Patent US5149176A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5149176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Controller for electric braking systems
Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc
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Filing: 1990-08-07
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2010-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle brake controller includes a variable pulse-width modulator operating at a constant frequency and with a variable pulse width to provide control pulses to a MOSFET element which actuates vehicle braking. The controller further includes a visual indicator which displays different colors to representatively indicate the amount of current applied to the brakes, and also to indicate whether an operable connection exists between the electronic controller and the vehicle brakes.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Eccleston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T13/00; B60T13/74; B60T13/10; B60T13/66; B60T17/00; B60T17/18; B60T17/22; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In an electronic controller for electrically actuated vehicle brakes, of the type having means for producing control signals which are proportionally representative of the desired extent of vehicle braking and further having means for producing pulses of current which are proportionally representative of the magnitude of said control signals, for correspondingly energizing vehicle brake-actuation means, the improvement wherein said means for producing pulses of current includes a MOSFET element for energizing said brake-actuation means, a switch for selectively feeding a signal from a terminal of the MOSFET element, and an input to said means for producing pulses, said switch being coupled to said input and said terminal of said MOSFET element such that said switch isolates said input of said means for producing pulses from said terminal of said MOSFET element when the vehicle brake-actuation means are not being energized, said switch automatically coupling said MOSFET to said input of said means for producing pulses when said brake-actuation means are energized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In an electronic controller for electrically actuated vehicle brakes, of the type having means for producing control signals which are proportionally representative of the desired extent of vehicle braking and further having means for producing pulses of current which are proportionally representative of the magnitude of said control signals, for correspondingly energizing vehicle brake-actuation means, the improvement wherein said means for producing pulses of current includes a MOSFET element for energizing said brake-actuation means, a switch for selectively feeding a signal from a terminal of the MOSFET element, and an input to said means for producing pulses, said switch being coupled to said input and said terminal of said MOSFET element such that said switch isolates said input of said means for producing pulses from said terminal of said MOSFET element when the vehicle brake-actuation means are not being energized, said switch automatically coupling said MOSFET to said input of said means for producing pulses when said brake-actuation means are energized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said switch for selectively connecting comprises a diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A controller according to claim 2, wherein said diode is reverse-biased when the MOSFET element is not conducting, and said diode is forward-biased when the MOSFET element conducts to supply current to the vehicle brake-actuation means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electronic controller for controlling electrically-actuated brakes of a towed vehicle from a towing vehicle having brake lights which are energized in response to towing vehicle brake system actuation, comprising: a MOSFET element having a first input with high input impedance and a second input; means for coupling said first input to the towing vehicle brake-lights, to apply a signal to said first input upon actuation of said brake lights; and an inertia sensor connected to the second input of said MOSFET, whereby the inertia sensor generates an output from the MOSFET corresponding to changes in the inertia of the towing vehicle detected by the inertia sensor only when the MOSFET is enabled by said signal applied upon actuation of the towing vehicle brake lights.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electronic controller for controlling electrically-actuated brakes of a towed vehicle from a towing vehicle having brake lights which are energized in response to towing vehicle brake system actuation, comprising: a MOSFET element having a first input with high input impedance and a second input; means for coupling said first input to the towing vehicle brake-lights, to apply a signal to said first input upon actuation of said brake lights; and an inertia sensor connected to the second input of said MOSFET, whereby the inertia sensor generates an output from the MOSFET corresponding to changes in the inertia of the towing vehicle detected by the inertia sensor only when the MOSFET is enabled by said signal applied upon actuation of the towing vehicle brake lights.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic controller according to claim 4 wherein said MOSFET element has a gate coupled to the towing vehicle brake lights.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic controller according to claim 4 wherein the inertia sensor includes an optical emitter coupled to one of the source and drain of the MOSFET.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic controller according to claim 6, wherein said optical emitter comprises an infrared light-emitting diode, and wherein an infrared detector is coupled to selectively receive light emissions from said infrared light-emitting diode when the towing vehicle brakes are applied and a change in inertia of the towing behicle occurs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic controller according to claim 4, further including means for producing control signals which are proportionally representative of the desired extent of vehicle braking, means for producing pulses of current whose output is proportionally representative of the magnitude of said control signals for correspondingly energizing said towed vehicle brakes, and a MOSFET element for energizing the towed vehicle brakes by applying pulses of power thereto in response to said pulses of current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electronic controller for electrically actuated vehicle brakes, of the type having means for producing control signals which are proportionally representative of the desired extent of vehicle braking and further having means for producing pulses of current whose duty cycle is proportionally representative of the magnitude of said control signals, for correspondingly energizing said vehicle brakes, the improvement comprising: a MOSFET element for providing energizing power to actuate said vehicle brakes in response to said control signals, and means responsive to said MOSFET providing energizing power to actuate said vehicle brakes for injecting current into said means for producing pulses to reduce the pulse-width of the pulses of current and thereby prevent the duty cycle of said MOSFET from exceeding a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electronic controller for electrically actuated vehicle brakes, of the type having means for producing control signals which are proportionally representative of the desired extent of vehicle braking and further having means for producing pulses of current whose duty cycle is proportionally representative of the magnitude of said control signals, for correspondingly energizing said vehicle brakes, the improvement comprising: a MOSFET element for providing energizing power to actuate said vehicle brakes in response to said control signals, and means responsive to said MOSFET providing energizing power to actuate said vehicle brakes for injecting current into said means for producing pulses to reduce the pulse-width of the pulses of current and thereby prevent the duty cycle of said MOSFET from exceeding a predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A controller according to claim 9, wherein said means for injecting current includes a transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A controller according to claim 10, further including an inertia sensor having an enabling switch connected in series with a manual control means and arranged to enable said control means in response to vehicle brake actuation signals, said manual control means arranged to control the perational characteristics of said inertia sensor to produce output signals for controlling the extent of vehicle braking.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |