Trailer brake gain determination
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPatrick DiGioacchino, Alexander Barath, Hasan Alper Hepguvendik, Avesta Goodarzi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Trailer brake gain in a towing configuration of a tow vehicle and a trailer is determined by providing, to a processor, trailer wheel rotation information. The processor provides trailer brake control signals at a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains. The processor determines the trailer brake gain based upon the trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains.
Claims20
An apparatus for determining a trailer brake gain in a towing configuration including a tow vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
- a trailer brake system responsive to a trailer brake apply signal to apply trailer brakes;
- at least one trailer wheel including a corresponding rotation sensor providing trailer wheel rotation information for the at least one trailer wheel;
- and
- a brake controller configured to implement an automated trailer brake gain determination process upon validation of predetermined conditions, the automated trailer brake gain determination process comprising:
- monitoring the trailer wheel rotation information;
- providing trailer brake control signals comprising a maximum trailer brake torque subjected to a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- and
- determining the trailer brake gain based upon trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains.
A method for determining a trailer brake gain in a towing configuration including a tow vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
- providing, to a processor, trailer wheel rotation information;
- providing, by the processor, trailer brake control signals comprising a maximum trailer brake torque subjected to a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- and
- determining, by the processor, the trailer brake gain based upon the trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains.
An apparatus for determining a trailer brake gain in a towing configuration including a tow vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
- a trailer brake system responsive to a trailer brake apply signal to apply trailer brakes;
- at least one trailer wheel including a corresponding rotation sensor providing trailer wheel rotation information for the at least one trailer wheel;
- and
- a brake controller configured to implement an automated trailer brake gain determination process upon validation of predetermined conditions, the automated trailer brake gain determination process comprising:
- monitoring the trailer wheel rotation information;
- providing trailer brake control signals at a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- and
- determining the trailer brake gain based upon trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- wherein the trailer brake control signals are provided iteratively to converge upon the largest evaluation trailer brake gain not associated with a lock-up condition of the at least one trailer wheel as the trailer brake gain;
- and
- wherein convergence upon the largest evaluation trailer brake gain comprises a binary search algorithm.
A method for determining a trailer brake gain in a towing configuration including a tow vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
- providing, to a processor, trailer wheel rotation information;
- providing, by the processor, trailer brake control signals at a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- and
- determining, by the processor, the trailer brake gain based upon the trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains;
- wherein the trailer brake control signals are provided iteratively to converge upon the largest evaluation trailer brake gain not associated with a trailer wheel lock-up condition as the trailer brake gain;
- and
- wherein convergence upon the largest evaluation trailer brake gain comprises a binary search algorithm.
A method for determining a trailer brake gain in a towing configuration including a tow vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
- detecting, by a processor, that the trailer and tow vehicle are coupled into the towing configuration;
- conveying to a tow vehicle operator, by the processor, predetermined conditions required to automatically determine the trailer brake gain, the predetermined conditions comprising driving the towing configuration in a straight path above a predetermined speed;
- sensing trailer wheel rotation with a tire pressure monitor configured to sense trailer wheel rotation and wirelessly communicate trailer wheel rotation information to the processor;
- receiving, by the processor, a request for engagement of the trailer brakes while the predetermined conditions are validated;
- and
- iteratively providing, by the processor, trailer brake control signals at a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains to converge upon the largest evaluation trailer brake gain not associated with a trailer wheel lock-up condition as the trailer brake gain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.