# US 11,440,516 B2 · Automated gain and boost for a brake controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,516 B2 - Document ID: US11440516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/517,852 - Filed: 2019-07-22 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-07 - Assignees: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Applicants: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Inventors: Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni; Muthukumar Jegadeeson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440516B2 ## CPC - B60T 8/1708: {for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations} - B60T 7/20: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08) - B60T 8/00: Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force (by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10) - B60T 8/17: Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking {(detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885)} - B60T 8/172: Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters {(B60T8/17551 takes precedence)} - B60T 8/3205: {acceleration (B60T8/34, B60T8/52, B60T8/54, B60T8/56, B60T8/58, B60T8/72, B60T8/86, B60T8/88 take precedence)} - B60T 8/323: {Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations} - B60T 8/3255: {Systems in which the braking action is dependent on brake pedal data} - B60T 13/08: Overrun brakes - B60T 17/18: Safety devices; Monitoring - H01M 4/8814: {Temporary supports, e.g. decal} - H01M 4/8817: {Treatment of supports before application of the catalytic active composition (coated porous composites H01M8/0245)} - H01M 4/8882: {Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking} - H01M 4/8896: {Pressing, rolling, calendering (membrane electrode assemblies H01M8/1004)} - H01M 8/0276: Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) - H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - H01M 8/1039: halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides - H01M 8/106: characterised by the chemical composition of the porous support - H01M 8/1062: characterised by the physical properties of the porous support, e.g. its porosity or thickness - B60T 2220/04: Pedal travel sensor, stroke sensor; Sensing brake request - H01M 8/1093: {mechanical, e.g. pressing, puncturing} - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to controlling brakes of a towed vehicle. A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller is in communication with a speed sensor. The speed sensor determines the speed of a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle. The brake controller automatically sets a gain or boost based on the speed and acceleration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with at least one of an environmental condition and condition under which a towing system is operating; and a brake controller comprising an accelerometer and a processor, the processor in operative communication with the at least one sensor and configured to receive data from the at least one sensor, and wherein the processor determines at least one of a gain level and a boost level based on the data received from the at least one sensor; and wherein the processor initiates a calibration process to determine at least one of the gain level or the boost level based on an occurrence of a triggering event and wherein the processor operatively overrides the determined gain level or boost level in response to receiving a user request to override the determined gain level or boost level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an environmental sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensor comprises at least one of a wind speed sensor, wind direction sensor, and humidity sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensor comprises a windshield wiper sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the windshield wiper sensor sending data to the processor that wipers of a vehicle are on for a predetermined amount of time causes the processor to adjust at least one of the gain level and the boost level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is towing system sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises at least one of a fifth wheel hitch module sensor, a gooseneck module sensor, coupler module sensor, a jack assembly module sensor, a sway control module sensor, and a weight distribution module sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor communicates data related at least one of usage, wear, safety chain engagement, actuation open or closed, proximity to cab and connection or disconnection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a fifth wheel hitch module sensor whereby the fifth wheel hitch module sensor communicates data related to at least one of identifying connection of jaws of a fifth wheel hitch, usage of the fifth wheel hitch, second lock latch status, load status of the fifth wheel hitch and disconnect status. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a gooseneck module sensor whereby the gooseneck module sensor communicates data related to at least one of identifying goose pop up, load status of a gooseneck hitch, usage of the gooseneck hitch, safety chain engagement or disengagement and disconnect status of the gooseneck hitch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a coupler module sensor whereby the coupler module sensor communicates data related to at least one of a coupler safety pin being operatively engaged, whether a coupler is connected or disconnected, load on the coupler, usage amount of the coupler, vibration profile of the coupler, usage of the coupler and misuse or wear of the coupler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a jack assembly module sensor whereby the jack assembly module sensor communicates data related to at least one of a load applied to a jack, cycles performed by the jack, usage of the jack, position of the jack, travel of the jack, pivot location of the jack, and amount of lubrication in the jack. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a sway controller assembly module sensor whereby the sway controller module sensor communicates data related to at least one of road profile data, wheel speed, number of occurrence of sway control, magnitude of occurrence of sway control, trailer conditions, load applied to a sway controller, usage of the sway controller, pin weight of the sway controller, and number of times a warning message is provided to a user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the towing system sensor comprises a weight distribution module sensor whereby the weight distribution module sensor communicates data related to at least one of load applied to a weight distribution system, usage of the weight distribution system, status of a pad on the weight distribution system, number of bar disconnects on the weight distribution system, status of a clip on the weight distribution system, load at a head of the weight distribution system, and level position of the weight distribution system. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a network connected user equipment device; and a brake controller comprising an accelerometer and a processor, the processor in operative communication with the network connected user equipment device and configured to receive data from the network connected user equipment device, wherein the processor determines at least one of a gain level or a boost level based on the data received from the network connected user equipment device; and wherein the processor initiates a calibration process to determine at least one of the gain level or the boost level based on an occurrence of a triggering event and wherein the processor operatively overrides the determined gain level or boost level in response to receiving a user request to override the determined gain level or boost level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the processor transmits data to the user equipment device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with at least one of an environmental condition and condition under which a towing system is operating. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with a braking event.