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US 12,589,720 B2Granted
Braking system and current detection therefor
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSheran Anthony Alles, Enrique Denicia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A braking system includes drive circuitry configured to communicate a brake signal from a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle connected to the towing vehicle, an output node configured to carry the brake signal, and a switch electrically interposing the drive circuitry and the output node. A current detector is in series with the switch and is configured to detect a current through the drive circuitry. The switch is configured to electrically connect and electrically disconnect the drive circuitry from the output node in response to the current.
Claims15
A braking system, comprising:
- drive circuitry configured to communicate a brake signal from a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle connected to the towing vehicle;
- an output node configured to carry the brake signal, wherein the output node is configured to electrically couple with a power source on the towed vehicle, the power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
- a switch electrically interposing the drive circuitry and the output node;
- a current detector in series with the switch and configured to detect a current through the drive circuitry, wherein the switch is configured to electrically connect and electrically disconnect the drive circuitry from the output node in response to the current, wherein, in response to the output node being coupled with the negative terminal, the current detector detects current flowing through the drive circuitry, the current detector comprising:
- a shunt in series with the switch;
- and
- at least one current sense amplifier having programmable gain and configured to output a voltage representative of current through the shunt;
- and
- a comparator configured to compare a voltage drop across the shunt and to control the switch in response to the voltage representing the current flowing through the drive circuitry.
6 more elements
A braking system, comprising:
- drive circuitry configured to communicate a brake signal from a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle connected to the towing vehicle;
- an output node configured to carry the brake signal;
- a switch electrically interposing the drive circuitry and the output node;
- a current detector in series with the switch and configured to detect a current through the drive circuitry and toward the switch, wherein the switch is configured to electrically connect and electrically disconnect the drive circuitry from the output node in response to the current-, the current detector comprising:
- a shunt in series with the switch;
- and
- at least one current sense amplifier having programmable gain and configured to output a voltage representative of current through the shunt;
- and
- a comparator configured to compare a voltage drop across the shunt and to control the switch in response to the voltage representing the current flowing through the drive circuitry.
6 more elements
A braking system, comprising:
- drive circuitry configured to communicate a brake signal from a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle connected to the towing vehicle;
- an output node configured to carry the brake signal;
- a switch electrically interposing the drive circuitry and the output node;
- a current detector in series with the switch and configured to detect a current through the drive circuitry, wherein the switch is configured to electrically connect and electrically disconnect the drive circuitry from the output node in response to the current, the current detector comprising:
- a shunt in series with the switch;
- and
- at least one current sense amplifier configured to output a voltage representative of current through the shunt;
- and
- a comparator configured to compare a voltage drop across the shunt and to control the switch in response to the voltage representing the current flowing through the drive circuitry.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.