said trailer electronic control unit being constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said vehicle train specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further including at least one of an input function and an output function programmed therein for implementing an operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said tractor and trailer electronic control units to enable the transmission and reception of data between said electronic control units, and a power supply in said tractor electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus, the method comprising the steps of broadcasting data representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function by said trailer electronic control unit automatically and cyclically via said powerline carrier data bus to other of said vehicle train electronic control units having powerline carrier interfaces, and implementing based on said broadcast data said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said trailer electronic control unit is arranged and constructed as an anti-lock braking system electronic control unit having inputs and outputs associated with anti-lock braking system operating functions, and said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said trailer electronic control unit being associated with an operating function of said vehicle train other than for anti-lock braking regulation.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving said data representing at least one of an input function and output function in said tractor electronic control unit, evaluating said data, recognizing the programmed functionality of said at least one of an input function and output function, and executing control of said programmed functionality.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing data representing said at least one of an input function and an output function automatically and cyclically on said powerline carrier data bus is effected by a vehicle train electronic control unit that does not have a powerline carrier interface, said vehicle train electronic control unit that does not have a powerline carrier interface including said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function and being interconnected via data communication means with vehicle train electronic control units including powerline carrier interfaces.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said data communication means includes a powerline carrier network gateway.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said powerline carrier network gateway is designed by a software protocol by which communications are implemented using messages.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said tractor further includes control electronics for an anti-lock braking system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said control electronics for an anti-lock braking system provided in said tractor is connected via data communication means to a display/control module for communication with an operator of said vehicle train.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said data communication means includes gateway communication means.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes implementing a steering-axle control function.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes controlling vehicle lighting.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes at least one of monitoring and controlling vehicle train door functions.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining axle load in said at least one trailer based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining air pressure in vehicle tires of said at least one trailer based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring temperature in wheel bearings of said at least one trailer based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes at least one of monitoring and controlling the temperature of cargo containment areas in said at least one trailer.

17. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle train including a tractor vehicle train part, at least one trailer vehicle train part coupled to said tractor vehicle train part, vehicle train part electronics provided in said tractor vehicle train part and in at least one trailer vehicle train part in which at least one of electronic measuring and control functions are implemented, said vehicle train part electronics including powerline carrier interfaces, said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one trailer vehicle train part including at least one of an input function and an output function associated with operating functions of said vehicle train programmed therein, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces to enable the transmission and reception of data between said vehicle train part electronics, and a power supply in said tractor vehicle train part electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus, the method comprising the steps of providing data representing at least one of said programmed input function and output function automatically and cyclically via said powerline carrier data bus to other of said vehicle train part electronics having powerline carrier interfaces, implementing a lift-axle control function based on said data representing at least one of said programmed input function and output-function.

18. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus which supplies electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said vehicle specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further having at least one of a programmed input function and an output function for implementing an operating function of a system of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, the method comprising the steps of automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, broadcasting said signal via said power bus, and implementing based on said broadcast data signal said operating function of a system of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said data signal is repetitively provided on said power bus at fixed intervals.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of a system of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes controlling vehicle lighting.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of implementing operating function of a system of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes at least one of monitoring and controlling vehicle doors.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of determining axle load in said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of determining air pressure in vehicle tires of said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of measuring temperature in wheel bearings of said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of implementing said operating function of a system of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit includes at least one of monitoring and controlling the temperature of cargo containment areas in said at least one trailer.

26. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus for supplying electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit having at least one of a programmed input function and output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function, applying said signal cyclically on said power bus, and implementing a lift-axle control function based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function.

27. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus for supplying electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit having at least one of a programmed input function and output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function, applying said signal cyclically on said power bus, and implementing a steering-axle control function based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function.

28. A data communications system for a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus which supplies electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said vehicle specific to said trailer electronic control unit, the system comprising means for providing in said trailer electronic control unit at least one of a programmed input function and an output function for implementing an operating function of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, means for automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, means for broadcasting said signal automatically via said power bus, and means for implementing said operating function of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit based at least in part on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said data signal is repetitively provided on said power bus at fixed intervals.

30. The system according to claim 28, further comprising a vehicle anti-lock braking system and means associated with said electronic control unit for controlling said anti-lock braking system.

31. The system according to claim 30, further comprising display means connected to said means for controlling said anti-lock braking system for communication with an operator of said vehicle.

32. The system according to claim 28, further comprising means disposed in said tractor for receiving said data signal, means for evaluating said data signal, means for recognizing said operating function of said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function represented by said data signal, and means for executing control of said operating function in said at least one trailer.

33. The system according to claim 28, further comprising gateway communication means for communicating said data signal among said power bus, said tractor and said at least one trailer.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said gateway communication means effects communications using messages.

35. The system according to claim 28, further comprising vehicle lighting and wherein said at operating function of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit is regulation of said vehicle lighting.

