IP Library Granted Patent US 11,440,516
Granted Patent B2
US 11,440,516 · App. 16/517,852 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Automated gain and boost for a brake controller

Inventors: Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni (Battle Creek, MI); Muthukumar Jegadeeson (Novi, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60T8/1708B60T7/20B60T8/00B60T8/17B60T8/172B60T8/323B60T8/3205B60T8/3255B60T13/08B60T17/18H01M4/8814H01M4/8817H01M4/8882H01M4/8896H01M8/0276H01M8/1004H01M8/106H01M8/1039H01M8/1062B60T2220/04H01M8/1093H01M2008/1095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,516
App. No.
16/517,852
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to controlling brakes of a towed vehicle. A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller is in communication with a speed sensor. The speed sensor determines the speed of a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle. The brake controller automatically sets a gain or boost based on the speed and acceleration.

Claims (26)

1. A system comprising:

at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with at least one of an environmental condition and condition under which a towing system is operating; and

a brake controller comprising an accelerometer and a processor, the processor in operative communication with the at least one sensor and configured to receive data from the at least one sensor, and

wherein the processor determines at least one of a gain level and a boost level based on the data received from the at least one sensor; and

wherein the processor initiates a calibration process to determine at least one of the gain level or the boost level based on an occurrence of a triggering event and wherein the processor operatively overrides the determined gain level or boost level in response to receiving a user request to override the determined gain level or boost level.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an environmental sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises at least one of a wind speed sensor, wind direction sensor, and humidity sensor.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a windshield wiper sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the windshield wiper sensor sending data to the processor that wipers of a vehicle are on for a predetermined amount of time causes the processor to adjust at least one of the gain level and the boost level.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is towing system sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises at least one of a fifth wheel hitch module sensor, a gooseneck module sensor, coupler module sensor, a jack assembly module sensor, a sway control module sensor, and a weight distribution module sensor.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor communicates data related at least one of usage, wear, safety chain engagement, actuation open or closed, proximity to cab and connection or disconnection.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a fifth wheel hitch module sensor whereby the fifth wheel hitch module sensor communicates data related to at least one of identifying connection of jaws of a fifth wheel hitch, usage of the fifth wheel hitch, second lock latch status, load status of the fifth wheel hitch and disconnect status.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a gooseneck module sensor whereby the gooseneck module sensor communicates data related to at least one of identifying goose pop up, load status of a gooseneck hitch, usage of the gooseneck hitch, safety chain engagement or disengagement and disconnect status of the gooseneck hitch.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a coupler module sensor whereby the coupler module sensor communicates data related to at least one of a coupler safety pin being operatively engaged, whether a coupler is connected or disconnected, load on the coupler, usage amount of the coupler, vibration profile of the coupler, usage of the coupler and misuse or wear of the coupler.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a jack assembly module sensor whereby the jack assembly module sensor communicates data related to at least one of a load applied to a jack, cycles performed by the jack, usage of the jack, position of the jack, travel of the jack, pivot location of the jack, and amount of lubrication in the jack.

13. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a sway controller assembly module sensor whereby the sway controller module sensor communicates data related to at least one of road profile data, wheel speed, number of occurrence of sway control, magnitude of occurrence of sway control, trailer conditions, load applied to a sway controller, usage of the sway controller, pin weight of the sway controller, and number of times a warning message is provided to a user.

14. The system of claim 6 , wherein the towing system sensor comprises a weight distribution module sensor whereby the weight distribution module sensor communicates data related to at least one of load applied to a weight distribution system, usage of the weight distribution system, status of a pad on the weight distribution system, number of bar disconnects on the weight distribution system, status of a clip on the weight distribution system, load at a head of the weight distribution system, and level position of the weight distribution system.

15. A system comprising:

a network connected user equipment device; and

a brake controller comprising an accelerometer and a processor, the processor in operative communication with the network connected user equipment device and configured to receive data from the network connected user equipment device,

wherein the processor determines at least one of a gain level or a boost level based on the data received from the network connected user equipment device; and

wherein the processor initiates a calibration process to determine at least one of the gain level or the boost level based on an occurrence of a triggering event and wherein the processor operatively overrides the determined gain level or boost level in response to receiving a user request to override the determined gain level or boost level.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor transmits data to the user equipment device.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with at least one of an environmental condition and condition under which a towing system is operating.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor operatively determining a parameter associated with a braking event.

Assignments (1)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →