BRAKE CONTROL UNIT
First Claim
1. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
- receiving a speed signal based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle;
generating a brake output signal based on at least said speed signal;
sending said brake output signal to brakes of said towed vehicle to provide power to said brakes;
applying said brakes of said towed vehicle based on said brake output signal;
determining a relationship between said speed and a speed threshold;
applying a function to modify said brake output signal only when said speed of the towing vehicle is below said speed threshold;
wherein said function modifies said brake output based on said speed; and
wherein said brake output signal is not modified based on speed when said speed of said towing vehicle is above said speed threshold.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise very dangerous conditions can be created. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle is, therefore, needed. The method comprises receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle, receiving pressure signals based on pressure of a hydraulic brake system of the towing vehicle, and generating a brake output signal based on the speed signals and the pressure signals.
7 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
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receiving a speed signal based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; generating a brake output signal based on at least said speed signal; sending said brake output signal to brakes of said towed vehicle to provide power to said brakes; applying said brakes of said towed vehicle based on said brake output signal; determining a relationship between said speed and a speed threshold; applying a function to modify said brake output signal only when said speed of the towing vehicle is below said speed threshold; wherein said function modifies said brake output based on said speed; and wherein said brake output signal is not modified based on speed when said speed of said towing vehicle is above said speed threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
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receiving a speed signal based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; generating a brake output signal based on at least said speed signal; sending said brake output signal to brakes of said towed vehicle to provide power to said brakes; applying said brakes of said towed vehicle based on said brake output signal; determining a relationship between said speed and a speed threshold; applying a function to modify said brake output signal only when said speed of the towing vehicle is above said speed threshold; wherein said function modifies said brake output based on said speed; and wherein said brake output signal is not modified based on speed when said speed of said towing vehicle is above said speed threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
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periodically receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; providing a brake output signal to brakes of said towed vehicle; estimating towing conditions of said towed vehicle based on changes in said received speed signals attributable to said brake output signal; and modifying said brake output signal based on said estimated towing conditions to compensate for variations in said brakes of said towed vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
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periodically receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; increasing power supplied by a brake output signal to brakes of said towed vehicle until a preset threshold deceleration is achieved for said towed vehicle; determining reduction in said speed signals over a fixed time period; determining a braking power at which said preset threshold deceleration is achieved; and determining characteristics of said towed vehicle based on said reduction in said speed. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle comprising:
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receiving a speed signal based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; generating a brake output signal based on said received speed signals, said brake output signal being capable of being sent to brakes of said towed vehicle; determining actual deceleration of said towed vehicle attributable to said brake output signal; and determining characteristics of said towed vehicle based upon said actual deceleration of said towed vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:
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periodically receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle; estimating a gain setting of said towed vehicle based on said speed signals and the prevailing conditions of said towed vehicle to determine a maximum braking power before wheels of said towed vehicle lock up; and applying said gain setting to limit said maximum braking power. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification