Method and control device for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352684-B2
Application number	US-201214237412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2012
Priority date	Aug 30, 2011
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

In a method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one light on the trailer is actuated with an emergency brake signal during emergency braking and with a normal signal during a different driving state. The emergency brake signal causes a different actuation of the light than does the normal signal. The light can be actuated by a control signal of the towing vehicle, and the actuation state of the light can be influenced by at least one control device on the trailer. The control device detects the control signal generated by the towing vehicle and fed to the trailer to actuate the light, and analyzes the control signal. If it detects that the control signal is an emergency brake signal, it does not carry out a dedicated actuation of the light, or it effects a different actuation of the light than in other cases.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one light disposed on the trailer vehicle being operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal and operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, the emergency braking signal causing different operation of the at least one light than the normal signal, and the at least one light being controllable by a control signal of the towing vehicle and by at least one control device disposed on the trailer vehicle, the at least one control device comprising at least one data processor, the method comprising using the at least one data processor to detect and analyze a control signal comprising a pulsed control signal for operating the at least one light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle; identify the pulsed control signal as being an emergency braking signal; and, based on the identified pulsed control signal, avoiding generation of an anti-phase pulsed control signal for the at least one light that would cancel the pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising using the at least one data processor to one of:
a) pass the control signal from the towing vehicle through to the at least one light,
b) inhibit the control signal from the towing vehicle and outputting a separate pulsed control signal to the at least one light, and
c) output a separate control signal to the at least one light that is synchronized with the control signal from the towing vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, when the control signal is determined to correspond to a driving state other than an emergency braking situation, using the at least one data processor to determine whether a braking process of the trailer vehicle is emergency braking, and operate the at least one light with an emergency braking signal generated by the at least one control device, based on at least one of (i) at least one sensor signal of at least one sensor disposed on the trailer vehicle and delivered to the at least one control device and (ii) braking data supplied to the at least one control device from the towing vehicle.

4. A control device, comprising at least one light control signal input terminal; and at least one data processor, the control device being configured to carry out a method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, the trailer vehicle having at least one light operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal, operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, and controllable by the at least one data processor and by a control signal of the towing vehicle, the method comprising using the at least one data processor to detect and analyze a control signal comprising a pulsed control signal for operating the at least one light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle, identify the pulsed control signal as being an emergency braking signal, and, based on the identified pulsed control signal, avoiding generation of an anti-phase pulsed control signal for the at least one light that would cancel the pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle.

5. A trailer vehicle, comprising a control device having at least one light control signal input terminal and at least one data processor; at least one light being operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal, operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, and controllable by the at least one data processor and by a control signal of a towing vehicle; and an electrical connector configured to connect an electrical system of the trailer vehicle to an electrical system of the towing vehicle, wherein the at least one light is indirectly connected to the electrical connector via at least one electrical line of the electrical system of the trailer vehicle such that the at least one light is connectable to the electrical connector via the control device and a switch controllable by the at least one data processor, the control device being configured to carry out a method for signaling a braking process on the trailer vehicle, the method comprising using the at least one data processor to detect and analyze a control signal comprising a pulsed control signal for operating the at least one light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle, identify the pulsed control signal as being an emergency braking signal, and, based on the identified pulsed control signal, avoiding generation of an anti-phase pulsed control signal for the at least one light that would cancel the pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle.

6. A method for signaling a braking process on a trailer vehicle coupled to a towing vehicle, at least one brake light disposed on the trailer vehicle being operable for emergency braking with an emergency braking signal and operable for a different driving state with a normal signal, the emergency braking signal causing different operation of the at least one brake light than the normal braking signal, and the at least one brake light being controllable by a brake light signal of the towing vehicle and by at least one control device disposed on the trailer vehicle, the at least one control device comprising at least one data processor, the method comprising using the at least one data processor to detect and analyze a brake light signal comprising a pulsed control signal for operating the at least one brake light that is generated by the towing vehicle and supplied to the trailer vehicle; identify the pulsed control signal as being an emergency braking signal; and, based on the identified pulsed control signal, avoiding generation of an anti-phase pulsed control signal for the at least one brake light that would cancel the pulsed control signal from the towing vehicle.

Assignees

• Barlsen Holger
• Bleckmann Bjorn
• Risse Rainer
• Stender Axel
• Wabco Gmbh

Inventors

• Barlsen Holger
• Bleckmann Bjorn
• Risse Rainer
• Stender Axel

Classifications

• B60Q1/444 Primary

  with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication (B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/52

  for indicating emergencies · CPC title

• B60Q1/44

  for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} · CPC title

• B60Q1/305 Primary

  Indicating devices for towed vehicles · CPC title