US 12,304,444 B2
Methods and systems for automatic trailer brake gain scaling
Avesta Goodarzi, Whitby (CA); Utkarsh Saini, Pickering (CA); Patrick Giancarlo Gabriel DiGioacchino, Niagara Falls (CA); and Hasan Alper Hepguvendik, Milton (CA)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/166,955.
Prior Publication US 2024/0270213 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B60T 7/20 (2006.01); B60T 8/1755 (2006.01); B60T 8/18 (2006.01); B60T 13/66 (2006.01)
CPC B60T 7/20 (2013.01) [B60T 8/1755 (2013.01); B60T 8/1856 (2013.01); B60T 8/1887 (2013.01); B60T 13/662 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. A vehicle having vehicle brakes comprising:
a body configured to be coupled to a trailer having a trailer braking system that includes trailer brakes;
a brake pedal;
one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data for the vehicle, the sensor data including:
a state of a brake pedal of the vehicle; and
a deceleration of the vehicle; and
a processor that is coupled with the one or more sensors and that is configured to:
compute, based on the sensor data, a trailer weight of the trailer;
compute, based on the sensor data, a trailer resistance force of the trailer;
compute a brake utilization factor of the trailer, wherein the brake utilization factor is a function of certain parameters including a vehicle weight of the vehicle and the trailer weight;
automatically update a trailer brake gain based on both the trailer weight and the trailer resistance force; and
apply, using the updated trailer brake gain, the trailer brakes in response to an application of the vehicle brakes.