# US 11,440,523 B2 · Detecting electric over hydraulic trailer connectivity

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- Number: US 11,440,523 B2
- Document ID: US11440523B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/603,265
- Filed: 2018-04-10
- Published: 2021-04-08
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-10
- Assignees: Horizon Global Americas Inc.
- Applicants: Horizon Global Americas Inc.
- Inventors: Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440523B2

## CPC

- B60T 7/20: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08)
- B60T 17/221: {Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems (hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M)}
- B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling}
- B60T 7/00: Brake-action initiating means
- B60T 8/1708: {for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations}
- B60T 8/172: Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters {(B60T8/17551 takes precedence)}
- B60T 13/662: {characterised by specified functions of the control system components}
- G01R 31/68: Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board
- B60T 2270/406: Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
- 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
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller sends signals to the brakes of the towed vehicle. The brake controller sends signals to determine whether the trailer brakes are properly connected. The signals may include a pulse train. The pulse train charges hydraulic braking systems for resistive testing. The brake controller determines whether the brakes are connected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A brake controller for controlling brakes of a towed vehicle, the brake controller comprising:
a processor that operatively initiates transmission of a test signal for testing the connectivity of the brakes of the towed vehicle to the brake controller;
an output driver circuit operatively coupled to the processor to receive the test signal and initiate application of an electronic signal to the brakes, and to measure resistance of the brakes;
wherein, in response to determining that the resistance is within a first range corresponding to electromagnetic brakes, the processor identifies the brakes are connected and adjusts operation of the brake controller for the electromagnetic brakes, and
wherein, in response to the determining that the resistance is not within the first range, the processor generates a pulse train to be applied to the brakes, iterates transmission of the test signal, and in response to determining that the resistance is within a second range corresponding to electric over hydraulic (EOH) brakes, the processor identifies the brakes are connected and adjusts operation of the brake controller for the EOH brakes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the processor identifies the brakes as not connected when the resistance is not within the first range and not within the second range.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the pulse train with a pulse period of about 2 ms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The brake controller of claim 3, wherein the processor generates the pulse train with a pulse width of about 100 μs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The brake controller of claim 3, wherein the processor repeats the pulse train once every 250 ms.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the processor generates pulses of the pulse train such that the time period between consecutive pulses is about 2 ms.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the processor repeats the pulse train such that the time period between consecutive pulses is about 250 ms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the pulse train is about 50*(2 ms+100 μs)=105 ms.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, wherein the processor measures inductance at the output driver circuit and determines whether the inductance indicates that the electromagnetic brakes are present.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled to the processor and operatively indicating a connectivity status to the trailer brakes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The brake controller of claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the processor stores a type associated with the trailer brakes in the memory.

### Claim 12

A brake controller for determining connectivity of trailer brakes comprising:
a processor; and
an output driver circuit selectively coupled to the trailer brakes,
wherein the processor generates a pulse train to be applied to a trailer brake system, the pulse train comprising a plurality of pulses that operatively charge an input circuit of the trailer brake system if the trailer brake system is operatively connected, and
wherein the processor measures resistance a response at the output driver circuit after application of the pulse train to determine whether the trailer brake system is operatively connected;
wherein:
(A) (i) the response is a measurement of inductance, and (ii) determining that when the response corresponds to an inductance range corresponding to electromagnetic brakes, the processor identifies the brakes are connected and adjusts a transfer function of the brake controller for the electromagnetic brakes,
(B) when the response does not correspond to the inductance range, (i) the response is a measurement of resistance, and (ii) the resistance is within a first range corresponding to electromagnetic brakes, the processor identifies the brakes are connected and adjusts the operation of the brake controller for the electromagnetic brakes,
(C) in response to the determining that the resistance is not within the first range, (i) the response is a measurement of resistance, and (ii) when the resistance is within a second range corresponding to electric over hydraulic (EOH) brakes, the processor identifies the brakes are connected and adjusts operation of the brake controller for the EOH brakes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The brake controller of claim 12, wherein the processor periodically iterates generation of the pulse train and measuring the response at the output driver circuit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The brake controller of claim 12, the output driver circuit operatively receives the pulse train from the processor and applies the pulse train to a terminal connection that is operatively connected to the trailer brake system.

### Claim 15

A method for determining connectivity of trailer brakes to a brake controller, the method comprising:
generating a resistive test signal to apply to a connection terminal of an output circuit of the brake controller;
measuring resistance at the output circuit;
in response to determining that the resistance is within a first range corresponding to electric brakes, identifying the trailer brakes as operatively connected to electronic brakes;
in response to determining that the resistance is not within the first range, generating a pulse train to be applied to the connection terminal of the output circuit;
measuring resistance at the output circuit after application of the pulse train; and
in response to determining that the resistance is within a second range corresponding to electric over hydraulic (EOH) brakes, identifying the trailer brakes as operatively connected to EOH brakes.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising generating an inductive test signal to be applied to the connection terminal of the output circuit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring inductance at the output circuit in response to the inductive test signal and determining whether the trailer brakes are properly connected.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising indicating a connectivity status of the trailer brakes through a user interface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a type associated with the trailer brakes in response to determining that the trailer brakes are operatively connected.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein in response to identifying the trailer brakes as operatively connected to electronic brakes, adjusting a transfer function of the brake controller for the electromagnetic brakes, and wherein in response to identifying the trailer brakes as operatively connected to EOH brakes, adjusting a transfer function of the brake controller for the EOH brakes.