Patent Application
20250236273
The disclosure relates to an electronic brake system. The disclosure further relates to a trailer vehicle having an electronic brake system, and to a brake control device for an electronic brake system in a trailer vehicle.
Conventional trailers for service vehicles, in conjunction with a pneumatic braking device, also include an electronic brake system having a brake control device. The brake control device is continuously supplied with a voltage via a tractor-trailer interface according to ISO 7638-1:2018 or ISO 7638-2:2018. In addition, the trailer vehicle preferably includes a tractor-trailer interface according to ISO 12098:2020, via which a lighting system of the vehicle, in particular a brake light system, is supplied with a voltage. An auxiliary voltage supply of the brake control device via the voltage supply of the brake lights, that is, particularly via the interface according to ISO 12098:2020, is already known. Disadvantageously, the auxiliary voltage supply is only executed during a braking operation, as the brake lights only receive a voltage at this time.
In addition to the brake control device, the trailer vehicle can include further devices for the delivery or processing of volumes of data. In particular, sensors/cameras provided in conjunction with driver assistance systems or for autonomous driving can deliver data, the relaying of which to the tractor vehicle is required. Data can firstly be routed to an electronic control device, and relayed from thence to a tractor-trailer interface. To this end, it is intended that this last-mentioned interface should be a high-speed data interface. In particular, it is intended that data should be transmittable at a rate of up to one Gbit/s or higher. A data connector for a high-speed interface of this type already exists (see, for example, https://www.erich-jaeger.com/de/produkte/liste/product-innovations/event/high-speed-datenuebertragung-fuer-anbaugeraete-und-anhaenger). The data connector contains two high-speed data lines and two power contacts which are appropriate for a voltage supply. Via the interface, a data transmission to the tractor vehicle is enabled, together with a voltage supply to loads in the trailer vehicle.
It is an object of the disclosure to provide a continuous voltage supply for the brake control device in the electronic brake system of a trailer vehicle, independently of any otherwise customary electrical interfaces.
The above object is, for example achieved via an electronic brake system for a trailer vehicle, the electronic brake system including:
The brake control device is connected to the second voltage supply.
The first electrical interface can be an interface according to ISO 7638-1:2018 or ISO 7638-2:2018. However, other electrical interfaces having a continuous voltage supply are also appropriate for electrical loads of the trailer vehicle. For specific applications and/or in regions outside the EU, other electrical interfaces having a continuous voltage supply may be provided in any event.
The second voltage supply is integrated in the high-speed data interface, and is at least indirectly connected to a voltage source in the tractor vehicle, provided that a connection from the trailer vehicle to the tractor vehicle exists via the high-speed data interface. According to the disclosure, the brake control device in the trailer vehicle is supplied with voltage via the high-speed data interface. Moreover, it is possible for the high-speed data interface, via a data connection, to transmit data at a rate of up to 1 Gbit/s or higher, at least from the trailer vehicle to the tractor vehicle. A connection with two contacts can be provided for the supply of voltage, and likewise for the data connection. In particular, all contacts are arranged within the high-speed data interface. The data connection can additionally include a shielding.
According to a further concept of the disclosure, the brake control device can also be connected to the first voltage supply. In this manner, two voltage supplies are applied to the brake control device. In particular, the first voltage supply can be intended for the unimpaired operation of the brake control device. In the event of the loss of this voltage supply, for example as a result of a cable failure or the release of the plug-in connection, the second voltage supply is available as a back-up solution, such that there is no resulting loss of voltage. Alternatively, the second voltage supply can be the preferred voltage supply for the brake control device, whereas the first voltage supply is employed as a back-up solution.
According to a further concept of the disclosure, the brake control device can be connected to the second voltage supply via an electrical connection and an electronic control device. The electronic control device, in particular, can be a control device to which sensors or other signal generators of the trailer vehicle are connected. Moreover, in this embodiment, the electronic control device is connected to the second voltage supply and, in particular, to the high-speed data interface. The electronic control device thus includes at least one live output, to which the brake control device is connected via the electrical connection. In this manner, the brake control device is indirectly connected to the second voltage supply.
According to a further concept of the disclosure, the electrical connection between the brake control device and the electronic control device can be configured bidirectionally, such that the brake control device, via the electrical connection and the electronic control device, is connected to the second voltage supply, and the electronic control device, via the electrical connection and the brake control device, is connected to the first voltage supply. In this manner, back-up voltage supply solutions are available both for the brake control device and for the electronic control device. In both control devices, the outgoing electrical connection can be open at all times, whereas the incoming connection, in particular, is only open in the event of the failure of the dedicated voltage supply.
According to a further concept of the disclosure, the electronic control device, via the high-speed data interface, can deliver data from at least one sensor of the trailer vehicle to the tractor vehicle. One or more cameras can be provided by way of sensors, data from which are delivered via the high-speed data interface to the tractor vehicle, and are processed therein. This is particularly relevant in conjunction with autonomous driving and/or for driver assistance systems.
According to a further concept of the disclosure, the brake control device can be connected to the first voltage supply via an electrical connection and an electronic control device. In this case, the electronic control device is connected to the first voltage supply, and indirectly supplies a voltage to the brake control device. The brake control device can also be connected to the second voltage supply.
According to the disclosure, the first electrical interface can be configured according to ISO 7638-1:2018 or ISO 7638-2:2018. However, other interfaces having a voltage supply can be provided, in particular interfaces which are present in any event in the utility vehicle sector.
According to the disclosure, the high-speed data interface can also include two data connections and two or more connections to the voltage supply. In this case, at least 4+4 contacts are preferably arranged within the high-speed data interface. Fail-safe capability is further enhanced as a result.
According to the disclosure, the brake control device can be connected to a third voltage supply, wherein the third voltage supply is an element of a further electrical interface for connecting to the tractor vehicle. Fail-safe capability is further enhanced as a result.
According to the disclosure, the further electrical interface can be configured according to ISO 12098:2020. However, other interfaces having a voltage supply can be provided, in particular having a voltage for a brake light and, in particular, interfaces which are present in any event in the utility vehicle sector.
The subject matter of the disclosure also includes a trailer vehicle having an electronic brake system. The trailer vehicle, in particular, can be a trailer vehicle for utility vehicles having an electronic brake system. Within the present meaning, in particular, utility vehicles are vehicles which are intended for employment in freight transport, local transport, long-distance transport, or on construction sites.
According to the disclosure, the trailer vehicle can be a semi-trailer. In this case, the towing utility vehicle will then be a tractor with a semi-trailer unit.
According to the disclosure, the trailer vehicle can be a trailer vehicle of vehicle class O3 or O4. Vehicle classes are summarized in EU Regulation no. 2018/858 of 05.30.2018.
The subject matter of the disclosure also includes a brake control device for an electronic brake system in a trailer vehicle having an electrical connection to an electronic control device for the trailer vehicle and having a voltage supply, according to at least one of the following options:
For the respective supply of the other control device, the brake control device and the electronic control device are electrically interconnected. In this manner, additional back-up voltage supply solutions can be provided, or the provision of additional and separate voltage supplies can be omitted.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
In the present embodiment, the vehicle combination 10 is included of a tractor 11 and a semi-trailer 12. The tractor 11 and the semi-trailer 12 respectively include an electronic brake system 13, 14. Each of the two electronic brake systems is associated with a dedicated brake control device 15, 16. The brake control devices 15, 16 actuate further components of the brake systems 13, 14, which are triggered by driver activities, by sensor signals or by other control devices.
By way of electrical connections between the tractor 11 and the semi-trailer 12, and for the interconnection of the brake systems 13, 14, standard electrical interfaces 17, 18 having associated plug connectors 19, 20 are provided. Preferably, the interface 17 and the plug connector 19 are configured according to ISO 12098:2020, whereas the interface 18 and the plug connector 20 correspond to ISO 7638-1:2018 or 7638-2:2018.
On the semi-trailer 12 side, by way on an electrical load which is connected at the interface 17, only a brake light 21 is represented. In practice, further unrepresented electrical loads are connected, for example reversing lights and side lights.
Via the interface 18 having the electrical connection 35, the brake control device 16 in the semi-trailer 12 is supplied with voltage and signals from the tractor vehicle 11. The interface 18 can additionally include further functionalities.
The connection of interfaces 17, 18 on the side of the tractor 11 and of the brake control device 15 is known and, in consequence, is not represented in greater detail here. The tractor 11 can also include further electronic control devices, the arrangement and function of which are known, for example an engine control device.
The semi-trailer 12 includes a sensor 22, which is preferably arranged in a reverse-facing direction and/or is a camera. Signals from the sensor 22 are relayed via an electrical connection 23 to an electronic control unit 24, are processed therein, and are transmitted from thence to the tractor 11. To this end, an electrical connection 25 is routed from the control device 24 to a further interface 26, having a plug connector 27.
The interface 26 between the tractor 11 and the semi-trailer 12 is provided in the form of a high-speed data interface having a voltage supply. To this end, the interface 26 includes at least one data connection for a transmission rate of up to 1 Gbit/s, and a voltage supply. As represented in
In
On the side of the tractor 11, an electrical connection 28, which also incorporates a data connection, is routed from the interface 26 to the brake control device 15 and/or to another electronic control device. Signals from the sensor 22 can be received and processed in the brake control device 15 and/or in another control device.
For the brake control device 16, a continuous and reliable voltage supply is particularly important. In the interests of an improved fail-safe capability, by way of a back-up solution, an electrical connection 29 can be provided between the interface 17 and the brake control device 16. Specifically, the electrical connection 29 can be connected in-circuit to a live electrical connection 30 between the plug connector 19 and the brake light 21. The electrical connection 30 is only supplied with voltage, in the event that the illumination of the brake light 21 is also intended. Correspondingly, in the event of the failure of the interface 20, the brake control device 16 will only receive the desired voltage via the electrical connection 29 during a braking process.
In a parallel arrangement with the electrical connection 30, further electrical connections are connected at the interface 17, in particular for the supply of further components of a lighting system of the semi-trailer 12. However, in the interests of clarity, these further electrical connections are not represented here.
In order to enhance the fail-safe capability of the brake control device 16, in the first embodiment according to
The electrical connection 31 is preferably configured bidirectionally such that, at the same time, a back-up solution for the voltage supply to the electronic control device 24 is provided, namely, via the brake control device 16 and the interface 18.
A second embodiment is shown in
In
The above-mentioned electrical connections and spur lines 23, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 incorporate conductors which are at least appropriate for a voltage supply, optionally in combination with data lines and/or further electrical conductors.
According to their function, the plug connectors 20, 27, 19 include further contacts, inter alia for data transmission-see contacts 18c, 18d in
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 127 164.1 | Oct 2022 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation application of international patent application PCT/EP2023/076360, filed Sep. 25, 2023, designating the United States and claiming priority from German application 10 2022 127 164.1, filed Oct. 18, 2022, and the entire content of both applications is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2023/076360 | Sep 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19172349 | US |
