Towing vehicle controller providing brake control to a towed vehicle and method
First Claim
1. A towing vehicle controller for providing brake control of a towed vehicle comprising:
- a controller load input for receiving a load signal indicative of a sensed load of a towed and towing vehicle combination;
a controller stability input for receiving a stability signal indicative of at least one of a sensed yaw rate, a sensed steering angle and a sensed lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle;
a controller deceleration input for receiving a deceleration signal indicative of an automated deceleration request; and
control logic capable of;
determining an empirical load value based on the load signal;
determining an empirical stability value based on the stability signal;
determining a comparison value is the empirical load value when the stability signal is less than a predetermined stability threshold, and the comparison value is the empirical stability value when the stability signal is greater than or equal to the predetermined stability threshold; and
determining a brake control transmission signal after receiving a deceleration signal, wherein the determination is based on the deceleration signal and the comparison value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of a towing vehicle controller and methods for brake control of a towed vehicle are provided. A towing vehicle controller includes: an input for receiving a load signal indicative of a load of a towed and towing vehicle combination; an input for receiving a stability signal indicative of at least one of a yaw rate, a steering angle, and a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle; and an input for receiving a deceleration signal indicative of an automated deceleration request. Control logic is capable of determining a comparison value prior to receiving the deceleration signal and after receiving the load signal and the stability signal, wherein the determination of the comparison value is based on the load signal and the stability signal. After the deceleration signal is received, the control logic determines a brake control transmission signal based on the deceleration signal and the comparison value.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A towing vehicle controller for providing brake control of a towed vehicle comprising:
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a controller load input for receiving a load signal indicative of a sensed load of a towed and towing vehicle combination; a controller stability input for receiving a stability signal indicative of at least one of a sensed yaw rate, a sensed steering angle and a sensed lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle; a controller deceleration input for receiving a deceleration signal indicative of an automated deceleration request; and control logic capable of; determining an empirical load value based on the load signal; determining an empirical stability value based on the stability signal; determining a comparison value is the empirical load value when the stability signal is less than a predetermined stability threshold, and the comparison value is the empirical stability value when the stability signal is greater than or equal to the predetermined stability threshold; and determining a brake control transmission signal after receiving a deceleration signal, wherein the determination is based on the deceleration signal and the comparison value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing brake control for a towed vehicle from towing vehicle, the method comprising:
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sensing a load signal indicative of a load of the towing and towed vehicle combination; sensing a stability signal indicative of a stability condition of the towing vehicle, the stability signal indicative of at least one of a yaw rate, a steering angle and a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle; determining an empirical load value based on the load signal; determining an empirical stability value based on the stability signal; determining a comparison value based on the empirical load value and the empirical stability value; wherein the comparison value is the empirical load value when the stability signal is less than a predetermined stability threshold, and the comparison value is the empirical stability value when the stability signal is greater than or equal to the predetermined stability threshold; receiving a deceleration signal as part of an automated deceleration request after determining the comparison value; determining a brake control transmission signal based on the deceleration signal and the comparison value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification