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

• US 7,497,529 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• 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:
  US11/409,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/122.02, 303/122.05, 303/122.06, 303/122.08, 303/123, 303/124, 340/431, 340/438, 340/3.1, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 303/123
• 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. Apparatus for communicating within a vehicle including a power bus, said vehicle including a vehicle subsystem, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver to produce a data-modulated signal from a data signal representing a status of the vehicle subsystem, the data-modulated signal being coupled to the power bus;

an electrical circuit to receive the data-modulated signal from the power bus and determine the status of the vehicle subsystem from said data-modulated signal; and

an indicator responsive to the electrical circuit to indicate the status of the vehicle subsystem to an operator positioned in the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data-modulated signal is a data-modulated spread spectrum signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a tractor/trailer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a programmable controller including operating software to determine the status of the vehicle subsystem.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

7. A method of communicating within a vehicle including a power bus, said vehicle including a vehicle subsystem, the method comprising:

obtaining a data signal representing a status of the vehicle subsystem;

producing a data-modulated signal from the data signal representing the status of the vehicle subsystem;

transmitting the data-modulated signal using the power bus;

receiving the data-modulated signal from the power bus to determine the status of the vehicle subsystem from said data-modulated signal; and

indicating the status of the vehicle subsystem to an operator positioned in the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the vehicle is a tractor/trailer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the data-modulated signal is a data-modulated spread spectrum signal.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the data-modulated signal is a data-modulated spread spectrum signal.

13. Apparatus for communicating within a vehicle including a power bus, said vehicle also including a vehicle subsystem, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a data signal representing a status of the vehicle subsystem;

means for producing a data-modulated signal from the data signal representing the status of the vehicle subsystem;

means for transmitting the data-modulated signal using the power bus;

means for receiving the data-modulated signal from the power bus to determine the status of the vehicle subsystem from said data-modulated signal; and

means for indicating the status of the vehicle subsystem to an operator positioned in the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a tractor/trailer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the data-modulated signal is a data-modulated spread spectrum signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vehicle subsystem comprises an anti-lock braking system.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the data-modulated signal is a data-modulated spread spectrum signal.