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Electric trailer brake controller

  • US 7,575,286 B2
  • Filed: 10/08/2004
  • Issued: 08/18/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A trailer brake controller comprising:

  • a pendulum device for generating a brake control signal that is a function of the deceleration of a towing vehicle;

    a microprocessor that includes an internal Read Only Memory (ROM) that stores coding for an algorithm that controls operation of the brake controller, said microprocessor connected to said pendulum device and responsive to said brake control signal to generate an output brake actuation signal at a brake signal output pin, said output brake actuation signal varying in proportion to said brake control signal between a minimum value and a maximum value;

    a pair of pushbuttons connected to said microprocessor, said pushbuttons being selectively operative to change said minimum and maximum values of said output brake actuation signal that is generated by said microprocessor;

    an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) connected to said microprocessor, said EEPROM receiving and storing said selected minimum and maximum values; and

    a programmable current sensing power switch with temperature protection which is adapted to be connected between a power supply and a set of trailer brake coils, said power switch connected to said brake signal output pin of said microprocessor and responsive to said brake control signal to supply a current that is a function of said brake control signal to said trailer brake coils, said power switch also connected by a feedback resistor to a current feedback port on said microprocessor, said power switch cooperating with said current feedback resistor to supply a current feedback signal to said microprocessor, said current feedback signal being a function of said current being supplied to said trailer brake coils, said microprocessor being operative to monitor said current feed back signal and also being responsive to said current feedback signal exceeding a predetermined current shut down threshold to cause said power switch to change to a non-conducting state for a predetermined period of time, said power switch also being operative to change directly to a non-conducting state upon the temperature of said switch exceeding a temperature shut down threshold and to remain in said non-conducting state for a predetermined period of time.

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