Method and apparatus for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto. A first electronic device provided in or on the tractor vehicle is connected via a data link to a second electronic device provided in or on the trailer vehicle; the first and second electronic devices being connected to sensors and/or actuators for controlling operating functions of the vehicle allocated thereto and for measuring status information. Initiated by an information request, the first electronic device sends request data via the data link to the second electronic device. The first electronic device receives status information via the data link sent by the second electronic device in response to the request data. The first electronic device outputs, in a manner that can be correlated with the trailer vehicle, the received status information by means of an output device disposed on or in the tractor vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto, the tractor vehicle including a first electronic control and measurement device and an output device, the trailer vehicle including a second electronic control and measurement device, a data link connecting said first and second electronic devices, each of said first and second electronic devices being connected to at least one of a sensor and an actuator for measuring status information of and controlling operating functions for the vehicle associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of initiating an information request and transmitting request data via said data link from said first electronic control and measurement device to said second electronic control and measurement device, receiving status information in said first electronic control and measurement device via said data link transmitted by said second electronic control and measurement device in response to said request data, and, utilizing said output device, outputting from said first electronic control and measurement device said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device such that said status information is correlated with said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said request data is a diagnostic command for requesting defect information in accordance with United States Society of Automotive Engineers Standard SAE J1587.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of outputting said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device is effected using a further output device of said tractor vehicle allocated to said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of outputting status information of said tractor vehicle utilizing said output device.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data link includes a serial interface.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data link includes high-frequency transmission on voltage-supply lines.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said data link includes a seven-way interface according to United States Society of Automotive Engineers Standard SAE J560.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said status information includes information associated with a vehicle defect.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said information associated with a vehicle defect includes information concerning a defect developed in a brake system of at least one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said brake system is an anti-lock braking system.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said information associated with a vehicle defect includes the location and nature of said defect.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said status information includes information on the nature of a brake system of said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said brake system of said trailer vehicle is an anti-lock braking system.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said output device is a warning lamp for warning an occupant of said tractor vehicle of a vehicle defect.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of initiating an information request is effected by actuating an actuating element.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said actuating element is a switch.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said actuating element is a pushbutton.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of outputting said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device is effected using a further output device of said tractor vehicle allocated to said trailer vehicle, and further comprising the step of outputting status information of said tractor vehicle utilizing said output device, wherein said step of actuating said actuating element effects a connection between an electrical potential and at least one of said output device and said further output device.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of outputting status information of said tractor vehicle in response to actuation of said actuating element.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of outputting status information of said tractor vehicle in response to actuation of a further actuating element.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of requesting status information of said tractor vehicle via a first preselected actuation sequence of said actuating element and requesting status information of said trailer vehicle via a second preselected actuation sequence of said actuating element.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting said status information generates a blinking code.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of establishing an output scheme for output of said status information of both said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising the step of selecting within said output scheme for output of said status information of said tractor vehicle a coding of said status information of said trailer vehicle that is unambiguously distinguishable from a coding of said status information of said tractor vehicle.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising the step of correlating said output status information with one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle using information included in said output scheme.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for interchanging data in a tractor and trailer vehicle combination, comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto, the tractor vehicle including a first electronic control and measurement device and an output device, the trailer vehicle including a second electronic control and measurement device, a data link connecting said first and second electronic devices, each of said first and second electronic devices being connected to at least one of a sensor and an actuator for measuring status information of and controlling operating functions for the vehicle associated therewith, means for initiating an information request and transmitting request data via said data link from said first electronic control and measurement device to said second electronic control and measurement device, and means for receiving status information in said first electronic control and measurement device via said data link transmitted by said second electronic control and measurement device in response to said request data, said output device adapted to output from said first electronic control and measurement device said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device such that said status information is correlated with said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said request data is a diagnostic command for requesting defect information in accordance with United States Society of Automotive Engineers Standard SAE J1587.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising a further output device of said tractor vehicle allocated to said trailer vehicle for outputting said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein said output device is adapted to output status information of said tractor vehicle.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said data link includes a serial interface.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said data link includes means for high-frequency transmission on voltage-supply lines.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said data link includes a seven-way interface according to United States Society of Automotive Engineers Standard SAE J560.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said status information includes information associated with a vehicle defect.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein said information associated with a vehicle defect includes information concerning a defect developed in a brake system of at least one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein said brake system is an anti-lock braking system.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein said information associated with a vehicle defect includes the location and nature of said defect.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said status information includes information on the nature of a brake system of said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein said brake system of said trailer vehicle is an anti-lock braking system.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said output device is a warning lamp for warning an occupant of said tractor vehicle of a vehicle defect.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising an actuating element for initiating an information request.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein said actuating element is a switch.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein said actuating element is a pushbutton.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , further comprising a further output device of said tractor vehicle allocated to said trailer vehicle for outputting said status information received from said second electronic control and measurement device, said output device being utilized to output status information of said tractor vehicle, and a connection formed between an electrical potential and at least one of said output device and said further output device effected by actuation of said actuating element.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , further comprising means for outputting said status information of said tractor vehicle in response to actuation of said actuating element.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , further comprising a further actuating element for initiating the output of said status information of said tractor vehicle.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein said actuating element includes a first preselected actuation sequence programmed therein for requesting status information of said tractor vehicle and a second preselected actuation sequence programmed therein for requesting status information of said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein said output device is adapted to generate a blinking code.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising means for establishing an output scheme for output of said status information of both said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus according to  claim 48 , further comprising means for selecting within said output scheme for output of said status information of said tractor vehicle a coding of said status information of said trailer vehicle that is unambiguously distinguishable from a coding of said status information of said tractor vehicle.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein said output scheme includes information for correlating said output status information with one of said tractor vehicle and said trailer vehicle.