IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,097,703
Granted Patent B2
US 11,097,703 · App. 15/672,472 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Electronic control units, vehicles, and methods for controlling trailer brake output circuits based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses

Inventors: Yuichi Shimizu (Ann Arbor, MI); Lisa DiMaggio (Ann Arbor, MI); Mikhal el Arculli (Celina, TX)
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
B60T8/172B60T7/085B60T8/1708B60T17/22B60T7/20B60T8/323
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,097,703
App. No.
15/672,472
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electronic control units, vehicles, and methods for controlling trailer brake output circuits based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses are disclosed. An electronic control unit for controlling a trailer brake output circuit based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses is configured to determine a first vehicle wheel ABS status, determine a second vehicle wheel ABS status, and control the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status. The first vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a first vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with a vehicle ABS mode. The second vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a second vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode.

Claims (47)

1. An electronic control unit for controlling a trailer brake output circuit based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses, the electronic control unit configured to:

determine a first vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the first vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a first vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with a vehicle ABS mode;

determine a second vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the second vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a second vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode; and

control the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein:

the first vehicle wheel is coupled to a first vehicle axle;

the second vehicle wheel is coupled to a second vehicle axle; and

the electronic control unit is further configured to:

determine that a first vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the first vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the first vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the first vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode;

determine that a second vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the second vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the second vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the second vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode; and

control the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle axle ABS status and the second vehicle axle ABS status.

2. The electronic control unit of claim 1 , further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode in response to determining that the first vehicle axle ABS status is active and the second vehicle axle ABS status is active.

3. The electronic control unit of claim 1 , further configured to, when the first vehicle axle ABS status is active and the second vehicle axle ABS status is inactive, control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode in response to determining that the first vehicle axle ABS status remains active for a duration of time.

4. The electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the duration of time is based on a vehicle speed.

5. The electronic control unit of claim 1 , further configured to determine, based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status, whether to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode or to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control normal mode.

6. The electronic control unit of claim 5 , wherein

in the trailer brake control normal mode, the electronic control unit is further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle brake pressure; and

in the trailer brake control ABS mode, the electronic control unit is further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle deceleration.

7. A vehicle for controlling a trailer brake output circuit based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses, the vehicle comprising:

a first vehicle wheel coupled to a first vehicle axle;

a second vehicle wheel coupled to a second vehicle axle;

the trailer brake output circuit; and

an electronic control unit configured to:

determine a first vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the first vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of the first vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with a vehicle ABS mode;

determine that a first vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the first vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the first vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the first vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode;

determine a second vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the second vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of the second vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode;

determine that a second vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the second vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the second vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the second vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode; and

control the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status the second vehicle wheel ABS status, the first vehicle axle ABS status, and the second vehicle axle ABS status.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode in response to determining that the first vehicle axle ABS status is active and the second vehicle axle ABS status is active.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to, when the first vehicle axle ABS status is active and the second vehicle axle ABS status is inactive, control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode in response to determining that the first vehicle axle ABS status remains active for a duration of time.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine, based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status, whether to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode or to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control normal mode.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein

in the trailer brake control normal mode, the electronic control unit is further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle brake pressure; and

in the trailer brake control ABS mode, the electronic control unit is further configured to control the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle deceleration.

12. A method of controlling a trailer brake output circuit based on vehicle wheel ABS statuses, the method comprising:

determining a first vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the first vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a first vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with a vehicle ABS mode;

determining a second vehicle wheel ABS status, wherein the second vehicle wheel ABS status is indicative of whether braking of a second vehicle wheel is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode; and

controlling the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status,

wherein the first vehicle wheel is coupled to a first vehicle axle and the second vehicle wheel is coupled to a second vehicle axle, the method further comprising:

determining that a first vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the first vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the first vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the first vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode;

determining that a second vehicle axle ABS status is active in response to determining that the second vehicle wheel ABS status is active, wherein the second vehicle axle ABS status is indicative of whether braking of at least one vehicle wheel coupled to the second vehicle axle is being controlled in accordance with the vehicle ABS mode; and

controlling the trailer brake output circuit based on the first vehicle axle ABS status and the second vehicle axle ABS status.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

controlling the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode in response to determining that the first vehicle axle ABS status is active and the second vehicle axle ABS status is active.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining whether to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control ABS mode or to control the trailer brake output circuit in accordance with a trailer brake control normal mode based on the first vehicle wheel ABS status and the second vehicle wheel ABS status.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

in the trailer brake control normal mode, controlling the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle brake pressure; and

in the trailer brake control ABS mode, controlling the trailer brake output circuit to output a trailer brake output signal based on a vehicle deceleration.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2021
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 057298/0578 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2017
From: SHIMIZU, YUICHI; DIMAGGIO, LISA; EL ARCULLI, MIKHAL
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 043242/0790 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62541187 · Aug 4, 2017
Related Publication 20190039580A1 · Feb 7, 2019