US6254201B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling tractor/trailer vehicle systems
Assignee: Power Talk Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-14
•
Granted: 2001-07-03
•
Expires: 2019-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A status of one or more subsystems positioned on one or more trailers is communicated to a tractor electrically and mechanically connected to the trailer. The status may be automatically supplied by the subsystem or may be requested either by the operator of the tractor/trailer combination or automatically by another subsystem on either the tractor or the trailer. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the status of a respective subsystem is superposed on the power bus. The status of the respective subsystem can then be determined from the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the status of the subsystem is indicated to an operator positioned on the tractor. A command for controlling a subsystem on a trailer can also be communicated from the tractor to the trailer over the power bus. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the command is produced on the power bus, and the subsystem is controlled based on the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the command is received from an operator positioned in the tractor.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Lesesky
- 👤 Bobby Ray Weant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; B60R16/0315; B60T; B60T13/00; B60T13/10; B60T13/66; B60T13/662; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/20; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/1701; B60T8/1708; B60T8/32; B60T8/321; B60T8/323; B60T8/88; B60T8/885; B60R2016/0322; B60T2270/00; B60T2270/40; B60T2270/406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A vehicle comprising: a tractor including a tractor cab for housing a tractor/trailer operator; a trailer mechanically and electrically connected to said tractor, said trailer including an antilock braking system and an antilock braking system interface responsive to said antilock braking system which produces a data signal representing a status of said antilock braking system; a power bus which distributes electrical power to said antilock braking system; power line carrier communicating means responsive to said antilock braking system interface for producing a data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal, wherein said power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the antilock braking system, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal; and status determining means responsive to said power bus for determining the status of said antilock braking system from said data communications signal, wherein said status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the antilock braking system from said spread spectrum data communications signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A vehicle comprising: a tractor including a tractor cab for housing a tractor/trailer operator; a trailer mechanically and electrically connected to said tractor, said trailer including an antilock braking system and an antilock braking system interface responsive to said antilock braking system which produces a data signal representing a status of said antilock braking system; a power bus which distributes electrical power to said antilock braking system; power line carrier communicating means responsive to said antilock braking system interface for producing a data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal, wherein said power line carrier communicating means comprises spread spectrum signal producing means, responsive to the antilock braking system, for producing a spread spectrum data communications signal on said power bus from said data signal; and status determining means responsive to said power bus for determining the status of said antilock braking system from said data communications signal, wherein said status determining means comprises means for determining the status of the antilock braking system from said spread spectrum data communications signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said spread spectrum signal producing means comprises: a modulator responsive to said antilock braking system which produces said spread spectrum data communications signal from said data signal, said spread spectrum data communications signal being distributed over a predetermined spectrum of frequencies; and electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said modulator to said power bus so that said spread spectrum data communications signal is superposed on said power bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said status determining means further comprises: spread spectrum signal receiving means, responsive to the power bus, for receiving said spread spectrum data communications signal; and means, responsive to said spread spectrum signal receiving means, for determining the status of the antilock braking system from the received spread spectrum data communications signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said status determining means further comprises an indicator which indicates the status of said antilock braking system to a tractor/trailer operator in said tractor cab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the power bus comprises: a first plurality of conductors, positioned in the trailer; a second plurality of conductors, positioned in the tractor; and a connector which electrically connects the first plurality of conductors and the second plurality of conductors; and wherein said status determining means is electrically connected to a conductor of said second plurality of conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the power bus further comprises a first capacitor disposed between at least two of said first plurality of conductors to create a first plurality of capacitively coupled conductors and a second capacitor disposed between at least two of said second plurality of conductors to create a second plurality of capacitively coupled conductors, and wherein the spread spectrum signal producing means is electrically connected to one of the capacitively coupled conductors of said first plurality of capacitively coupled conductors such that the spread spectrum data communications signal is transmitted via each of the capacitively coupled conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein said connector comprises a standardized SAE J560 connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising: a warning indicator which indicates the status of said antilock braking system, said warning indicator being responsive to said antilock braking system interface; and a trailer warning indicator package, said power line carrier communicating means and said warning indicator being integrated in said trailer warning indicator package, said trailer warning indicator package further including means for mounting said trailer warning indicator package on the trailer so that said warning indicator is viewable by a tractor/trailer operator positioned within said tractor cab.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said tractor includes a cab having an instrument console positioned therein, and wherein said status determining means further comprises a display mounted on said instrument console which indicates the status of the antilock braking system to an operator positioned in the tractor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising: a tractor communications module housing which houses said status determining means; and means for mounting said tractor communications module housing to said tractor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising: a trailer communications module housing which houses said power line carrier communicating means; and means for mounting said trailer communications module housing to said trailer.
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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) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |