Communication device, system, and method for active control of external vehicle components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370255-B2
Application number	US-201916534264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to data collection and communication related to after-market and external vehicle systems, such as towing systems, cargo carrying systems, trailer breakaway systems, brake systems, braking control systems, and the like. Data is sensed, processed, shared, and further leveraged throughout the discrete components of the system, and possibly via internet and other communications' links, to effect various beneficial actions with minimal driver/user interaction or intervention. In the same manner, data from the system may be used for diagnostic reasons, safety controls, and other purposes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for active control of external vehicle components, the control system comprising:
a trailer brake controller;
a wheel speed sensor operatively coupled with the trailer brake controller; and
a controller in operative communication with the wheel speed sensor and the trailer brake controller to receive data with respect to the trailer brake controller and wherein the controller processes the data and sends a direction to act to the trailer brake controller, wherein the controller is in operative communication with both the wheel speed sensor and the trailer brake controller and the operative communication is wireless.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is integrated into the trailer brake controller.

3. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface operatively coupled with the trailer brake controller.

4. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of the following: a smartphone, tablet, computer, and user interface of a trailer brake controller.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel speed sensor is selected from the group consisting of a Hall Effect sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller receives information wirelessly from at least one of an internet-based data server and a private party data server.

7. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the information received by the controller relates to environmental conditions.

8. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller sends information wirelessly to at least one of an internet-based data server and a private party data server.

9. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the information sent by the controller relates to diagnostic information of the trailer brake controller.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the internet-based data server and the private party data server modifies an operating condition of the trailer brake controller.

11. A control system for active control of external vehicle components, the control system comprising:
a trailer brake controller;
a sensor operatively coupled with the trailer brake controller; and
a controller in operative communication with the sensor and the trailer brake controller receives data regarding the trailer brake controller and wherein the controller processes the data and sends a direction to adjust either of a boost or a gain on the trailer brake controller, wherein the controller receives information wirelessly from at least one of an internet-based data server and a private party data server.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein adjustment of either of the boost or gain on the trailer brake controller is done without human intervention.

13. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the trailer brake controller increases or decreases the boost.

14. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the trailer brake controller increases or decreases the gain.

15. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the information received relates to weather conditions and adjustment of either the boost or gain relates to the weather condition.

16. A system comprising:
a trailer brake controller comprising a wheel speed sensor operatively and wirelessly coupled with the trailer brake controller;
a second towing accessory device comprising a second sensor, the trailer brake controller and second towing accessory device in operative communication; and
a communication device in operative communication with the wheel speed sensor, wherein data from the wheel speed sensor is communicated to the communication device and the communication device sends instructions to the second towing accessory to generate an action for the second towing accessory device.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second towing accessory device comprises a sway control device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the sway control device moves to a sleep mode.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Brickley Fred
• Kulkarni Chandrakumar D
• Bernart Francis

Classifications

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60D1/26 Primary

  for remote control, e.g. for releasing · CPC title

• B60D1/62

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60W30/02

  Control of vehicle driving stability · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title