METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DRIVING A VEHICLE TRAILER TOW CONNECTOR

• US 20100029097A1
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Burlak, Gary, Mirowski, Marian
• Granted Patent: US 7,932,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

In a method for driving electronic devices connected to a vehicle trailer tow connector a trailer electronic device control signal is receiving from a vehicle data communication network. In response to the received control signal, a solid state power control device is switched to connect electrical power to a selected pin of the trailer tow connector. The trailer electronic device control signal may be received from a wiring harness connector connected to a vehicle data communication network. A vehicle trailer tow connector module includes a module housing. A vehicle wiring connector and a trailer wiring connector are coupled to the module housing. A power control circuit is connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector. A controller circuit is coupled to the vehicle wiring connector for receiving communication data from a vehicle data bus, and coupled by control lines to the power control circuit.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A vehicle trailer tow connector module comprising:

a module housing;

a vehicle wiring connector coupled to the module housing, wherein the vehicle wiring connector includes a battery power connection pin;

a trailer wiring connector coupled to the module housing;

a power control circuit having a power input coupled to the battery power connection pin, a power output connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector; and

a controller circuit coupled to the vehicle wiring connector for receiving communication data from a vehicle data bus, and coupled by control lines to the power control circuit.

11. The vehicle trailer tow connector module according to claim 10 wherein the controller circuit farther includes a vehicle data bus interface coupled to a processor.

12. The vehicle trailer tow connector module according to claim 10 wherein the power control circuit further includes:

a current sense circuit for sensing the current flowing through the power control circuit; and

a current sense signal output coupled to the controller circuit.

13. The vehicle trailer tow connector module according to claim 10 wherein the controller circuit further includes a fault detection circuit for sensing an out-of-range current in the power control circuit.

14. The vehicle trailer tow connector module according to claim 10 wherein the controller circuit further includes a logic failure detection circuit for sensing a malfunction of the controller circuit and setting the power control circuit in a fail safe mode.

15-30. -30. (canceled)