Device and Procedure for the Monitoring of a Trailer Connection Box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209452-A1
Application number	US-201414781080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2014
Priority date	Apr 3, 2013
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for the monitoring of a trailer connection box of a vehicle to which the electrical system of a trailer can be connected. The device may include a circuit having a first connection (VBB) for the connection with a positive potential of a voltage of an electric system of the vehicle. The device may include second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) for the connection with contacts of the trailer connection box. The device may include a current and/or voltage sensor (SI), with first controllable switches (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ), being connected in series to one of the second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) each. In a closed state of the first switch (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) is connected in series to the second connection (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL), each of the second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) is connected via this first switch (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) with a first node (K). The first node (K) is connected to the first connection (VBB) via the current and/or voltage sensor (SI).

First claim

1 . A device for the monitoring of a trailer connection box of a vehicle to which the electrical system of a trailer can be connected, comprising:
a circuit including:
a first connection for connection with a positive potential of a voltage of an electric system of the vehicle,
second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) for connection with contacts of the trailer connection box,
a current and/or voltage sensor (SI),
first controllable switches (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ), being connected in series to one of the second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) each,
wherein, in a closed state of the first switch (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) being connected in series to the second connection (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL), each of the second connections (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) is connected via this its respective first switch (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) with a first node (K) and wherein the first node (K) is connected to the first connection (VBB) via the current and/or voltage sensor (SI).

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit has a second controllable switch (S 2 ) being connected in series to the current and/or voltage sensor (SI) and the first connection (VBB).

3 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the circuit has a diode (D 1 ) connected in series to the current and/or voltage sensor (SI), the first connection (VBB) and, where applicable, a said second switch (S 2 ).

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first node (K) can be connected with a third connection for the connection with a ground potential of a vehicle electric system via a third controllable switch (S 3 ).

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein a resistor (Rrf) is connected in series to the third switch (S 3 ).

6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the device has a control being connected to the control connections of the first switch (S 11 -S 17 ) and, if applicable, of the second and/or third switch S 2 , S 3 ).

7 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein by means of the second switch (S 2 ), the mode of the circuit can be changed from the stand-by mode into an active mode and vice versa;
wherein in the active mode of the circuit, measuring with the current and/or voltage sensor (SI) is possible.

8 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein by means of the control, a first switch or groups of first switches can be controlled with regard to closing.

9 . A procedure for the monitoring of a trailer connection box comprising a device according to claim 1 comprising the step of closing of a group of first switches (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) to check whether the electric system of a vehicle trailer is connected to the connection box.

10 . The procedure according to claim 9 , further including the steps of sequentially closing of the first switches (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ) to check whether a current-carrying load is connected to the second connection (Brkl, POSLL, POS LR, TurnSL, TurnSR, RevL, FogL) is connected in series relative to the closed first switch (S 11 , . . . , S 17 ).

Assignees

• Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co
• Hella Kgaa & Co

Inventors

• Dome Juri
• Schmaling Jan

Classifications

• G01R31/69

  of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances · CPC title

• G01R31/006 Primary

  on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks (testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00) · CPC title

• G01R31/54

  Testing for continuity · CPC title