Method and system for driving a vehicle trailer tow connector
First Claim
1. A vehicle trailer tow connector module comprising:
- a module housing;
a vehicle wiring connector coupled to the module housing, wherein the vehicle wiring connector includes a battery power connection pin;
a trailer wiring connector coupled to the module housing;
a power control circuit operable to receive input voltage from the battery power connection pin, and provide output power output connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector;
a controller circuit 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; and
a voltage sense circuit operable to measure input voltage to the vehicle trailer tow connector module and provide a voltage sense signal to said controller circuit indicative of said measured input voltage;
the controller circuit further operable to determine whether the measured input voltage is outside an acceptable range in response to said voltage sense signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A vehicle trailer tow connector module comprising:
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a module housing; a vehicle wiring connector coupled to the module housing, wherein the vehicle wiring connector includes a battery power connection pin; a trailer wiring connector coupled to the module housing; a power control circuit operable to receive input voltage from the battery power connection pin, and provide output power output connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector; a controller circuit 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; and a voltage sense circuit operable to measure input voltage to the vehicle trailer tow connector module and provide a voltage sense signal to said controller circuit indicative of said measured input voltage; the controller circuit further operable to determine whether the measured input voltage is outside an acceptable range in response to said voltage sense signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle trailer tow connector module comprising:
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a power control circuit operable to apply an output power to a selected pin in a trailer wiring connector, and adjust said output power in response to a power control signal; a processor operable to receive input data from a vehicle data bus and provide said power control signal to said power control circuit; and a voltage sense circuit operable to measure input voltage to the vehicle trailer tow connector module and provide a voltage sense signal to said processor in response to said measured input voltage; said processor operable to adjust the power control signal in response to the voltage sense signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle trailer tow connector module for driving one or more electronic devices, the vehicle trailer tow connector module comprising:
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one or more power control circuits, each operable to apply an output power to a selected pin in a trailer wiring connector, and adjust said output power in response to a power control signal; a processor operable to receive input data from a vehicle data bus and provide said power control signal to each of said one or more power control circuits; and a voltage sense circuit operable to measure input voltage to the vehicle trailer tow connector module and provide a voltage sense signal to said processor in response to said measured input voltage; said processor operable to adjust one or more power control signals in response to the voltage sense signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification