Towing Vehicle Controller Providing Brake Control to a Towed Vehicle and Method

A controller for providing a towed vehicle brake control comprising:

• a controller input for receiving a load signal indicative of a load of a towed vehicle;
• a controller input for receiving a yaw rate signal indicative of a yaw rate of a towing vehicle;
• a controller input for receiving an deceleration signal indicative of an automated deceleration request;
• control logic capable of determining a yaw rate deviation based on the yaw rate signal and determining a comparison value based on the yaw rate deviation and the load;
• and
• the control logic is capable of determining a brake control transmission signal after receiving the deceleration signal, wherein the determination is based on the comparison value and the deceleration signal.

A controller for providing a towed vehicle brake control signal comprising:

• means for determining a load of a towed vehicle;
• means for determining a stability condition of the towed vehicle;
• control logic capable of determining an empirical load value based on the load and an empirical stability value based on the load and the stability condition prior to receiving the automated deceleration request;
• means for receiving an automated deceleration request;
• means for determining an empirical deceleration value based on the automated deceleration request;
• wherein the control logic compares the empirical deceleration value and the empirical load value and the empirical stability value to determine a brake control transmission signal.

A towing vehicle controller for providing brake control of a towed vehicle comprising:

• a controller input for receiving a load signal indicative of a load of a towed and towing vehicle combination;
• a controller input for receiving an automated deceleration request;
• control logic capable of:
• monitoring for the occurrence of an ABS event;
• determining a comparison value based on the load and the occurrence of an ABS event prior to receiving an automated deceleration request, determining an empirical deceleration value based on a deceleration signal of the automated deceleration request;
• and
• determining a brake control transmission signal based on the comparison value and the empirical deceleration value.

A method for providing brake control for a towed vehicle from towing vehicle, the method comprising:

• sensing a load signal indicative of a load of the towing and towed vehicle combination;
• sensing a stability signal indicative of a stability condition of the towing vehicle, the stability signal indicative of at least one of a yaw rate, a steering angle and a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle;
• determining a comparison value based on the load signal and the stability signal;
• receiving a deceleration signal as part of an automated deceleration request after determining the comparison value;
• determining a brake control transmission signal based on the deceleration signal and the comparison value.

A method for controlling a brake pressure delivered to a towed vehicle comprising:

• receiving a load signal indicative of a load of a towed vehicle;
• determining an empirical load value as a function of the load;
• receiving a stability signal indicative of at least one of a lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle, a steering angle of the towing vehicle and a yaw rate of a towing vehicle;
• determining a yaw rate deviation based on the yaw rate signal;
• determining an empirical stability value based on at least one of the lateral acceleration signal, the steering angle signal and the yaw rate deviation;
• determining a comparison value as a function of the empirical load value and the empirical stability value prior to receiving an automated deceleration request;
• receiving the deceleration signal of the automated deceleration request;
• determining an empirical deceleration value based on the deceleration request;
• and
• determining a brake control transmission signal after determining the empirical deceleration value.