Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling tractor/trailer vehicle systems

• US 6,799,814 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Power Talk Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Talk Incorporated
• Inventors: Weant, Bobby Ray, Lesesky, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US10/422,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/122.02, 303/122.05, 303/122.06, 303/122.08, 303/123, 303/124, 340/431, 340/825.36, 340/438, 340/3.1, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 303/122.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/406 Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/323 Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

A status of one or more subsystems positioned on one or more trailers is communicated to a tractor electrically and mechanically connected to the trailer. The status may be automatically supplied by the subsystem or may be requested either by the operator of the tractor/trailer combination or automatically by another subsystem on either the tractor or the trailer. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the status of a respective subsystem is superposed on the power bus. The status of the respective subsystem can then be determined from the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the status of the subsystem is indicated to an operator positioned on the tractor. A command for controlling a subsystem on a trailer can also be communicated from the tractor to the trailer over the power bus. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the command is produced on the power bus, and the subsystem is controlled based on the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the command is received from an operator positioned in the tractor.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring vehicle subsystems, the system comprising:

a vehicle comprising

an antilock braking system and an antilock braking system interface, responsive to the antilock braking system, which produces a data signal representing a status of the antilock braking system,

a power bus which distributes electrical power to the vehicle, and

power line carrier communicating means, responsive to the antilock braking system interface, for producing a data communications signal on the power bus from the data signal, wherein the power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the antilock braking system, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on the power bus from the data signal; and

status determining means, responsive to the power bus, located remote from the vehicle for determining the status of the antilock braking system from the data communications signal, wherein the status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the antilock braking system from the spread spectrum data communications signal.

2. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises:

a modulator, responsive to the antilock braking system, which produces the spread spectrum data communications signal from the data signal, the spread spectrum data communications signal being distributed over a predetermined spectrum of frequencies; and

electrical coupling means for electrically coupling the modulator to the power bus so that the spread spectrum data communications signal is superposed on the power bus.

3. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the status determining means further comprises:

spread spectrum signal receiving means, responsive to the power bus, for receiving the spread spectrum data communications signal; and

means, responsive to the spread spectrum signal receiving means, for determining the status of the antilock braking system from the received spread spectrum data communications signal.

4. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a trailer and the antilock braking system is located on the trailer.

5. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a towed vehicle and the antilock braking system is located on the towed vehicle.

6. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a motorized vehicle and the antilock braking system is located on the motorized vehicle.

7. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a tractor of a tractor/trailer combination vehicle and the antilock braking system is located on the trailer.

8. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the power bus is in electrical communication with and distributes electrical power to the antilock braking system.

9. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 wherein the power bus comprises a plurality of conductors, the status determining means is electrically connected to a conductor of the plurality of conductors, the power bus further comprises a first capacitor disposed between at least two of the plurality of conductors, and the spread spectrum signal producing means is electrically connected to one of the capacitively coupled conductors such that the spread spectrum data communications signal is transmitted via each of the capacitively coupled conductors.

10. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling means for controlling the antilock braking system based on the spread spectrum data communications signal, wherein the controlling means comprises

spread spectrum signal receiving means, responsive to the power bus, for receiving the spread spectrum data communications signal, and

means for controlling the antilock braking system from the received spread spectrum data communications signal.

11. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 10 further comprising operator input means for receiving a command from an operator, wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises means for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal representing the conveyed command.

12. A system for monitoring vehicle subsystems, the system comprising:

a vehicle comprising

a subsystem and a subsystem interface, responsive to the subsystem, which produces a data signal representing a status of the subsystem,

a power bus which distributes electrical power to the vehicle, and

power line carrier communicating means, responsive to the subsystem interface, for producing a data communications signal on the power bus from the data signal, wherein the power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the subsystem, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on the power bus from the data signal; and

status determining means, responsive to the power bus, located remote from the vehicle for determining the status of the subsystem from the data communications signal, wherein the status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the subsystem from the spread spectrum data communications signal.

13. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises:

a modulator, responsive to the subsystem, which produces the spread spectrum data communications signal from the data signal, the spread spectrum data communications signal being distributed over a predetermined spectrum of frequencies; and

electrical coupling means for electrically coupling the modulator to the power bus so that the spread spectrum data communications signal is superposed on the power bus.

14. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the status determining means further comprises:

spread spectrum signal receiving means, responsive to the power bus, for receiving the spread spectrum data communications signal; and

means, responsive to the spread spectrum signal receiving means, for determining the status of the subsystem from the received spread spectrum data communications signal.

15. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the vehicle is a trailer and the subsystem is located on the trailer.

16. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the vehicle is a towed vehicle and the subsystem is located on the towed vehicle.

17. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the vehicle is a motorized vehicle and the subsystem is located on the motorized vehicle.

18. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the vehicle is a tractor of a tractor/trailer combination vehicle and the subsystem is located on the trailer.

19. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the power bus is in electrical communication with and distributes electrical power to the subsystem.

20. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a braking system.

21. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 20 wherein the braking system comprises an antilock braking system.

22. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a temperature system.

23. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a pressure system.

24. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a refrigeration system.

25. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a lighting system.

26. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 wherein the subsystem comprises a sensor system.

27. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 26 wherein the sensor system comprises a door sensor system.

28. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of the claim 12 wherein the power bus comprises a plurality of conductors, the status determining means is electrically connected to a conductor of the plurality of conductors, the power bus further comprises a first capacitor disposed between at least two of the plurality of conductors, and the spread spectrum signal producing means is electrically connected to one of the capacitively coupled conductors such that the spread spectrum data communications signal is transmitted via each of the capacitively coupled conductors.

29. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 12 further comprising:

controlling means for controlling the subsystem based on the spread spectrum data communications signal, wherein the controlling means comprises

spread spectrum signal receiving means, responsive to the power bus, for receiving the spread spectrum data communications signal, and

means for controlling the subsystem from the received spread spectrum data communications signal.

30. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 29 further comprising operator input means for receiving a command from an operator, wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises means for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal representing the conveyed command.

31. A system for monitoring vehicle subsystems, the system comprising:

a vehicle comprising

a first subsystem and a plurality of second subsystems,

a power bus which supplies electrical power to the vehicle,

spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the first subsystem, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal representing the status of the first subsystem on the power bus, and

means for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal placed on the power bus by the spread spectrum signal producing means from distortion by the second subsystems; and

status determining means, responsive to the power bus, located remote from the vehicle for determining the status of the first subsystem from the spread spectrum data communications signal.

32. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the means for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal comprises inductive elements.

33. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the means for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal comprises ferrite beads.

34. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the means for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal is a low pass filter that filters out high frequency signals.

35. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the power bus supplies power to the first subsystem and each of a plurality of second subsystems.

36. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the means for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal is associated with respective ones of the second subsystems for protecting the spread spectrum data communications signal placed on the power bus by the spread spectrum signal producing means from distortion by the second subsystems.

37. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 31 wherein the first subsystem comprises a braking system.

38. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 37 wherein the braking system comprises an antilock braking system.

39. A system for monitoring vehicle subsystems, the system comprising:

a vehicle comprising

a plurality of subsystems positioned on the vehicle,

a power bus which supplies electrical power to the vehicle,

spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the plurality of subsystems, for producing spread spectrum data communications signals representing the status of the plurality of subsystems on the power bus, wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises

a plurality of protocol specific transmitters associated with respective ones of the subsystems, wherein each protocol specific transmitter receives signals having a predetermined protocol and converts the signals to a standardized format, and

means for producing spread spectrum data communications signals representative of the status of respective ones of the subsystems based upon the signals having the standardized format provided by the protocol specific transmitters; and

status determining means, responsive to the power bus, located remote from the vehicle for determining the status of respective ones of the plurality of subsystems from the spread spectrum data communications signals.

40. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 39 wherein the means for producing spread spectrum data communications signals comprises a spread spectrum transceiver that includes means for determining the state of the spread spectrum transceiver such that signals transmitted by the spread spectrum transceiver are not also received and processed by the spread spectrum transceiver.

41. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 39 further comprising a selection input for selecting at least one protocol specific transmitter to receive signals having a predetermined protocol and to convert the signals to the standardized format.

42. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 39 wherein at least one of the plurality of subsystems comprises a braking system.

43. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 42 wherein the braking system comprises an antilock braking system.

44. A system for monitoring vehicle subsystems, the system comprising:

a vehicle comprising

a plurality of subsystems positioned on the vehicle,

a power bus which supplies electrical power to the vehicle, and

spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the plurality of subsystems, for producing spread spectrum data communications signals representing the respective status of the plurality of subsystems on the power bus, wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises a plurality of spread spectrum transmitters, responsive to respective ones of the subsystems, for producing spread spectrum communications signals representing the status of the respective subsystem, and wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means comprises self-diagnostic means associated with at least one of the transmitters for halting further transmission by the respective spread spectrum transmitter to the communications system if the self-diagnostic means determines that the respective spread spectrum transmitter is being provided with inaccurate signals such that the remainder of the communications system will continue to operate; and

status determining means, responsive to the power bus, located remote from the vehicle for determining the status of respective ones of the plurality of subsystems from the spread spectrum data communications signals.

45. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 44 wherein at least one of the plurality of subsystems comprises a braking system.

46. The system for monitoring vehicle subsystems of claim 45 wherein the braking system comprises an antilock braking system.