Automated gain and boost for a brake controller
AssigneeHorizon Global Americas Inc.
InventorsChandrakumar D. Kulkarni, Muthukumar Jegadeeson
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
An automated braking system for a towing vehicle and towed vehicle configuration, comprising:
- at least one sensor configured to determine at least one parameter associated with a condition under which a towing system is operating;
- and
- a brake controller comprising a processor, the processor in operative communication with the at least one sensor;
- wherein:
- in a calibration state, the brake controller is configured to quantify a first braking intent based on monitored movement of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle,
- in a towing state, the brake controller is configured to quantify a second braking intent based on the monitored movement of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle coupled together, and
- the brake controller is configured to determine a gain level and a boost level based on the first and second braking intent.
An automated braking system for a towing vehicle and towed vehicle configuration, comprising:
- a network connected user equipment device;
- and
- a brake controller comprising a processor, the processor in operative communication with and configured to receive data from the network connected user equipment device,
- wherein:
- in a calibration state, the brake controller is configured to quantify a first braking intent based on monitored movement of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle,
- in a towing state, the brake controller is configured to quantify a second braking intent based on the monitored movement of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle coupled together, and
- the brake controller is configured to determine a gain level and a boost level based on the first and second braking intent.
A system for automatically determining braking settings of a braking system in a towing vehicle and towed vehicle configuration, the system comprising:
- a sensor;
- an accelerometer;
- and
- a brake controller;
- wherein:
- (i) in a calibration state:
- the sensor is configured to monitor movement of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle,
- the accelerometer is configured to determine a first deceleration value of the towing vehicle, and
- the brake controller is configured to quantify a first braking intent based on the monitored movement of the brake pedal of the towing vehicle, and calculate a first braking value based on the first braking intent and first deceleration value of the towing vehicle;
- (ii) in a towing state:
- the sensor is configured to monitor movement of the brake pedal of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle coupled together,
- the accelerometer is configured to determine a second deceleration value of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle coupled together,
- the brake controller is configured to quantify a second braking intent based on the monitored movement of the brake pedal of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle coupled together, and calculate a second braking value based on the second braking intent and second deceleration value of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle coupled together, and
- (iii) the brake controller is configured to determine a gain setting and boost setting of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle configuration based on the first braking value of the calibration state, and the second braking value of the towing state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.