# US 12,005,878 B2 · Methods and systems for automated brake feel optimization for trailering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,878 B2 - Document ID: US12005878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/647,824 - Filed: 2022-01-12 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-12 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Glenn Pietila; Steven Aiuto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005878B2 ## CPC - B60T 8/3255: {Systems in which the braking action is dependent on brake pedal data} - B60T 7/20: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08) - B60T 8/1708: {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 8/323: {Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations} - B60T 2220/04: Pedal travel sensor, stroke sensor; Sensing brake request - B60T 2270/88: Pressure measurement in brake systems - 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 ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle towing a trailer. In an embodiments, a method includes: storing, in a data storage device, target deceleration values associated with the vehicle not towing the trailer; when the vehicle towing the trailer is determined to be braking, determining, by a processor, that a target deceleration value of the target deceleration values is not met, adjusting a brake sensitivity value associated with trailer braking based on the target deceleration value; and controlling deceleration of the towing vehicle based on the brake sensitivity value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling deceleration of a vehicle towing a trailer, comprising: storing, in a data storage device, target deceleration values associated with the vehicle not towing the trailer; when the vehicle towing the trailer is determined to be braking, determining, by a processor, that a target deceleration value of the target deceleration values based on a brake pedal position is not met, adjusting a brake sensitivity value associated with trailer braking based on the target deceleration value; and controlling deceleration of the towing vehicle based on the brake sensitivity value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the target deceleration values include a curve defined by deceleration rate and at least one of the brake pedal position and brake pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the storing is performed based on sensed values and in realtime with the vehicle not towing the trailer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, where the storing is based on predefined values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining when a brake pressure is above a brake pressure threshold, and in response, the adjusting comprises setting the brake sensitivity value to brake gain threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining when a brake pressure is below a brake pressure threshold, and in response the adjusting comprises scaling a brake sensitivity curve based on a difference between the target deceleration value and an actual deceleration value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising limiting the brake sensitivity curve based on a brake gain threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising applying a filter to the scaled brake sensitivity curve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling brakes of the trailer by generating control signals based on the brake sensitivity value. ### Claim 10 A system for controlling deceleration of a vehicle towing a trailer, comprising: a computer readable medium configured to store target deceleration values associated with the vehicle not towing the trailer; and a processor onboard the vehicle and configured to: when the vehicle towing the trailer is determined to be braking, determine that a target deceleration value of the target deceleration values based on a brake pedal position is not met, adjust a brake sensitivity value associated with trailer braking based on the target deceleration value; and control deceleration of the towing vehicle based on the brake sensitivity value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the target deceleration values include a curve defined by deceleration rate and at least one of the brake pedal position and brake pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computer readable medium stores the target deceleration values based on sensed values and in realtime with the vehicle not towing the trailer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computer readable medium stores the target deceleration values based on predefined values. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to determine when a brake pressure is above a brake pressure threshold, and in response, adjust by setting the brake sensitivity value to a brake gain threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to determine when a brake pressure is below a brake pressure threshold, and in response, adjust by scaling a brake sensitivity curve based on a difference between the target deceleration value and an actual deceleration value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to limit the brake gain sensitivity curve based on a break gain threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to apply a filter to the scaled brake sensitivity curve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to control brakes of the trailer by generating control signals based on the brake sensitivity value. ### Claim 19 A vehicle, comprising: a connection apparatus configured to connect to a trailer; and a computer readable medium configured to store target deceleration values associated with the vehicle not towing the trailer; and a processor onboard the vehicle and configured to: when the vehicle towing the trailer is determined to be braking, determining, by a processor, that a target deceleration value of the target deceleration values based on a brake pedal position is not met, adjusting a brake sensitivity value associated with trailer braking based on the target deceleration value; and controlling deceleration of the towing vehicle based on the brake sensitivity value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the computer readable medium is further configured to: determine when a brake pressure is above a brake pressure threshold, and in response, adjust by setting the brake sensitivity value to a brake gain threshold; and determine when the brake pressure is below the brake pressure threshold, and in response, adjust by scaling a brake sensitivity curve based on a difference between the target deceleration value and an actual deceleration value.