Motor vehicle combination and method for operating

• US 8,862,283 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kahler, Peter, Wittorf, Marten
• Primary Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US13/711,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/1, 701/410, 439/35, 439/36, 340/431, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

A motor vehicle combination is provided. The motor vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle. The towing vehicle is embodied as passenger car. In addition, the motor vehicle combination includes at least one trailer. The at least one trailer can be mechanically connected to the towing vehicle. In addition, the motor vehicle combination comprises a bidirectional communication unit, which is designed for exchanging data between the towing vehicle and the at least one trailer.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle combination, comprising:

starting a towing vehicle,

determining if there is a mechanical connection between the towing vehicle and at least one trailer,

transmitting of data from the at least one trailer to the towing vehicle by means of a communication unit in response to the mechanical connection being determined,

wherein the transmitting of the data from the towing vehicle to the at least one trailer further comprises transmitting of data of at least one of an information and entertainment system and a mobile radio station from the towing vehicle to the at least one trailer, and

adapting at least one vehicle system of the towing vehicle as a function of the transmitted data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one parameter selected from the group comprising dimensions of the at least one trailer, a mass of the at least one trailer and a current tire inflation pressure of at least one tire of the at least one trailer,

wherein the transmitting of the data of the at least one trailer includes a transmitting of the at least one determined parameter and the at least one vehicle system is altered as a function of the at least one determined parameter.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

determining at least one travelling route for the motor vehicle combination by means of a navigation system,

wherein the determined travelling route is transmitted to at least one of the towing vehicle and the at least one trailer.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the transmitting of the data of the towing vehicle to the at least one trailer and the transmitting of the data of the at least one trailer to the towing vehicle further comprises transmitting of data of a computer network.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining image data by means of an optical camera arranged in the region of the towing vehicle; and

transmitting the determined image data to the at least one trailer.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

determining image data by means of an optical camera arranged in the region of the at least one trailer; and

transmitting the determined image data to the towing vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the transmitting of the data of the towing vehicle to the at least one trailer further comprises:

transmitting of access authorization data to the at least one trailer.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting of the data of the at least one trailer to the towing vehicle further comprises:

transmitting of access authorization data to the at least one trailer.