Smart trailer RFID system

• US 8,862,313 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Brey, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US13/205,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20130041524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/50, 701/31.5, 701/29.3, 701/29.6, 340/431, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/572.1, 340/12.51, 340/13.26, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 701/31.5
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

A smart trailer RFID system includes a vehicle such as a trailer or cargo van having one or more RFID tag readers configured to acquire load-specific data from RFID tags attached to a load. The load-specific data is collected by a computer and conveyed wirelessly to a tow vehicle. Depending on the nature of the load, the load data can be used to control or change operation of the tow vehicle or be displayed to a vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A vehicle, which is configured to tow a trailer carrying a load, the vehicle comprising:

a control computer for the vehicle, the control computer configured to control an operation of the vehicle;

a processor operatively coupled to the control computer unit via a bus;

a memory device coupled to the processor and storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide load information to the control computer, the load information provided to the control computer causing the operation of the vehicle to change;

a communications device coupled to the processor, the communications device receiving load information from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader and providing said load information to the processor, the RFID tag reader being configured to obtain information from a RFID tag attached to a load carried by a trailer that is towed by the vehicle, wherein the control computer is configured to adapt operation of the tow vehicle, responsive to the load information received from the communications device, in at least one way selected from;

limiting engine speed;

adjusting transmission shift points;

adjusting anti-lock brakes; and

adjusting vehicle stability control.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from the RFID tag reader to at least one of:

an engine control unit (ECU);

a vehicle braking system control computer; and

a vehicle stability control computer.

3. A trailer, configured to carry a load and be towed by a tow vehicle having a control computer, the trailer comprising:

a processor;

a trailer communications device coupled to the processor, the trailer communications device configured to transmit an information-bearing signal to a tow vehicle communications device attached to the tow vehicle and which is coupled to the control computer for the tow vehicle, the transmitted information-bearing signals having information about the load on the trailer; and

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers operatively coupled to at least one of the processor and the trailer communications device and configured to wirelessly obtain load information from a radio frequency identification tag attached to a load on the trailer;

a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device storing executable program instructions for the processor which when executed cause the processor to control the trailer communications device to transmit said information-bearing signals to the tow vehicle communications device, the transmitted information about the load causing the control computer for the tow vehicle to change an operation of the tow vehicle in at least one way selected from;

limiting engine speed;

adjusting transmission shift points;

adjusting anti-lock brakes; and

adjusting vehicle stability control.

4. The vehicle trailer of claim 3, wherein the plurality of RFID tag readers are configured to wirelessly obtain load information from a RFID tag attached to a load on the trailer.

5. The trailer of claim 4, wherein information obtained from an RFID tag comprises at least one:

location of an object on the trailer, to which an RFID tag is attached;

weight information for an object on the trailer to which an RFID tag is attached;

center of gravity location information for an object on the trailer, to which an RFID tag is attached;

identification information for an object on the trailer to which an RFID tag is attached;

manufacture information for an object on the trailer to which an RFID tag is attached; and

dimension information for an object on the trailer to which an RFID tag is attached.

6. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the trailer communications device is configured to transmit information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers.

7. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the control computer for the tow vehicle is at least one of:

an engine control unit (ECU);

a braking system control computer;

a vehicle stability control computer.

8. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the trailer communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to a mechanically attached tow vehicle, configured to adapt its operation responsive to information obtained from at least one of the RFID tag readers.

9. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the communications device is configured to provide information obtained from at least one of the plurality of RFID tag readers to at least one of:

a tow vehicle engine control unit (ECU);

a tow vehicle braking system control computer;

a tow vehicle stability control computer.

10. A method of operating a tow vehicle comprising:

obtaining load information from a RFID tag attached to a load on a trailer that is attached to the tow vehicle;

sending the load information obtained from the RFID tag to an engine control unit for the tow vehicle; and

adapting operation of the tow vehicle responsive to load information received from the RFID tag, wherein the step of adapting operation of the tow vehicle comprises at least one of;

limiting engine speed;

adjusting transmission shift points;

adjusting anti-lock brakes; and

adjusting vehicle stability control.