Detection of trailer presence and type by means of current detection
First Claim
1. A device for detecting the presence and type of trailer connected to a towing vehicle, said device comprising:
- means for applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and a plurality of means for measuring the individual currents consumed by components in said first sub system including means for comparing the level of said individual currents to a first predefined threshold;
means for applying a second voltage to a second amount of power lines in the first sub system in the trailer;
means for measuring the total current in said second amount of power lines; and
decision means for comparing the total current in the second amount of power lines to a second threshold and thereby determining at least one of (1) whether a trailer is present and (2) characteristics of a detected trailer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and device for detecting the presence and type of trailer which may have been connected to a vehicle including arrangements for applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and arrangements for measuring the individual currents consumed by components in the first sub system. An arrangement is also included for comparing the individual currents to a first predefined threshold. The device additionally has arrangements for applying a second voltage to a second amount of power lines in the first sub system in the trailer and an arrangement for measuring the total current in the second amount of power lines, together with an arrangement for comparing the total current in the second amount of power lines to a second threshold. An arrangement for making decisions is provided and adapted to decide which kind of trailer, if any, is connected to the towing vehicle based on the measured currents.
11 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for detecting the presence and type of trailer connected to a towing vehicle, said device comprising:
- means for applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and a plurality of means for measuring the individual currents consumed by components in said first sub system including means for comparing the level of said individual currents to a first predefined threshold;
means for applying a second voltage to a second amount of power lines in the first sub system in the trailer;
means for measuring the total current in said second amount of power lines; and
decision means for comparing the total current in the second amount of power lines to a second threshold and thereby determining at least one of (1) whether a trailer is present and (2) characteristics of a detected trailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- means for applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and a plurality of means for measuring the individual currents consumed by components in said first sub system including means for comparing the level of said individual currents to a first predefined threshold;
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7. A method for detecting the presence and type of trailer connected to a towing vehicle, said method comprising:
- applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and measuring by a plurality of measuring means the individual currents consumed by components in said first sub system;
comparing the level of said individual currents to a first predefined threshold;
applying a second voltage to a second amount of power lines in the first sub system in the trailer;
measuring the total current in said second amount of power lines;
comparing the total current in the second amount of power lines to a second threshold; and
determining at least one of (1) whether a trailer is present and (2) characteristics of a detected trailer, said determination being based on said measured currents. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- applying a first voltage to a first amount of power lines for a first sub system in the trailer and measuring by a plurality of measuring means the individual currents consumed by components in said first sub system;
Specification