Trailer identification system
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a trailer connected to a tow vehicle comprising the steps of:
- connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle having a controller and a tire pressure monitoring system;
activating tire pressure sensors on the trailer in response to the trailer connection;
transmitting a signal from the sensors on the trailer, the signal containing a sensor identification;
receiving the sensor identification at the controller on the tow vehicle;
comparing the sensor identification in the transmitted signal to known sensor identifications stored in a database;
identifying a trailer configuration stored in the controller and associated with the known sensor identifications; and
collecting and storing data relevant to the identified trailer in the trailer configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, recognizes the trailer and applies a stored trailer configuration in a controller. In one embodiment, tire pressure sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system. Transmissions from the sensors are decoded in a controller and processed to identify, or create a particular trailer configuration as well as implement tire pressure monitoring automatically calibrated to the particular trailer configuration based on the sensor identifications for the tire pressure sensors. In another embodiment, the trailer configuration includes a pulse width modulated gain control for the trailer brakes.
66 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a trailer connected to a tow vehicle comprising the steps of:
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connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle having a controller and a tire pressure monitoring system; activating tire pressure sensors on the trailer in response to the trailer connection; transmitting a signal from the sensors on the trailer, the signal containing a sensor identification; receiving the sensor identification at the controller on the tow vehicle; comparing the sensor identification in the transmitted signal to known sensor identifications stored in a database; identifying a trailer configuration stored in the controller and associated with the known sensor identifications; and collecting and storing data relevant to the identified trailer in the trailer configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for identifying a trailer having electric brakes and being connected to a tow vehicle, the system comprising:
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a controller on the tow vehicle; a plurality of pressure sensors attached to each trailer tire for transmitting a respective plurality of identification signals to the controller; and a database of sensor identification signals related to a particular trailer, the database being stored in the controller; wherein the controller identifies the plurality of pressure sensor identifications, identifies the trailer from the database and selects a trailer configuration associated with the identified trailer, whereby the trailer configuration collects and stores data relevant to the identified trailer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of identifying a trailer being connected to a tow vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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recognizing a connection of the trailer to the tow vehicle; selecting a trailer configuration stored in memory that is associated with the connected trailer; and collecting and storing data relevant to the connected trailer in the selected trailer configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification