System and method for managing tire pressure for a trailer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method for managing tire pressure for a trailer. A controller may be configured to manage communications between a vehicle and a trailer. A tire pressure management system module to be mounted on the trailer may be operatively connected to the controller by a tow connector. The tire pressure management system module may be configured to receive tire pressure information from at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one tire of the trailer, and transmit messages to the controller based on the tire pressure information, wherein the controller triggers a notification when at least one of the messages indicates a tire pressure that fails to meet a criteria.

1 - 20  (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a controller configured to manage communications between a vehicle and a trailer; and   a module mounted on the trailer and connected to the controller by a connector, wherein the module is configured to:
 receive tire pressure information from at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one tire of the trailer; and 
 transmit one or more controller area network messages to the controller based on the tire pressure information. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein information communicated between the module and the controller is secured using a firewall. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the module is powered by the vehicle via the connector. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor comprises a tire pressure sensor configured to transmit the tire pressure information to the module over RF transmissions. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the module is further configured to:
 store identifying information about the tire pressure sensor such that the tire pressure information received from the tire pressure sensor is associated with a particular tire of the trailer.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the module is located at a secure location on the trailer. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the module is configured to trigger a notification when the one or more controller area network messages indicate a tire pressure fails to meet a criteria. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the criteria comprises a minimum pressure value. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the criteria comprises a threshold percentage difference between an indicated tire pressure for the at least one tire of the trailer and a tire pressure criteria for the at least one tire of the trailer. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the module is configured to trigger a first notification when the one or more controller area network messages indicate a tire pressure fails to meet a first criteria and to trigger a second notification when the one or more controller area network messages indicate a tire pressure fails to meet a second criteria. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein one or both of the first notification and the second notification comprise denying an operator ability to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . A method for managing tire pressure for a trailer, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a module mounted on the trailer, tire pressure information from at least one sensor associated with a tire rotatably connected to the trailer;   transmitting messages to a controller mounted on a vehicle and operably connected to the controller by a connector based on the tire pressure information;   triggering a first notification when at least one of the messages indicates a tire pressure that fails to meet a first criteria; and   triggering a second notification when at least one of the messages indicates a tire pressure that fails to meet a second criteria.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or both of the first criteria and the second criteria comprise a minimum pressure value. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or both of the first criteria and the second criteria comprise a percentage different between an indicated tire pressure for the at least one tire of the trailer and tire pressure criteria for the at least one tire of the trailer. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or both of the first notification and the second notification comprise a visual warning. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or both of the first notification and the second notification comprise a haptic warning. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the haptic warning comprises vibrating a steering wheel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or both of the first notification and the second notification comprise denying an operator ability to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 storing identifying information about the at least one sensor at the module such that the tire pressure information received from the at least one sensor is associated with a particular tire of the trailer.   
     
     
         40 . A method for configuring a tire pressure management system module, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a tire pressure management system module mounted on a trailer, input comprising a number of tires;   learning, by the tire pressure management module, identifying information for each sensor associated with each tire, each sensor being configured to sense tire pressure information for a tire rotatably connected to the trailer; and   transmitting messages to a controller mounted on a vehicle based on the tire pressure information received from the learned sensors, wherein the controller triggers a notification when at least one of the messages indicates a tire pressure that fails to meet a criteria.