US 12,304,445 B2
Automatic trailer brake gain scaling system and method using hitch forces
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. 18/166,966.
Prior Publication US 2024/0270214 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
 
1. A method for scaling a trailer brake gain of a trailer having trailer brakes and towed by a vehicle having vehicle brakes, the method comprising:
obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of the vehicle, including from a hitch load sensor;
computing, by at least one processor and based on the sensor data, a trailer resistance force of the trailer;
computing, by the at least one processor and using the sensor data, an optimum hitch force as a function of a vertical force on a hitch of the vehicle and deceleration of the vehicle;
updating, automatically by the at least one processor, the trailer brake gain based on the optimum hitch force, the sensor data and the trailer resistance force; and
scaling, by the at least one processor and using the updated trailer brake gain, the trailer brakes in response to application of the vehicle brakes, and applying the trailer brakes using the updated trailer brake gain.