Horizon Global Americas Inc.

Cequent Performance Products, Inc.

Other

Tekonsha Engineering Company

Cequent Electrical Products

Cequent Electric Products

Tekonsha Towing Systems, Inc.

Arvee Medical, Incorporated

Chandrakumar Kulkarni

Marcia S Albright

Larry Eccleston

Bruce Edward Smith

Mark William Austin

Douglas R Motts

Fred Brickley

Francis Bernart

Richard Lyons Hilsbos

Dennis Michael Morse

Marvin Hoot

Jason Reichard

Steve Zavodny

Muthukumar Jegadeeson

Jerald Prater

Pat Burgess

Joseph Bradford Wells

Kirk Englert

Doug Marsden

Stephen A Zavodny

Stephen James Thomas

Marcia Albright

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.

Automated gain and boost for a brake controller

A towing vehicle includes a towing control unit with circuitry to detect whether a light is connected to the electrical harness electrically coupling the vehicle to the trailer. The towing control unit may include lamp connectivity circuits for, for example, the left turn signal and the right turn signal. To determine whether the turn light is connected, the corresponding connectivity circuit periodically generates a test signal. Based on characteristics of a response signal to the test signal. The connectivity circuit determines whether the corresponding turn signal light of the trailer is connected based on a response to the test signal. The connectivity circuit may distinguished whether an incandescent-based turn signal light, a light emitting diode (LED)-based turn signal light, and an open circuit is sensed based on the characteristics of the response signal.

Lighting state detection for a vehicle trailer

Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise undesirable conditions can be created. There is a need for a method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle. This method comprises receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of at least one the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, sending a second signal to brakes of the towed vehicle, the second signal based on said first signal.

Brake control unit

System, method, and devices related to a wheel speed sensor that includes a wireless communication device and a motion sensor. The motion sensor includes an accelerometer. The wireless communication device and motion sensor are disposed in a housing. The housing is attached to an attachment member. The attachment member is selectively attached to a wheel of a towed vehicle.

Vehicle wheel speed sensor using accelerometer

A diagnostic circuit for an electronic control unit comprises a field-effect transistor device, a comparator circuit, and a microprocessor. The diagnostic circuit detects a short to ground detection and turns off the field-effect transistor device. The diagnostic circuit may include redundant or dual short to ground protection for a field-effect transistor device. The comparator circuit generates an interrupt signal based on comparing a sensed parameter of an output signal of the field-effect transistor device to a threshold value. The microprocessor samples output from the field-effect transistor device and compares the sampled output to a power limit threshold. The microprocessor turns off the field-effect transistor device based on receiving the interrupt signal or comparison of the sampled output to the power limit threshold. Detection or prevention of a short to ground protects the field-effect transistor device.

Method and system for short to ground protection for a circuit including a FET device

A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.

Universal trailer mounted proportional brake controller

The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to data collection and communication related to after-market and external vehicle systems, such as towing systems, cargo carrying systems, trailer breakaway systems, brake systems, braking control systems, and the like. Data is sensed, processed, shared, and further leveraged throughout the discrete components of the system, and possibly via internet and other communications' links, to effect various beneficial actions with minimal driver/user interaction or intervention. In the same manner, data from the system may be used for diagnostic reasons, safety controls, and other purposes.

Communication device, system, and method for active control of external vehicle components

Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise very dangerous conditions can be created. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle is, therefore, needed. The method comprises receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle, receiving pressure signals based on pressure of a hydraulic brake system of the towing vehicle, and generating a brake output signal based on the speed signals and the pressure signals.

A brake control system includes a display, a processor, and a light sensor. The processor controls brakes of a towed vehicle. The processor also controls a brightness of the display based on information received from the light sensor. The light sensor may include a light dependent resistor or a photoresistor. The processor selectively sets or adjusts the brightness of the display based on sensed ambient light.

Brake control display unit with ambient light dimming

A controller for a trailer is disclosed. An example trailer controller assembly includes a force transducer that measures a force between a trailer and a towing vehicle connected to the trailer indicative of a difference in speeds between the trailer and the towing vehicle, and a controller communicatively coupled to the force transducer. The controller includes a brake controller that controls brakes of the trailer based on an input signal from the force sensor.

Force transducer for a multifunction trailer controller

A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller sends signals to the brakes of the towed vehicle. The brake controller sends signals to determine whether the trailer brakes are properly connected. The signals may include a pulse train. The pulse train charges hydraulic braking systems for resistive testing. The brake controller determines whether the brakes are connected.

Detecting electric over hydraulic trailer connectivity

An electrical converter assembly includes a sensing device coupled to one or more wires of a towing vehicle. The sensing device is configured to detect the current flow in the one or more wires and generate a signal in response to the current flow. The converter assembly further includes an electrical component in communication with the sensing device. The electrical component may generate a signal to a towed vehicle in response to the current flow detected by the sensing device. The sensing device may be a non-invasive sensing device. The non-invasive sensing device may detect current flow in the one or more wires of the towing vehicle without direct contact with the conducting element of the wires.

Growing community of inventors

Battle Creek, MI, United States of America

Chandrakumar Kulkarni