Adaptive vehicle configuration
First Claim
1. A method for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
- sensing a vehicle load;
providing a vehicle load sensing output to a vehicle-mounted programmable device;
calculating a load imparted to the vehicle from the load sensing output;
comparing the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold;
automatically adjusting a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system;
modifying a vehicle component or load trailer component;
revising at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold; and
repeating sensing the vehicle load, calculating the load imparted, comparing the imparted load and automatically adjusting the vehicle system in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the revised at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, including service methods, program products and systems are provided for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle. Vehicle-mounted load sensors sense vehicle loads, a vehicle processing means calculating a load imparted to the vehicle and comparing imparted loads to load capacity ratings or thresholds and responsively adjusting a vehicle cooling, transmission, braking, suspension or engine system into a revised operating mode. Modifying a component may entail revising a load capacity rating or threshold and repeating sensing, calculating, comparing and adjusting until the revised rating or threshold is met, or progressively adjusting in proportion to a change in a historic sensed load. Adjusting of the vehicle system may be biased to a performance characteristic or a load distribution. A supervisory entity may override automatic adjustment.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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sensing a vehicle load; providing a vehicle load sensing output to a vehicle-mounted programmable device; calculating a load imparted to the vehicle from the load sensing output; comparing the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; automatically adjusting a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system; modifying a vehicle component or load trailer component; revising at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold; and repeating sensing the vehicle load, calculating the load imparted, comparing the imparted load and automatically adjusting the vehicle system in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the revised at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer-readable tangible storage device having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer system, cause the computer system to; calculate a load imparted to a vehicle from a vehicle-mounted load sensor output, wherein the vehicle-mounted load sensor senses a vehicle load; compare the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; automatically adjust a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the vehicle load capacity rating or the threshold, the vehicle system selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system; revise at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold in response to a modification of a vehicle component or a load trailer component; and repeat calculating the load imparted from the vehicle-mounted load sensor output, comparing the imparted load and automatically adjusting the vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the revised at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold.
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12. A method for deploying an application for sensing vehicle loads and responsively and automatically configuring a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a computer infrastructure being operable to; calculate a load imparted to a vehicle from a vehicle-mounted load sensor output, wherein the vehicle-mounted load sensor senses a vehicle load; compare the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold; automatically adjust a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the vehicle load capacity rating or the threshold, the vehicle system selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system; and revise at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold in response to a modification of a vehicle component or a load trailer component; repeat calculating the load imparted from the vehicle-mounted load sensor output, comparing the imparted load and automatically adjusting the vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding the revised at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold.
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13. A system, comprising:
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a processing unit, a computer readable memory and a computer-readable storage medium; wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory; calculates a load imparted to a vehicle from a load output from a vehicle-mounted load sensor that is configured to sense a vehicle load and provide the load sensor output; compares the imparted load to at least one of a vehicle load capacity rating and a threshold, by; providing a gross vehicle weight logic component that compares sensor load measurements to a gross weight rating threshold; providing a trailer tongue weight logic component that compares a sensed hitch tongue weight load to a tongue weight threshold; and providing a trailer axle weight logic component that compares a sensed trailer cargo load to a trailer cargo weight threshold; evaluates gross vehicle weight logic component, trailer tongue weight logic component and trailer axle weight logic component outputs for compliance with a vehicle and trailer combination weight rating of the at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold; and automatically adjusts a vehicle system into a revised operating mode in response to the compared imparted load meeting or exceeding at least one of the vehicle load capacity rating and the threshold, wherein the vehicle system is selected from the group comprising a vehicle cooling system, a vehicle transmission system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle suspension system and a vehicle engine system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification