Vehicle communication method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between at least one subsystem of a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle having a battery and a power bus for distributing electrical power from said vehicle to said at least one subsystem, wherein a ground level voltage across said power bus is not constant and depends upon amperes flowing from said vehicle to said at least one subsystem, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. producing a positive voltage greater than a high voltage threshold relative to said ground level voltage over an interval of time to define a high bit;
b. producing a negative voltage lower than a low voltage threshold relative to said ground level voltage over an interval of time to define a low bit;
c. transmitting between said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle subsystem a message comprising a plurality of said high bits and a plurality of said low bits; and
d. receiving said message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for binary communication between a vehicle and a trailer transmits high voltage and low voltage signals detectable as high bits and low bits aggregated into messages. A controller in the vehicle and trailer subsystems each include transceivers for transmitting messages across the vehicle'"'"'s powerbus that are detectable when current flows across the powerbus. The apparatus and method are useful for controlling trailer brakes via a blue wire interface.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between at least one subsystem of a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle having a battery and a power bus for distributing electrical power from said vehicle to said at least one subsystem, wherein a ground level voltage across said power bus is not constant and depends upon amperes flowing from said vehicle to said at least one subsystem, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. producing a positive voltage greater than a high voltage threshold relative to said ground level voltage over an interval of time to define a high bit; b. producing a negative voltage lower than a low voltage threshold relative to said ground level voltage over an interval of time to define a low bit; c. transmitting between said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle subsystem a message comprising a plurality of said high bits and a plurality of said low bits; and d. receiving said message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for transmitting binary messages between at least one subsystem of a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle having a battery and a power bus for distributing electrical power from said vehicle to said at least one subsystem, wherein a ground level voltage across said power at any given time depends upon amperes flowing from said towing vehicle to said towed vehicle and said controller and said at least one subsystem each have a high voltage threshold and a low voltage threshold relative to the ground level voltage for detecting communication signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. maintaining the ground voltage along said power bus over a predetermined period of time to enable communication; b. shifting voltage to a detectable level over a predetermined period of time to begin communication; c. transmitting a binary message comprising a plurality of detectable high voltages and low voltages each maintained for a predetermined period of character time, said high voltages exceeding said high voltage threshold and said low voltages less than said low voltage threshold and negative relative to ground; and d. returning to ground level voltage to disable communication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for communicating between a towed vehicle and towing vehicle having a battery and a power bus providing power to said towed vehicle and having a ground level voltage depending upon amperages drawn by said towing vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a controller located in said towing vehicle and electrically connected to said power bus; b. at least one subsystem located in said towed vehicle and electrically connected to said power bus; c. an electronic circuit electrically connected to each of said controller and said at least one subsystem; and d. said electronic circuit adapted for sending and receiving binary messages by creating and detecting positive and negative voltage swings over said power bus for an interval of time irrespective of said ground level voltage at any given time. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification