TRAILER CONTROL DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ON A TRAILER

Abstract

A trailer control device for mounting on a trailer, wherein the trailer control device includes a receiver unit configured to receive a signal from an external transmitter unit, a comparator connected to the receiver unit and configured to compare the received signal with a pre-defined signal stored in the comparator, and a transmitter unit connected to the comparator and configured to send a response signal to an external receiver unit for locating and/or identifying the trailer control device if the received signal matches the pre-defined signal.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A trailer arrangement, comprising: a trailer control device mounted on a trailer and configured to receive and send a signal, the control device comprising: a receiver unit configured to receive a signal from an external transmitter unit; a comparator connected to the receiver unit and configured to compare the received signal with a pre-defined signal stored in the comparator; a transmitter unit connected to the comparator and configured to send a response signal to an external receiver unit for locating and/or identifying the trailer control device if the received signal matches the pre-defined signal; and a position determination unit configured to determine a current position of the trailer control device; wherein the trailer control device is configured to control the comparator, the receiver unit, the transmitter unit and the position determination unit; wherein the comparator is configured to compare the received signal with a pre-defined signal; wherein the trailer control device is configured to control the transmitter unit such that the transmitter unit sends at least one response signal for locating and/or identifying the trailer to an external receiver unit after detecting a match between the received signal and the pre-defined signal; wherein the trailer control device is arranged at a specified position on or in the trailer; wherein the trailer control device is arranged at an equal distance from two edges of the trailer and at a defined distance from a king pin of the trailer to enable a location of the trailer; and wherein a response signal emitted by the trailer control device comprises at least one of information on the dimensions of the trailer, and a position of the king pin in relation to the trailer control device or to a front side of the trailer.

17. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the trailer control device further comprises an encryption unit configured to encrypt the response signal and/or a decryption unit configured to decrypt the received signal, and wherein the encryption unit and/or the decryption unit is/are connected between the receiver unit and the comparator or between the transmitter unit and the comparator.

18. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the trailer control device further comprises an encryption unit configured to encrypt the response signal and/or a decryption unit configured to decrypt the received signal, and wherein the position determination unit is connected to the comparator and/or the encryption unit or the decryption unit for communication purposes.

19. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the trailer control device further comprises a memory unit for storing the pre-defined signal and/or the current position and/or the response signal and/or other data, and wherein a memory unit is connected to at least one of the comparator, the receiver unit, the transmitter unit and the position determination unit, for the purpose of communication.

20. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the trailer control device includes an energy source configured to supply the trailer control device with energy.

21. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the trailer control device is permanently mounted to the trailer.

22. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the response signal comprises a coded identification signal for identifying the trailer and/or for identifying a current position of the trailer and/or for transmitting trailer vehicle data.

23. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein a response signal emitted by the trailer control device comprises at least one of: vehicle and/or order identification; general data relating to the trailer; alignment of the trailer; order and/or load data including data relating to the contents and/or weight and/or delivery note; loading state of the trailer; fill level of a tank trailer; refrigerated room temperature of the trailer; maintenance condition and/or maintenance intervals and/or date of the last maintenance of the trailer; tire pressure of the trailer; mileage of the trailer; fault and maintenance logs of the trailer; and access logs for the cargo compartment of the trailer.

24. The trailer arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein a bar code, a matrix code, a number code or a color code is arranged on the trailer and/or on the trailer control device for the purpose of manual inspection an optical identification.

25. A locating system for locating and/or identifying a trailer with a trailer comprising: a trailer control device mounted on the trailer and configured to receive and send a signal, the control device comprising: a receiver unit configured to receive a signal from an external transmitter unit; a comparator connected to the receiver unit and configured to compare the received signal with a pre-defined signal stored in the comparator; a transmitter unit connected to the comparator and configured to send a response signal to an external receiver unit for locating and/or identifying the trailer control device if the received signal matches the pre-defined signal; and a position determination unit configured to determine a current position of the trailer control device; wherein the trailer control device is configured to control the comparator, the receiver unit, the transmitter unit and the position determination unit; wherein the comparator is configured to compare the received signal with a pre-defined signal; wherein the trailer control device is configured to control the transmitter unit such that the transmitter unit sends at least one response signal for locating and/or identifying the trailer to an external receiver unit after detecting a match between the received signal and the pre-defined signal; wherein the trailer control device is arranged at a specified position on or in the trailer; wherein the trailer control device is arranged at an equal distance from two edges of the trailer and at a defined distance from a king pin of the trailer to enable a location of the trailer; and wherein a response signal emitted by the trailer control device comprises at least one of information on the dimensions of the trailer, and a position of the king pin in relation to the trailer control device or to a front side of the trailer; an external transmitter unit configured to send a signal to the trailer control device to locate the trailer; and an external receiver unit configured to receive a response signal from the trailer control device for the identification of the located trailer; wherein the trailer control device emits the response signal if a match is detected between the received signal and a pre-defined signal stored in the trailer control device.

26. The locating system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the trailer control device is mounted on the trailer such that an external receiver unit identifies a position of the located trailer.

27. The locating system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the external transmitter unit is configured to send the at least one signal to a plurality of trailer control devices at the same time.

28. The locating system as claimed in claim 26, wherein after detection of a match between the emitted signal and a pre-defined signal stored in a trailer control device, only one trailer control device sends the response signal to the external receiver unit.

29. The locating system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the response signal is configured to support an automatic coupling process between the located trailer and a tractor vehicle which comprises the external receiver unit by the transmission of location coordinates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other advantages and features of the present invention are derived from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. It goes without saying that individual embodiments shown in the respective figures can have features that may also be used in other embodiments, even if this is not explicitly mentioned and provided this is not excluded due to technical circumstances or explicitly. Shown are:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a trailer control device, which can interact with a transmitter unit and/or a receiver unit;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a system according to the invention for locating and/or identifying a trailer with a trailer control device;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a system in accordance with the FIGS. 3 and 2, which transmits a response signal to an external receiver unit;

[0028] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a trailer, in particular a tractor-trailer, on which a trailer control device according to the invention is mounted; and

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a coupling system, which following a determination of the position and orientation of a trailer to be coupled in a vehicle fleet can be used in a coupling process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a trailer control device 10 which can communicate with a transmitter unit 12. The communication between the transmitter unit 12 and the trailer control device 10 is indicated by the arrow 14. Also, the trailer control device 10 can communicate with a receiver unit 16. This communication is indicated by the arrow 18. In addition, it is conceivable that the transmitter unit 12 and the receiver unit 16 can communicate with each other, which is indicated by the double arrow 20. It is conceivable that the transmitter unit 12 and the receiver unit 16 are combined together in a single unit (not shown).

[0031] To receive a signal from the external transmitter unit 12 the trailer control device 10 has a receiver unit 22 which forwards the received signal to a comparator 24. Between the receiver unit 22 and the comparator 24 a wired connection or a wireless connection can be provided. The communication between the comparator 24 and the receiver unit 22 is shown in FIG. 1 by the double arrow 26. The comparator 24 is designed to compare the signal to be received with a pre-defined signal. The pre-defined signal can be stored in the comparator 24 itself or in a memory unit 28. The comparator 24 and the memory unit 28 can communicate with each other (double arrow 44).

[0032] If the received signal matches the pre-defined signal, the comparator 24 submits a response signal to a transmitter unit 30, which is indicated by the double arrow 32. In the memory unit 28, in addition to the pre-defined signal the current position and/or the response signal or other data can also be stored again or have already been stored.

[0033] In particular, the memory unit 28 is communicatively connected to other units 34, 36, 38. The communication of the units 24, 28, 34, 36, 38 between one another is shown schematically by the double arrows 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the memory unit 28 is coupled, for example, to a position determination unit 36. The position determination unit 36 is designed in particular as a GPS unit and is used to determine a current position of the trailer control device 10. The position determination unit 36 is connected to the comparator 24 and/or an encryption unit 38, 38b or a decryption unit 38, 38a for communication purposes. In particular, the decryption unit 38, 38a and/or the encryption unit 38, 38b is designed as one unit. It is also conceivable that the decryption unit 38a and the encryption unit 38b are designed as two different units. The encryption unit 38, 38b or the decryption unit 38, 38a are optional.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the trailer control device 10 can have an energy source 34, which supplies the other units of the trailer control device with energy. The energy source 34 can be designed, for example, with a rechargeable battery, which can charge itself when a trailer on which the trailer control device 10 is mounted is coupled to a traction vehicle.

[0036] Taking a synopsis of the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the embodiments of the system 80 according to the invention are described in the following. The FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 therefore each show a system 80 according to the invention. In particular, FIG. 2 shows how a traction vehicle 64, which comprises the external transmitter unit 12 and/or the external receiver unit 16, transmits a signal to an external GPS unit 70. The external GPS unit 70 forwards the signal to the trailer control devices 10, each of which is mounted on a trailer 60. The signal forwarding operations are each shown by the arrows 66 and 68 in FIG. 2. Each of the trailers 60 has a king pin 62 in addition to the trailer control device 10, to which the traction vehicle 64 can be coupled. As shown in FIG. 2, the traction vehicle 64 or the external transmitter unit 12 of the traction vehicle 64 first transmits a signal to multiple trailers 60 to determine the current position of a trailer 60a to be located.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the system, in which the traction vehicle 64 or the stationary logistics unit transmits the signal to be received by the trailers 60 via an external GPS unit 70 to the trailers 60. In accordance with the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 3, the traction vehicle 64 or the stationary logistics unit transmits the signal directly to the trailer control devices 10 of the trailers 60. This may also be carried out, for example, via local transmitter masts (not shown). The received signal from each trailer 60 or from each trailer control device 10 which is mounted on a trailer 60, as already described above with regard to FIG. 1, is evaluated, i.e. compared with a pre-defined signal. If any pre-defined signal matches the received signal, a trailer 60, i.e. the trailer 60a to be located, sends a response signal back to the receiver unit 16 in the traction vehicle 64. In the proposed system 80, in order to locate a trailer 60a from a plurality of trailers 60, a query signal is first sent to a plurality of trailers 60. Only if the received signal matches a pre-defined signal, which is preferably stored in the trailer control device 10, does the corresponding trailer 60a which is to be located send a response signal back to the traction vehicle 64 or the stationary logistics unit. By sending back the response signal, which is indicated with the reference numeral 72 in FIG. 4, the trailer 60a to be located can be identified or located. The locating of the trailer 60a is carried out in particular automatically. Such a locating process is shown schematically in FIG. 4, wherein such a locating process is carried out both in a system according to FIG. 2 and also according to FIG. 3.

[0038] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a trailer 60 or a located trailer 60a, to which a traction vehicle 64 is to be coupled after the trailer 60a has been located. To support the process between traction vehicle 64 and trailer 60a the response signal can in particular comprise location coordinates, which supports an automatic coupling between the trailer 60a and the traction vehicle 64. Only represented schematically in FIGS. 5A and 5B is a camera system 76, which is preferably arranged on the traction vehicle 64 (not shown). Such a camera system 76 can further support the coupling process between the traction vehicle 64 and the trailer 60, 60a, in particular to provide a visual display for a driver of the traction vehicle 64. To support the coupling process between the trailer 60a and the traction vehicle 64, fixed points 78 are arranged on the trailer 60, 60a, which can be captured by the camera system 76. The fixed points 78 allow the king pin 62 to be located, in particular supported by a driver. This is because a height H and/or a width B of the fixed points 78 relative to the king pin 62 of the trailer are specified permanently and independent of a loading of the trailer 62. The locating of the fixed points 78 can therefore assist a driver to approach the trailer 62 correctly, and they can be detected and used by the camera system 76 to display any brief corrections of the traction vehicle that may be needed. In particular, a height h can be changed by loading of the trailer 60, 60a or by a current tire pressure of the tires 82. Therefore, it is important that the height H is independent of the loading state. In particular, a fixed point 78 specifies a distance between the king pin 62 and an outer edge 84 of the trailer 60, 60a.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a plurality of trailers 60, each with a trailer control device 10 and a king pin 62. The located trailer 60a also has a coupling system with specified positions 91, 92, 93 of the located trailer 60, 60a. The specified positions 91, 92, 93 of the trailer 60, 60a can each be detected via a transceiver unit. The detected positions 91, 92, 93 can then be evaluated by means of an evaluation unit 37, which is integrated in the trailer control device 10. In the evaluation unit 37, for example, straight lines or levels are determined using the detected points 91, 92 and 93. It is also conceivable that the trailer control device 10 also represents a detected position 94. The detected positions 91-94 can then be determined, for example, in relation to the king pin 62 of the located trailer 60a. The transceiver unit of the trailer 60, 60a queries, for example, via an external GPS system 70 or via local transmitter masts, the current position, i.e. the coordinates of the corresponding fixed point 91-94. By means of the detected points 91-94, using a software the position and orientation of the trailer 60, 60a is determined, in particular in relation to the king pin and, if appropriate, stored in the memory unit 28. The necessary position data are preferably transmitted via wireless connection from the trailer control unit 10 to a traction vehicle 64, so that the traction vehicle unit 64 can control the located trailer 60a and a coupling can be carried out between the traction vehicle 64 and the trailer 60a.

[0040] After the trailer 60a has been located, the traction vehicle 64 controls the located trailer 60a to couple it. In order to carry out the coupling process the detection unit 100, which comprises, in particular, a camera system 76 and/or a sensor system and is arranged on a coupling side 65 of the traction vehicle 64, captures the detectable pattern 77 on a coupling side 72 of the trailer 60, 60a, wherein the detectable pattern 77 is provided by the specified points 78. The detection unit 100 can capture the detectable pattern 77, for example, using ultrasound and/or optically or by similar means. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed points 78 are arranged in a triangle configuration on the coupling side 72, wherein two of the fixed points are each arranged on a upper outer region, above the Earth's surface 104 at a height h and a fixed specified point 78 is arranged above the king pin 62 at a height hl above the Earth's surface 104, the height hl being less than the height h. It is conceivable for the detectable pattern 77 to be arranged in a different configuration of the fixed points on the coupling side 72, in particular with a different number of fixed points. The detection unit 100 is connected to a control unit, in particular via a wired connection or a wireless link, to evaluate the detectable pattern 77. In an evaluation, in particular by means of triangulation, a current distance 106 and/or a current angle 108 between the trailer 60, 60a and the traction vehicle 64 and/or a height h of the trailer 60, 60a are determined. The evaluation is preferably carried out on the basis of the subset of pixels which have detected the detectable pattern 77. If the current angle 108 and/or the current distance 106 are not suitable for an optimal coupling process, then, for example, wheel alignments of the traction vehicle 64 can be modified so that a coupling process can be carried out in the best possible way. The fixed points 78 are arranged on the coupling side 72 of the trailer 60, 60a at a constant specified distance 102. A constant specified distance 102 between two fixed points 78 can be different to a constant specified distance 102 between two other fixed points 78, as can be discerned from the triangle configuration in accordance with FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0041] The detection unit 100, in particular the camera system 75, detects an image with a constant specified total number of pixels, wherein the detectable pattern 77 and/or the trailer edges is/are captured in a subset of the total number of pixels and by evaluating the subset of pixels on which the detectable pattern 77 and/or the trailer edges is/are captured, a current distance 106 and/or an angle 108 between the detection unit 100 and the trailer 60, 60a can be determined. In particular, a height h of the trailer 60, 60a above the Earth's surface 104 can be determined by the detection unit 100. The detected height h therefore specifies a distance to the earth's surface 104, which allows a loading condition of the trailer 60, 60a to be estimated. In particular, due to the height definition h an overloading of the trailer 60, 60a can be detected, in which a coupling process would lead to damage to the traction vehicle 64 and/or the trailer 60, 60a. The fewer pixels that capture the detectable pattern 77, the greater is the current distance 106 between the trailer 60, 60a and the traction vehicle 64. On the other hand, the more pixels that capture the detectable pattern 77, the smaller is the current distance 106 between the trailer 60, 60a and the traction vehicle 64. In addition, an asymmetric distribution of the subset of pixels which have captured the detectable pattern 77 indicates that the trailer 60, 60a and the traction vehicle 64 are at an angle 108 to each other. Asymmetric distribution in the present context means that, for example, in one region on the coupling side 72 a number n>0 of pixels has detected a fixed point 78, while another symmetrically arranged fixed point 78 has only been detected by a number m>0 of pixels, where m<n and m, n are whole natural numbers. If an angle of approximately 90 were given between an extension of the detection unit 100 and the coupling side 72, then m=n would be true. This is equivalent to an extension of the detection unit 100 parallel to the extension of the trailer 60, 60a in the z direction (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0042] 10: trailer control device [0043] 12: transmitter unit [0044] 14: signal transmission [0045] 16: receiver unit [0046] 18: signal transmission [0047] 20: receiver unit [0048] 24: comparator [0049] 26: signal transmission [0050] 28: memory unit [0051] 30: transmitter unit [0052] 32: signal transmission [0053] 34: energy source [0054] 36: position determination unit [0055] 37: evaluation unit [0056] 38: encryption unit/decryption unit [0057] 38a: decryption unit [0058] 38b: encryption unit [0059] 40-50: signal transmission [0060] 60: trailer [0061] 62: king pin [0062] 64: traction vehicle [0063] 65: coupling side of the traction vehicle [0064] 66: signal transmission [0065] 68: signal transmission [0066] 70: external GPS unit [0067] 72: coupling side of the trailer [0068] 76: camera system [0069] 77 detectable pattern [0070] 78: fixed point [0071] 80: system [0072] 82: tires [0073] 84: edge [0074] 91-94: pre-defined position or pre-defined region [0075] 100: detection unit [0076] 102: pre-defined distance [0077] 104 Earth's surface [0078] 106 current distance [0079] 108 angle [0080] H: height [0081] B: width [0082] h: height above the earth's surface [0083] hl: height above the earth's surface, where hl<h