System for estimating a vehicle mass

Abstract

A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.

1 . A vehicle mass estimation system, comprising:
 an input device associated with a vehicle having a transmission, the input device operable to receive an input from an operator and to generate a first mass signal, wherein the input is indicative of a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle; and   a processor operable to:
 communicate with the input device; 
 receive the first mass signal from the input device; 
 estimate the vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the first mass signal; and 
 select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a switch, and wherein a number of activations of the switch corresponds to a specific mass value. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a voice recognition circuit operable to receive an audible signal from the operator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer and the input is indicative of a mass of the trailer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a weighing device in communication with the processor and operable to generate a second mass signal,   wherein the processor is further operable to estimate the vehicle mass based in part on the second mass signal.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to confirm the estimated vehicle mass using another vehicle mass measurement and wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the estimated vehicle mass measurement is confirmed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to replace a prior vehicle mass measurement with the estimated vehicle mass. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the estimated vehicle mass is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass estimated at another time or using another method. 
     
     
         10 . A method of estimating a vehicle mass comprising:
 receiving an input from an operator, wherein the input is indicative of a mass of at least a portion of a vehicle;   generating a first mass signal based on the input;   estimating a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the first mass signal; and   selecting a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the input is received via an operator activation of a switch, and wherein a number of operator switch activations corresponds to a specific mass value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein generating the first mass signal comprises converting an operator voice input into the first mass signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the input is received via an operator activation of a key on a keyboard. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer and the input is indicative of a mass of the trailer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a second mass signal from an onboard weighing device, wherein the second mass signal is indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle; and   estimating the vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the second mass signal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising confirming the estimated vehicle mass using another vehicle mass measurement, wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the estimated vehicle mass measurement is confirmed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising replacing a prior vehicle mass measurement with the estimated vehicle mass. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the estimated vehicle mass is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass estimated at another time or using another method. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a transmission;   an input device associated with the vehicle operable to receive an input from an operator and to generate a first mass signal, wherein the input is indicative of a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle; and   a processor operable to:
 communicate with the input device; 
 receive the first mass signal from the input device; 
 estimate the vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the first mass signal; and 
 select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass. 
   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , further comprising a trailer, wherein the input is indicative of a mass of the trailer. 
     
     
         21 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a weighing device in communication with the processor and operable to generate a second mass signal,   wherein the processor is further operable to estimate the vehicle mass based in part on the second mass signal.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the estimated vehicle mass is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass estimated at another time or using another method.