36. The system according to claim 28, further comprising at least one vehicle door supported on said at least one trailer and wherein said operating function of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit is regulation of said at least one vehicle door.

37. The system according to claim 28, further comprising at least one vehicle axle for said at least one trailer and means for determining axle load based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

38. The system according to claim 28, further comprising at least one vehicle tire of said at least one trailer and means for determining air pressure in said at least one vehicle tire based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

39. The system according to claim 28, further comprising vehicle wheel-bearings of said at least one trailer and means for measuring temperature in said wheel bearings based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

42. The system according to claim 28, further comprising means for monitoring the temperature of cargo containment areas in said at least one trailer and wherein said operating function of said vehicle other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit is temperature regulation of said cargo containment areas.

40. A data communications system for a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus for supplying electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, the system comprising means for providing at least one of a programmed input function and output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, means for automatically producing a data signal representing at least one of said programmed input function and output function, means for applying said data signal cyclically on said power bus, at least one vehicle lift-axle and means for implementing a lift-axle control function based on said at least one programmed input function and output function.

41. A data communications system for a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus for supplying electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, the system comprising means for providing at least one of a programmed input function and output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, means for automatically producing a data signal representing at least one of said programmed input function and output function, means for applying said data signal cyclically on said power bus, at least one steering-axle and means for implementing a steering-axle control function based on said at least one programmed input function and output function.

43. A method for exchanging data in a vehicle train including a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, vehicle train electronic control units including a tractor electronic control unit in said tractor and a trailer electronic control unit in at least one trailer in which at least one of electronic measuring and operating functions are implemented, said tractor and trailer electronic control units each including a powerline carrier interface, said trailer electronic control unit being constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said vehicle train specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further including at least one of an input function and an output function programmed therein for implementing an operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said tractor and trailer electronic control units to enable the transmission and reception of data between said electronic control units, and a power supply in said tractor electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus, the method comprising the steps of broadcasting data representing said at least one of a programmed input function and output function automatically and cyclically via said powerline carrier data bus to other of said vehicle train electronic control units having powerline carrier interfaces, recognizing in said tractor electronic control unit said operating function other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit based on said broadcast data, and implementing said operating function other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit based on said broadcast data.

44. A data communications system for a vehicle train having a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, the system comprising vehicle train electronic control units including a tractor electronic control unit in said tractor and trailer electronic control unit in at least one trailer in which at least one of electronic measuring and operating functions are implemented, said tractor and trailer electronic control units each including a powerline carrier interface, said trailer electronic control unit being constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said vehicle train specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further including at least one of an input function and an output function programmed therein for implementing an operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said tractor and trailer electronic control units to enable the transmission and reception of data between said electronic control units, a power supply in said tractor electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus, means for broadcasting data representing said at least one of an input function and an output function automatically and cyclically via said powerline carrier data bus to other of said vehicle train electronic control units having powerline carrier interfaces, means associated with said tractor electronic control unit for recognizing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit based on said broadcast data, and means for implementing said operating function of said vehicle train other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit based on said broadcast data.

45. A method for exchanging data in a vehicle train including a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, vehicle train electronic control units including a tractor electronic control unit in said tractor and a trailer electronic control unit in said at least one trailer, said tractor and trailer electronic control units each including a powerline carrier interface, said trailer electronic control unit being constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said at least one trailer specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further including at least one input/output function programmed therein for implementing additional operating functionality of said at least one trailer other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, and a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said vehicle train electronic control units to enable the transmission and reception of data between said vehicle train electronic control units, the method comprising the steps of broadcasting data representing said at least one programmed input/output function automatically and cyclically over said powerline carrier data bus by said trailer electronic control unit to other of said vehicle train electronic control units having powerline carrier interfaces, recognizing in said tractor electronic control unit said additional operating functionality, and communicating said additional operating functionality to an operator of said vehicle train in said tractor.

46. A data communications system for a vehicle train having a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to said tractor, the system comprising vehicle train electronic control units including a tractor electronic control unit in said tractor and a trailer electronic control unit in said at least one trailer, said tractor and trailer electronic control units each including a powerline carrier interface, said trailer electronic control unit being constructed and arranged to implement an operating function of said at least one trailer specific to said trailer electronic control unit, said trailer electronic control unit further including at least one input/output function programmed therein for implementing additional operating functionality of said at least one trailer other than said operating function specific to said trailer electronic control unit, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said vehicle train electronic control units to enable the transmission and reception of data between said vehicle train electronic control units, means for broadcasting data representing said at least one programmed input/output function automatically and cyclically over said powerline carrier data bus by said trailer electronic control unit to other of said vehicle train electronic control units having powerline carrier interfaces, means for recognizing in said tractor electronic control unit said additional operating functionality, and means for communicating said additional operating functionality to an operator of said vehicle train in said tractor.