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US 12,691,855 B2Granted
Trailer panic braking assist
AssigneeLippert Components, Inc.
InventorAdam Buchanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for improving trailer brake response during a hard braking event by identifying unnecessary attenuation of a trailer braking signal, and responding by boosting the trailer braking signal.
Claims19
A method for improving trailer brake response during a hard braking event, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring primary trailer brake control signals sent by a trailer brake controller in response to tow vehicle operator inputs;
- detecting trailer brake controller attenuation of the trailer brake control signals;
- and
- responding to the detected attenuation of the trailer brake control signals by sending secondary trailer brake control signals commanding brakes of a trailer to apply greater braking force than that being commanded by the primary trailer brake control signals.
1 more element
A trailer brake assist device for improving trailer brake response during a hard braking event, the device comprising:
- a trailer brake signal input connected to receive primary trailer brake control signals from a trailer brake controller;
- a motion sensor signal input connected to receive trailer motion signals from at least one motion sensor positioned to detect motion of at least part of a trailer;
- a trailer brake signal output connected to send secondary trailer brake signals to trailer brakes of the trailer;
- an attenuation detector preconfigured to detect when primary trailer brake signals received by the trailer brake signal input have been attenuated by the trailer brake controller;
- and
- a brake booster preconfigured to increase the braking commands received by the trailer brakes relative to the primary trailer brake control signals received by the brake signal input by sending secondary brake signals from the brake signal output, in response to detection of attenuation by the attenuation detector.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.