Integrated passenger vehicle trailer brake controller

• US 20040026987A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Davis, Scott William
• Granted Patent: US 6,966,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/08 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/085 by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08

Abstract

A trailer brake controller 10 for use in a passenger vehicle 12 is provided, including a control element 11 positioned within the passenger vehicle 12, a vehicle speed input 16 and a vehicle brake pressure input 14 providing speed and brake pressure data to the control element 11, and a trailer brake output 18 sending a signal to the trailer in response to the vehicle speed input 16 and the vehicle brake pressure input 14.

Claims

1. A trailer brake controller for use in a passenger vehicle for controlling a towed trailer comprising:

a control element positioned within the passenger vehicle;

a vehicle speed input providing vehicle speed to said control element;

a vehicle brake pressure input providing vehicle brake pressure to said control element; and

a trailer brake output, said trailer brake output controlled by said control element in response to said vehicle speed input and said vehicle brake pressure input.

2. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, wherein said vehicle speed input and said vehicle brake pressure input are provided by a vehicle anti-lock braking system.

3. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, wherein said vehicle brake pressure input is provided by a master cylinder sensor.

4. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a diagnostic input in communication with said control element.

5. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one trailer brake indicator lamp output.

6. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, further comprising:

an anti-lock braking activation input in communication with said control element, said anti-lock braking activation input signaling said control element when a vehicle anti-lock braking system is activated.

7. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one communication element, said at least one communication element providing communication between said control element and a vehicle occupant.

8. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 7, wherein said at least one communication element comprises a display.

9. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 7, wherein said at least one communication element comprises a display, a user control and a user over-ride switch.

10. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 8, wherein said display includes a gain display and a signal strength display.

11. A trailer brake controller for use in a passenger vehicle for controlling a towed trailer comprising;

a control element positioned within the passenger vehicle and in communication with a vehicle anti-lock braking system;

a vehicle speed input providing vehicle speed from said vehicle anti-lock braking system to said control element;

a vehicle brake pressure input providing vehicle brake pressure from said anti-lock braking system to said control element; and

a trailer brake output, said trailer brake output controlled by said control element in response to said vehicle speed input and said vehicle brake pressure input.

12. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 11, further comprising:

a diagnostic input in communication with said control element.

13. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 11, further comprising:

at least one trailer brake indicator lamp output.

14. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 11, further comprising:

an anti-lock braking activation input in communication with said control element, said anti-lock braking activation input signaling said control element when a vehicle anti-lock braking system is activated.

15. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 11, further comprising:

at least one communication element, said at least one communication element providing communication between said control element and a vehicle occupant.

16. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 15, wherein said at least one communication element comprises a display.

17. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 15, wherein said at least one communication element comprises a display, a user control and a user over-ride switch.

18. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 17 wherein said user control comprises a gain input control.

19. A trailer brake controller as described in claim 16, wherein said display includes a gain display and a signal strength display.

20. A method of controlling a trailer braking system comprising:

determining vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure through communication with an anti-lock braking system on the vehicle;

relaying the vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure to a control element positioned on the vehicle;

using said vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure to determine a trailer brake output signal; and

sending said trailer brake output signal to the trailer braking system.

21. A method as described in claim 20, further comprising:

sending a diagnostic signal from the trailer braking system to said control element;

informing a vehicle occupant of said diagnostic signal through the use of a communication element.

22. A method as described in claim 21, wherein said communication element comprises a display mounted within the vehicle dash.