Brake control unit

Abstract

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.

1 . A brake controller for a towed vehicle, the brake controller comprising:
 a processor receiving a first signal via a towing vehicle communication bus, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of the towing vehicle; and   wherein the processor sends a second signal based on the first signal; and   wherein the towing vehicle communication bus communicates electronic signals and interconnects a plurality of components on the towing vehicle and is externally connected to the processor.   
     
     
         2 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the first signal from at least one of a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle, a brake-on-off line, towing vehicle interior lighting, memory of the towing vehicle, transmission of the towing vehicle, powertrain of the towing vehicle, an anti-lock brake system of the towing vehicle, a speed meter, an ignition of the towing vehicle, a speedometer of the towing vehicle, and a brake pedal of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the first signal from a plurality of a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle, a brake-on-off line, towing vehicle interior lighting, memory of the towing vehicle, transmission of the towing vehicle, powertrain of the towing vehicle, an anti-lock brake system of the towing vehicle, a speed meter, an ignition of the towing vehicle, a speedometer of the towing vehicle, and a brake pedal of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives a signal through the towing vehicle communication bus from a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The brake controller of  claim 5 , wherein the second signal is based on the first signal and the signal from the brake pressure transducer. 
     
     
         6 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating condition comprises at least one of speed of the towing vehicle, speed of the towed vehicle, the towing vehicle's anti-lock brakes, vehicle identification number of the towing vehicle, condition of an ignition of the towing vehicle, selected gear of a transmission of the towing vehicle, and powertrain load of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating condition comprises a plurality of speed of the towing vehicle, speed of the towed vehicle, the towing vehicle's anti-lock brakes, vehicle identification number of the towing vehicle, condition of an ignition of the towing vehicle, selected gear of a transmission of the towing vehicle, and powertrain load of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory operatively coupled with the processor, the memory collecting and storing information to allow for diagnostics, life cycle management, and variables for future use. 
     
     
         9 . The brake controller of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives a signal from the towing vehicle relating to detection of the ignition of the towing vehicle being turned off and via the towing vehicle communication bus instructing the processor to power down. 
     
     
         10 . A towing vehicle having a towed vehicle operatively attached, the combination comprising:
 a towing vehicle communication;   a brake controller comprising:
 a processor receiving a first signal via the towing vehicle communication bus, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of the towing vehicle and wherein the processor sends a second signal based on the first signal; and 
   wherein the towing vehicle communication bus communicates electronic signals and interconnects a plurality of components on the towing vehicle and is externally connected to the brake controller.   
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the processor receives the first signal from at least one of a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle, a brake-on-off line, towing vehicle interior lighting, memory of the towing vehicle, transmission of the towing vehicle, powertrain of the towing vehicle, an anti-lock brake system of the towing vehicle, a speed meter, an ignition of the towing vehicle, a speedometer of the towing vehicle, and a brake pedal of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the processor receives the first signal from a plurality of a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle, a brake-on-off line, towing vehicle interior lighting, memory of the towing vehicle, transmission of the towing vehicle, powertrain of the towing vehicle, an anti-lock brake system of the towing vehicle, a speed meter, an ignition of the towing vehicle, a speedometer of the towing vehicle, and a brake pedal of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the processor receives a signal through the towing vehicle communication bus from a brake pressure transducer of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the second signal is based on the first signal and the signal from the brake pressure transducer. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one operating condition comprises at least one of speed of the towing vehicle, speed of the towed vehicle, the towing vehicle's anti-lock brakes, vehicle identification number of the towing vehicle, condition of an ignition of the towing vehicle, selected gear of a transmission of the towing vehicle, and powertrain load of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one operating condition comprises a plurality of speed of the towing vehicle, speed of the towed vehicle, the towing vehicle's anti-lock brakes, vehicle identification number of the towing vehicle, condition of an ignition of the towing vehicle, selected gear of a transmission of the towing vehicle, and powertrain load of the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the brake controller further comprising a memory operatively coupled with the processor, the memory collecting and storing information to allow for diagnostics, life cycle management, and variables for future use. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the processor receives a signal from the towing vehicle relating to detection of the ignition of the towing vehicle being turned off and via the towing vehicle communication bus instructing the processor to power down. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the towing vehicle communications bus is a HSCAN communications bus. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the towing vehicle communications bus is a CAN communications bus. 
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the towing vehicle communications bus is a LIN communications bus.