Trailer braking system and controller

Abstract

A trailer brake controller and system detects absolute deceleration of a trailer by incorporating an electronic gyroscope/accelerometer combination in order to accurately calculate the deceleration subtracting out the component which is due to the force of gravity. The controller and system also receives and reads information from the towing vehicle's speed sensor. The system detects the deceleration of the trailer and sends a signal to a trailer brake activation circuit based upon an acceleration status of the trailer. In some embodiments, the system detects that the trailer is decelerating and the trailer control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer brakes. Particularly, the system is able to detect that the trailer is decelerating at an unsafe rate and to activate the trailer brakes and slow the trailer to a safe speed.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A trailer braking system comprising:
 a. a towing vehicle speed sensor;   b. a trailer control device; and   c. a trailer braking system activation circuit,   wherein the trailer system control device receives a signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor and sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit based upon the signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the trailer brake control device that the towing vehicle is slowing and the trailer system control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system. 
     
     
         12 . The trailer braking system of  claim 11  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle slows below a threshold speed. 
     
     
         13 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor is located within the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The trailer braking system of  claim 13  wherein the vehicle speed sensor is installed on the towing vehicle at the factory. 
     
     
         15 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wired signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wireless signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  further comprising an accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor for detecting an absolute acceleration of the trailer. 
     
     
         18 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The trailer braking system of  claim 11  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle decelerates past a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         25 . The trailer braking system of  claim 10  wherein the signal comprises one of a wired signal, a RF signal, and a Bluetooth signal. 
     
     
         26 . A trailer braking system comprising:
 a. a towing vehicle speed sensor;   b. a trailer control device; and   c. a trailer braking system,   wherein the trailer system control device receives a signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor and sends a signal to the trailer braking system based upon the signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor.   
     
     
         27 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the trailer brake control device that the towing vehicle is slowing and the trailer system control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system. 
     
     
         28 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle slows below a threshold speed. 
     
     
         29 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor is located within the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The trailer braking system of  claim 29  wherein the vehicle speed sensor is installed on the towing vehicle at the factory. 
     
     
         31 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wired signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wireless signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  further comprising an accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor for detecting an absolute acceleration of the trailer. 
     
     
         34 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the signal comprises one of a wired signal, a RF signal, and a Bluetooth signal. 
     
     
         35 . The trailer braking system of  claim 26  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle decelerates past a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         36 . A trailer braking system comprising:
 a. a towing vehicle speed sensor;   b. a trailer control device; and   c. a trailer braking system,   wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the trailer control device based upon the signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor and the trailer control device operates the trailer braking system based upon the signal received from the towing vehicle speed sensor, wherein the trailer brake controller acts independently from a braking system of the towing vehicle and further wherein the trailer brake controller receives a signal from the trailer corresponding to a deceleration status of the trailer.   
     
     
         37 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the trailer brake control device that the towing vehicle is slowing and the trailer system control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system. 
     
     
         38 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle slows below a threshold speed. 
     
     
         39 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor is located within the towing vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . The trailer braking system of  claim 39  wherein the vehicle speed sensor is installed on the towing vehicle at the factory. 
     
     
         41 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wired signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the trailer system control device receives a wireless signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor. 
     
     
         43 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  further comprising an accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor for detecting an absolute acceleration of the trailer. 
     
     
         44 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the signal comprises one of a wired signal, a RF signal, and a Bluetooth signal. 
     
     
         45 . The trailer braking system of  claim 36  wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle decelerates past a predetermined threshold.