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:
 a processor in a vehicle having a transmission, the processor operable to:
 communicate with a remote station that transmits a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle; 
 receive the mass signal; and 
 select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle operable to wirelessly receive the mass signal from the remote station,   wherein the processor receives the mass signal from the receiver circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle operable to receive the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection,   wherein the processor receives the mass signal from the receiver circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mass signal comprises a plurality of mass signal portions, and receiving the mass signal comprises:
 receiving a first mass signal portion; and   receiving a second mass signal portion.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to confirm the mass signal using another vehicle mass signal, and wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the mass signal is confirmed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to replace a prior vehicle mass signal with the mass signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the mass signal is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass determined at another time or using another method. 
     
     
         9 . A method of estimating a vehicle mass, comprising:
 in a vehicle having a processor and a transmission, performing by the processor:
 communicating with a remote station, the remote station operable to transmit a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle; 
 receiving the mass signal; and 
 selecting a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mass signal is received via a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle, and the receiver circuit is operable to wirelessly receive the mass signal from the remote station. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mass signal is received via a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle, and the receiver circuit is operable to receive the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mass signal comprises a plurality of mass signal portions, and wherein receiving the mass signal comprises:
 receiving a first mass signal portion; and   receiving a second mass signal portion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising confirming the mass signal using another vehicle mass signal, wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the mass signal is confirmed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operable to replace a prior vehicle mass signal with the mass signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the mass signal is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass determined at another time or using another method. 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a transmission;   a receiver circuit operable to receive a mass signal from a remote station that transmits a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle;   a processor operable to:
 receive the mass signal via the receiver circuit; and 
 select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal. 
   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver circuit receives the mass signal from the remote station over a wireless connection. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver circuit receives the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion.