IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,911,330
Granted Patent B1
US 7,911,330 · App. 12/054,380 · Granted Mar 22, 2011

Tractor-trailer coupling detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,911,330
App. No.
12/054,380
Granted
Mar 22, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

To test whether a trailer is coupled to a tractor when the tractor ignition switch is off, a test switch in the trailer connects a high-impedance power source in a trailer to a line carrying energy from the tractor ignition switch to the trailer's electrical load, and measures the voltage at the line. A high voltage indicates a connection only to the electrical load in the trailer and thus a decouple. A low voltage indicates a measurement of the electrical loads in both trailer and tractor and hence a coupling.

Claims (17)

1. A system comprising:

tractor having an ignition switch and an electrical load,

a trailer having an electrical load,

an electrical line for connection between the tractor and the trailer,

a power source in the tractor to power the electrical load in the tractor through the ignition switch and connected to the line for powering electrical load in the trailer,

a power arrangement in the trailer and having a given impedance and connected to said line,

a circuit responsive to the electrical operation of said impedance to recognize when the power arrangement is responding to only the electrical load in the trailer and when the power arrangement is responding to both the electrical load in the trailer and the electrical load in the tractor.

2. A fleet of vehicles, comprising:

a plurality of tractors each having an ignition switch and an electrical load,

a plurality of trailers each having an electrical load,

a plurality of electrical lines each for connection between one of said tractors and one of the trailers,

a power source in each of the tractors to power the electrical load in the tractor through the ignition switch and connected to the electrical line for powering the electrical load in the one of the trailers,

a power arrangement in each of the trailers and having a given impedance and connected to one of said lines,

a circuit in each of the trailers responsive to the electrical operation of said impedance in the one of said trailers to recognize when the power arrangement is responding to only the electrical load in the trailer and when the power arrangement is responding to both the electrical load in the trailer and the electrical load in the tractor,

each of said circuits including a transmitter,

a wireless link responsive to each of said transmitters for receiving data from said transmitter,

a management system responsive to said wireless link and for sending commands.

Assignments (12)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS EXISTING COLLATERAL AGENT
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066947/0514 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; WAM SOLUTIONS LLC; INSYNC SOFTWARE, INC.; INSYNC, INC.
Reel/Frame 057652/0323 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; GLOBALTRAK, LLC; INSYNC SOFTWARE, INC.; INTHINC LLC; STARTRAK LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; WAM SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 057392/0596 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 1, 2021
From: STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057394/0050 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2017
From: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; ORBCOMM SENS, LLC; GLOBALTRAK, LLC; INSYNC SOFTWARE, INC.; WAM SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 044908/0688 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 14, 2017
From: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; ORBCOMM SENS, LLC; GLOBALTRAK, LLC; INSYNC, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042809/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2017
From: MACQUARIE CAF LLC
To: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; ORBCOMM LICENSE CORP.; ORBCOMM AIS LLC; ORBCOMM TERRESTRIAL LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; STARTRAK LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC; ORBCOMM INDIA LLC; ORBCOMM CHINA LLC; ORBCOMM CIS LLC; ORBCOMM AFRICA LLC; ORBCOMM SOUTH AFRICA GATEWAY COMPANY LLC; ORBCOMM CENTRAL AMERICA HOLDINGS LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 1 LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 2 LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 3 LLC; GLOBALTRAK, LLC; MOBILENET, LLC; ORBCOMM SENS, LLC; AMERISCAN, INC.; RIDGELEY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042201/0798 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: ORBCOMM INC.; ORBCOMM LLC; ORBCOMM LICENSE CORP.; ORBCOMM AIS LLC; ORBCOMM TERRESTRIAL LLC; STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; STARTRAK LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC; ORBCOMM INDIA LLC; ORBCOMM CHINA LLC; ORBCOMM CIS LLC; ORBCOMM AFRICA LLC; ORBCOMM SOUTH AFRICA GATEWAY COMPANY LLC; ORBCOMM CENTRAL AMERICA HOLDINGS LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 1 LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 2 LLC; ORBCOMM INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS 3 LLC; GLOBALTRAK, LLC; MOBILENET, LLC; ORBCOMM SENS, LLC; AMERISCAN, INC.
To: MACQUARIE CAF LLC
Reel/Frame 034012/0341 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2014
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033936/0216 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 11, 2013
From: STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029609/0987 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2011
From: SCHICKE, ROBERT
To: STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026673/0781 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2011
From: PERTEN, HERBERT
To: STARTRAK INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026673/0912 →