Method and system for exchanging data in a vehicle train via a PLC data bus

• US 20030195668A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weihe, Ulrich, Radtke, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02

Abstract

A method for exchanging data in a vehicle train having a tractor, at least one trailer coupled to the tractor, and vehicle electronics allocated to the tractor and trailer interconnected via a PLC data bus used to provide programmed input and output functions for the vehicle electronics of the trailer. Data representing the programmed functionality is provided automatically and cyclically via the PLC data bus to the vehicle electronics. The vehicle electronics can be configured as ABS control electronics, the programmed input and output functions providing functionality beyond that of the ABS function. Control of these additional functions in the trailer vehicle electronics equipped with the specific functionality is then exercised via an input/output unit provided in the tractor and connected to the PLC data bus either directly or indirectly via the tractor ABS control electronics.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging data in a vehicle train including a tractor vehicle train part and at least one trailer vehicle train part coupled to said tractor vehicle train part, vehicle train part electronics provided in said tractor vehicle train part and in at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part in which electronic measuring or control functions are implemented, said vehicle train part electronics including a powerline carrier interface, said vehicle train part electronics of at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part including at least one of an input function and an output function associated with operating functions of said vehicle train programmed therein, a powerline carrier data bus formed by the electrical interconnection of said powerline carrier interfaces of said vehicle train part electronics to enable the transmission and reception of data between said vehicle train part electronics, and a power supply in said tractor vehicle train part electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus, the method comprising the step of providing data representing said at least one of said programmed input function and an output function automatically and cyclically via said powerline carrier data bus to other of said vehicle train part electronics having powerline carrier interfaces.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said trailer vehicle train part is arranged and constructed as control electronics for an anti-lock braking system having inputs and outputs associated with operating functions of said anti-lock braking system, said control electronics further including said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function associated with operating functions of said vehicle train other than for said anti-lock braking system.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of using said data made available automatically and cyclically on said powerline carrier data bus to command associated program controlled operating functions of said vehicle train by another of said vehicle train part electronics.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of using said data made available automatically and cyclically on said powerline carrier data bus to command associated program controlled operating functions of said vehicle train includes the steps of receiving said data in said vehicle train part electronics of said tractor vehicle train part, evaluating said data, recognizing the programmed functionality of said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function implemented in said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said trailer vehicle train part, and executing control of said programmed functionality.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said steps of receiving said data, evaluating said data, recognizing the programmed functionality of said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function implemented in said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said trailer vehicle train part, and executing control of said programmed functionality are effected by a further vehicle train part electronics interconnected via data communication means with said vehicle train part electronics of said tractor vehicle train part including a powerline carrier interface.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of making said data available automatically and cyclically on said powerline carrier data bus to command associated program controlled operating functions of said vehicle train is effected by said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part including at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, said vehicle train part electronics including a powerline carrier interface.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of making said data available automatically and cyclically on said powerline carrier data bus to command associated program controlled operating functions of said vehicle train is effected by a further vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part other than vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part including a powerline carrier interface, said further vehicle train part electronics including said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function and being interconnected via data communication means with vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part including a powerline carrier interface.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said data communication means includes a powerline carrier network gateway.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said powerline carrier network gateway is designed by a software protocol by which communications are implemented using messages.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said further vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part is control electronics for functionality based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle train part electronics provided in said tractor vehicle train part electrically connected to said powerline carrier data bus further includes control electronics for an anti-lock braking system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said control electronics for an anti-lock braking system provided in said tractor vehicle train part is connected via data communication means to a display/control module for communication with an operator of said vehicle train.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said data communication means includes gateway communication means.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of implementing a lift-axle control function based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output-function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of implementing a steering-axle control function based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling vehicle lighting in said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recognizing vehicle train reversing based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring door status of said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining axle load in said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining air pressure in vehicle tires of said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring temperature in wheel bearings of said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of cargo contained in said at least one trailer vehicle train part based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function of said vehicle train part electronics of said at least one of said at least one trailer vehicle train part.

23. A method for controlling operating functions in a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus which supplies electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit having at least one of a programmed input function and an output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, and applying said signal cyclically on said power bus.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said data signal is repetitively provided on said power bus at fixed intervals.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of implementing a lift-axle control function based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of implementing a steering-axle control function based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

27. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of controlling vehicle lighting in said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

28. A method for communicating trailer information to a tractor in a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus which supplies electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, said at least one trailer including an electronic control unit having at least one of a programmed input function and an output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, cyclically applying said signal on said power bus, and receiving said signal at said tractor.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said data signal is repetitively provided on said power bus at fixed intervals.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of recognizing vehicle reversing based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of monitoring door status of said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of determining axle load in said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

33. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of determining air pressure in vehicle tires of said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

34. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of measuring temperature in wheel bearings of said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

35. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of cargo contained in said at least one trailer based on said data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

36. A data communications system for a vehicle having a tractor and at least one trailer connected to said tractor, the tractor and trailer combination including a power bus which supplies electrical power to said tractor and said at least one trailer, the system comprising means for providing at least one of a programmed input function and an output function associated with an operating function of said vehicle, means for automatically producing a data signal representing said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function, and means for applying said signal cyclically on said power bus.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein said data signal is repetitively provided on said power bus at fixed intervals.

38. The system according to claim 36, further comprising a vehicle anti-lock braking system and means associated with said electronic control unit for controlling said anti-lock braking system.

39. The system according to claim 38, further comprising display means connected to said means for controlling said anti-lock braking system for communication with an operator of said vehicle.

40. The system according to claim 36, further comprising means disposed in said tractor for receiving said data signal, means for evaluating said data signal, means for recognizing said operating function of said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function represented by said data signal, and means for executing control of said operating function in said at least one trailer.

41. The system according to claim 36, further comprising gateway communication means for communicating said data signal among said power bus, said tractor and said at least one trailer.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein said gateway communication means effects communications using messages.

43. The system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one vehicle lift-axle and means for implementing a lift-axle control function based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

44. The system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one steering-axle and means for implementing a steering-axle control function based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

45. The system according to claim 36, further comprising vehicle lighting in said at least one trailer and means for controlling said vehicle lighting based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

46. The system according to claim 36, further comprising means for recognizing vehicle reversing based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

47. The system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one vehicle door supported on said at least one trailer and means for monitoring the status of said door based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

48. The system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one vehicle axle for said at least one trailer and means for determining axle load based on said at least one of a programmed input fimction and an output function.

49. The system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one vehicle tire of said at least one trailer and means for determining air pressure in said at least one vehicle tire based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

50. The system according to claim 36, further comprising vehicle wheel-bearings of said at least one trailer and means for measuring temperature in said wheel bearings based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.

51. The system according to claim 36, further comprising means for monitoring the temperature of cargo contained in said at least one trailer based on said at least one of a programmed input function and an output function.