Method and apparatus for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle

• US 7,415,325 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ruhnau, Gerhard, Weihe, Ulrich, Knosmann, Michael, Radtke, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US11/096,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20050182527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/31, 701 34- 36, 701/75, 701/76, 701/92, 340/425.5, 340/431, 340/438, 340/453, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 30312202-12208, 303/123, 303/124, 280/400, 280432-433, 280/477
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like

Abstract

A method and apparatus for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto. A first electronic device provided in or on the tractor is connected via a data link to a second electronic device provided in or on the trailer; the first and second devices being connected to sensors and/or actuators for controlling operating functions of the vehicle allocated thereto and for measuring status information. Initiated by an information request, the first device sends request data via the data link to the second device. The first device receives status information via the data link sent by the second device in response to the request data. The first device outputs, in a manner that correlates with the trailer, the received status information by means of an output device disposed on or in the tractor. The same output scheme is used for both the tractor and trailer.

Claims

1. A method for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto, the tractor vehicle including a first electronic control and measurement device and an output device, the trailer vehicle including a second electronic control and measurement device, a data link connecting said first and second electronic devices, each of said first and second electronic devices being connected to at least one of a sensor and an actuator for measuring status information of and controlling operating functions for the vehicle associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of initiating an information request and transmitting request data via said data link from said first electronic control and measurement device to said second electronic control and measurement device, receiving status information in said first electronic control and measurement device via said data link transmitted by said second electronic control and measurement device in response to said request data, establishing an output scheme for output of said status information of both said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle, and, utilizing said output device, outputting from said first electronic control and measurement device said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device in accordance with said output scheme.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting within said output scheme for output of said status information of said tractor vehicle a coding of said status information of said trailer vehicle that is unambiguously distinguishable from a coding of said status information of said tractor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of outputting from said first electronic control and measurement device said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device in accordance with said output scheme is effected such that said output status information is correlated with one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle using information included in said output scheme.

4. An apparatus for interchanging data in a tractor and trailer vehicle combination, comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto, the tractor vehicle including a first electronic control and measurement device and an output device, the trailer vehicle including a second electronic control and measurement device, a data link connecting said first and second electronic devices, each of said first and second electronic devices being connected to at least one of a sensor and an actuator for measuring status information of and controlling operating functions for the vehicle associated therewith, means for initiating an information request and transmitting request data via said data link from said first electronic control and measurement device to said second electronic control and measurement device, means for receiving status information in said first electronic control and measurement device via said data link transmitted by said second electronic control and measurement device in response to said request data, and means for establishing an output scheme for output of said status information of both said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle, said output device adapted to output from said first electronic control and measurement device said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device in accordance with said output scheme.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for selecting within said output scheme for output of said status information of said tractor vehicle a coding of said status information of said trailer vehicle that is unambiguously distinguishable from a coding of said status information of said tractor vehicle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output scheme includes information for correlating said output status information with one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.