Method and apparatus for adjusting trailer electrical load limits

• US 7,746,219 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Paul, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/099,608
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/458, 340/447, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/01 Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/167 consisting of articulated or rigidly assembled bars or tubes forming a V-, Y-, or U-shaped draw gear B60D1/173 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

A method of determining whether an electronic component on a trailer is functioning from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle having an electrical connection with the trailer generally includes determining a first electronic component configuration associated with the trailer and determining an electrical load profile for a terminal in the electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer based on the first electronic component configuration of the trailer. The method also includes associating the electronic component on the trailer with the electrical load profile for the terminal in the electrical connection and monitoring a value descriptive of an electrical load at the terminal in the electrical connection. The method further includes informing a user in the passenger compartment that the electronic component is not functioning when the value is less than a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method of determining whether an electronic component on a trailer is functioning from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle having an electrical connection with the trailer, the method comprising:

determining a first electronic component configuration associated with the trailer;

determining an electrical load profile for a terminal in the electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer based on the first electronic component configuration of the trailer;

associating the electronic component on the trailer with the electrical load profile for the terminal in the electrical connection;

monitoring a value descriptive of an electrical load at the terminal in the electrical connection;

informing a user in the passenger compartment that the electronic component is not functioning when the value is less than a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first electronic component configuration includes determining a weight of the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the weight of the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first electronic component configuration includes determining a trailer class of the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the trailer class of the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first electronic component configuration includes receiving a signal from the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the signal from the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said signal is from a radio frequency identification device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first electronic component configuration includes inputting a customized electronic component configuration via a user module within the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first electronic component configuration includes inputting a customized electronic component configuration via a universal serial bus connection with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic component includes a plurality of lights connected to a plurality of surfaces of the trailer and organized in a pattern viewable from outside of the trailer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the electrical load profile includes identifying a power requirement of each electrical component and the terminal associated with power delivery therefor.

10. A method of determining whether a light on a trailer is illuminated from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle having an electrical connection with the trailer, the method comprising:

determining a first light configuration associated with the trailer;

determining an electrical load profile for a terminal in the electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer based on the first light configuration of the trailer, wherein the electrical profile for the terminal includes at least a power requirement for the light on the trailer and the terminal associated with the power delivery therefor;

monitoring a level of current at the terminal in the electrical connection;

informing a user in the passenger compartment that the light is not illuminated when the level of current at the terminal is less than a threshold current level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the first light configuration includes determining a weight of the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the weight of the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the first light configuration includes determining a trailer class of the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the trailer class of the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the first light configuration includes receiving a signal from the trailer and assigning an electrical profile to the terminal based on the signal from the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said signal is from a radio frequency identification device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the first light configuration includes inputting a customized light configuration via a user module within the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the first light configuration includes inputting a customized light configuration via a universal serial bus connection with the vehicle.

17. A device for determining whether a light on a trailer is illuminated from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle having an electrical connection with the trailer, the device comprising:

a trailer tow module that determines a first light configuration associated with the trailer;

a terminal in the electrical connection between the trailer and the vehicle,

wherein said trailer tow module determines an electrical load profile for said terminal based on said first light configuration of the trailer,

wherein the electrical profile for the terminal includes at least a power requirement for the light on the trailer and the terminal associated with the power delivery therefor

wherein said trailer tow module monitors a level of current at said terminal in the electrical connection and

wherein said trailer tow module informs a user in the passenger compartment that the light is not illuminated when the level of current at the terminal is less than a threshold current level.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said trailer tow module receives a signal from the trailer and assigns an electrical profile to said terminal based on said signal from the trailer and wherein said electrical profile of the terminal includes the threshold current level.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said trailer tow module receives a customized light configuration via a user module within the vehicle.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising a universal serial bus connection with said trailer tow module through which said first light configuration is adjusted.