Method and system for driving a vehicle trailer tow connector

• US 7,463,139 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Mirowski, Marian, Burlak, Gary Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US10/967,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 340/428, 340/10.8, 340/9.1, 280/427, 280/456.1, 303/124
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

In a method for driving electronic devices connected to a vehicle trailer tow connector a trailer electronic device control signal is receiving from a vehicle data communication network. In response to the received control signal, a solid state power control device is switched to connect electrical power to a selected pin of the trailer tow connector. The trailer electronic device control signal may be received from a wiring harness connector connected to a vehicle data communication network. A vehicle trailer tow connector module includes a module housing. A vehicle wiring connector and a trailer wiring connector are coupled to the module housing. A power control circuit is connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector. A controller circuit is coupled to the vehicle wiring connector for receiving communication data from a vehicle data bus, and coupled by control lines to the power control circuit.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and controlling electronic devices connected to a trailer tow connector of a vehicle adapted to tow a trailer, the trailer tow connector having a memory, comprising:

determining if a trailer is connected to the vehicle and providing a trailer connection status indicating if a trailer is connected to the vehicle or not;

switching one or more solid state power control devices to disconnect electrical power to one or more selected pins of the trailer tow connector in response to the trailer connection status indicating that a trailer is not connected to the vehicle;

adjusting shift points of the vehicle'"'"'s transmission in response to the trailer connection status indicating that a trailer is not connected to the vehicle;

adjusting the vehicle'"'"'s antilock braking system in response to the trailer connection status indicating that a trailer is not connected to the vehicle;

storing an upper and a lower current threshold in the memory, the upper and lower current thresholds being based on the trailer type and size;

measuring the current flowing in the one or more selected pins of the trailer tow connector;

comparing the measured current to the upper and lower current thresholds;

switching the solid state power control device to disconnect the electrical power from the one or more selected pins of the trailer tow connector if the measured current exceeds the upper current threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

measuring the vehicle'"'"'s battery voltage;

reducing the load on the battery by removing power from the trailer'"'"'s non-essential loads if the measured voltage is less than a lower voltage threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a trailer electronic device control signal from a vehicle data communication network;

in response to the control signal, switching the one or more solid state power control devices to connect electrical power to selected pins of the trailer tow connector.