Magnetic field communication arrangement and method for a tractor-trailer

• US 9,354,617 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jain, Vivek, Venkatraman, Lakshmi, Hogenmueller, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US14/032,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/22 by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water involving the use of floats G01F23/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

An automotive communication method includes installing a sensor within a vehicle such that the sensor is submerged in a liquid during operation of the vehicle and/or substantially surrounded by a metallic structure during operation of the vehicle. A long wave magnetic signal is transmitted from the sensor. The signal is indicative of a condition sensed by the sensor. The signal is wirelessly received at a controller disposed within the vehicle. Receipt of the signal at the controller is responded to by adjusting a display and/or a setting within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

at least one of an audio speaker and a video display; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the motion detector is configured to receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor, the motion detector being calibrated to detect non human motion when the door monitored by the sensor is in the closed position, the motion detector being configured to switch to being calibrated to detect human motion in response to receiving a position signal indicating that the door has been opened.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the motion signals transmitted by the motion detector indicate whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion, the controller being configured to present information on the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display indicating whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the long wave magnetic position signals are modulated with a carrier frequency of approximately between 100 kHz and 500 kHz.

3. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

at least one of an audio speaker and a video display; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the controller is configured to localize the contact sensor and the motion detector with respect to each other.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the trailer includes a wireless environmental sensor configured to:

sense temperature or humidity within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic environmental signals, each of the environmental signals being indicative of a temperature or a humidity level with the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time, the controller being configured to localize the contact sensor, the motion detector and the environmental sensor with respect to each other.

6. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

an audio speaker; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the audio speaker dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the audio speaker dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the motion detector is configured to receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor, the motion detector being calibrated to detect non human motion when the door monitored by the sensor is in the closed position, the motion detector being configured to switch to being calibrated to detect human motion in response to receiving a position signal indicating that the door has been opened.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the motion signals transmitted by the motion detector indicate whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion, the controller being configured to present information on the audio speaker indicating whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion.

10. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the long wave magnetic position signals are modulated with a carrier frequency of approximately between 200 kHz and 400 kHz.

8. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

an audio speaker; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the audio speaker dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the audio speaker dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the controller is configured to localize the contact sensor and the motion detector with respect to each other.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the trailer includes a wireless environmental sensor configured to:

sense temperature or humidity within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic environmental signals, each of the environmental signals being indicative of a temperature or a humidity level with the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time, the controller being configured to localize the contact sensor, the motion detector and the environmental sensor with respect to each other.

11. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

a video display; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the video display dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the video display dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the motion detector is configured to receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor, the motion detector being calibrated to detect non human motion when the door monitored by the sensor is in the closed position, the motion detector being configured to switch to being calibrated to detect human motion in response to receiving a position signal indicating that the door has been opened.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the motion signals transmitted by the motion detector indicate whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion, the controller being configured to present information on the video display indicating whether the motion detector is calibrated to detect non-human motion or is calibrated to detect human motion.

13. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

a trailer including;

at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

a video display; and

a controller configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

control presentation of information on the video display dependent upon the received position signals,

wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

the controller being configured to;

receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

control presentation of information to the video display dependent upon the received motion signals, and

wherein the controller is configured to localize the contact sensor and the motion detector with respect to each other.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the trailer includes a wireless environmental sensor configured to:

sense temperature or humidity within the interior of the trailer; and

transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic environmental signals, each of the environmental signals being indicative of a temperature or a humidity level with the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time, the controller being configured to localize the contact sensor, the motion detector and the environmental sensor with respect to each other.