US 12,291,180 B2
Trailer braking enhancement
Manvir Dulai, Brampton (CA); Michael Alarcon, Markham (CA); and Ralph David Schlottke, Whitby (CA)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/659,908.
Prior Publication US 2023/0339439 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B60T 7/20 (2006.01); B60T 8/17 (2006.01); B60T 8/32 (2006.01)
CPC B60T 7/20 (2013.01) [B60T 8/1708 (2013.01); B60T 8/323 (2013.01); B60T 2220/04 (2013.01); B60T 2250/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of a vehicle coupled to a trailer, the sensor data including:
a measure of engagement of a brake pedal of the vehicle;
a brake pedal position percentage of the brake pedal of the vehicle;
a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
a speed of the vehicle;
a grade of a path on which the vehicle is travelling; and
a deceleration of the vehicle; and
dynamically controlling braking of the trailer, via instructions provided by a processor of the vehicle to a braking system of the trailer, based on the measure of engagement of the brake pedal, the brake pedal position percentage of the brake pedal of the vehicle, the steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle, the grade of the path on which the vehicle is travelling, and the deceleration of the vehicle using a dynamic trailer brake gain as percentage of vehicle braking, including by:
initially controlling braking of the trailer by utilizing, as the trailer brake gain, an initial trailer brake gain setting as an initial percentage of vehicle braking;
determining whether a first condition is satisfied, namely, when the steering angle is less than a first predetermined threshold;
determining whether a second condition is satisfied, namely, when the grade of the road or path is less than a second predetermined threshold;
determining whether a third condition is satisfied, namely, when the vehicle speed is less than a third predetermined threshold;
maintaining control of the braking of the trailer based on the initial trailer brake gain setting, when one or more of the first condition, the second condition, or the third condition are not satisfied; and
adjusting control of the braking of the trailer, when each of the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition are satisfied, via an adjustment to the trailer brake gain that is based on a deceleration of the vehicle.