System and method for alerting/downshifting in response to an upcoming downgrade
First Claim
1. A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when the vehicle is towing a trailer comprising:
- a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios;
a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to detect location data;
an input device configured to receive data indicating when the trailer is connected to the vehicle or when the trailer is disconnected from the vehicle; and
an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the transmission, the GPS unit and the input device and configured to;
determine when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a downgrade of a road based on the location data,determine a current gear ratio of the transmission,determine when a downshift condition has been met based on the current gear ratio when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the downgrade; and
cause the transmission to operate in a second gear ratio that is lower than the current gear ratio when the downshift condition has been met.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when towing a trailer includes a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios and a GPS unit configured to detect location data. The system also includes an input device configured to receive data indicating whether the trailer is connected to the vehicle and an ECU coupled to the transmission, the GPS unit and the input device. The ECU is designed to determine whether the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a downgrade of a road based on the location data, determine a current gear ratio of the transmission and determine whether it is desirable for the transmission to operate in a second gear ratio that is lower than the current gear ratio based on whether the trailer is connected, whether the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, and the current gear ratio.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when the vehicle is towing a trailer comprising:
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a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios; a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to detect location data; an input device configured to receive data indicating when the trailer is connected to the vehicle or when the trailer is disconnected from the vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the transmission, the GPS unit and the input device and configured to; determine when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a downgrade of a road based on the location data, determine a current gear ratio of the transmission, determine when a downshift condition has been met based on the current gear ratio when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the downgrade; and cause the transmission to operate in a second gear ratio that is lower than the current gear ratio when the downshift condition has been met. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when the vehicle is towing a trailer comprising:
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a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios; a sensor configured to detect a load applied to the vehicle by the trailer; a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to detect location data; and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the sensor and the transmission and configured to; determine when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a downgrade based on the detected location data, determine a current gear ratio of the transmission, determine when a downshift condition has been met when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the downgrade based on the load applied to the vehicle by the trailer and the current gear ratio of the transmission transmission, and cause the transmission to operate in the second gear ratio when the downshift condition has been met. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when the vehicle is towing a trailer comprising:
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a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios; a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to detect location data; at least one of an input device configured to receive data indicating when the trailer is connected to the vehicle or a sensor configured to detect when the trailer is connected to the vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the transmission, the GPS unit and the input device and configured to; determine when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a turn of a road or from the road based on the location data, determine a current gear ratio of the transmission, determine when a downshift condition has been met based on the current gear ratio when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the turn; and cause the transmission to operate in a second gear ratio that is less than the current gear ratio when the downshift condition has been met. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification