Current carrier tractor-trailer data link

A tractor-trailer data link for communicating information between a tractor and at least one trailer upon a common power line coupling said tractor to each trailer with said tractor providing electrical power to each trailer upon said power line, said data link comprising:

• transmitter means for locating in a corresponding trailer for, at predetermined times for a predetermined time period, electrically self-coupling to said power line, receiving electrical power from said power line, storing a portion of said received electrical power, generating a digital identification code indicative of trailer identification information, generating a carrier signal of a predetermined frequency, modulating said carrier signal with said identification code, and providing said identification code modulated carrier signal upon said power line connecting said tractor to said trailer, and for, during time intervals other than during each time period, electrically self-decoupling from said power line and using said stored portion of electrical power as transmitter means operational power;
• and
• receiver means for locating in said tractor for, receiving said identification code modulated carrier signal transmitted upon said power line, detecting the modulation on said identification code modulator carrier signal with the detected modulation corresponding to said identification code, and providing an identification output signal corresponding to said detected modulation and indicative of said trailer identification information.

A method for providing trailer identification information to a tractor from a trailer when said tractor is coupled to said trailer comprising the steps of:

• electrically coupling, at predetermined instances in time and for a predetermined time period from the occurrence of each instance in time, a transmitter to a power line connecting a tractor to a trailer;
• receiving, in said transmitter during said time period, electrical energy from said power line;
• storing in said transmitter a portion of said received electrical energy;
• generating, in said transmitter during a portion of each time period, a digital identification code indicative of trailer identification indicia corresponding to said trailer;
• generating, in said transmitter during each time period, a carrier signal of a predetermined frequency;
• modulating, in said transmitter during each time period, said carrier signal with said identification code to produce an identification signal;
• transmitting, from said transmitter upon said power line during each time period, said identification signal;
• electrically decoupling said transmitter from said power line at times other than during each time period;
• powering said transmitter with said stored electrical energy at said times other than during each time period;
• receiving, upon said power line at a receiver in said tractor, said transmitted identification signal;
• detecting the modulation on said received identification signal;
• and
• providing an output signal corresponding to the detected modulation on said received identification signal wherein the detected modulation corresponds to said identification code.