Patent ID: 7021723
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
1. An operating system for towed vehicle electric brakes comprising: a means of creating a longitudinal force electric signal proportional to a longitudinal force between a tow vehicle and a towed vehicle; a means of monitoring a brake activation condition of the tow vehicle; a first automatic brake control mode in which an output voltage is created in response to said longitudinal force electric signal and said brake activation condition for actuating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle; a second automatic brake control mode in which the output voltage is created based on alternative information other than said longitudinal force electric signal; and a means for changing between the first and second automatic brake control modes based on a determination of whether the longitudinal force electric signal fluctuates beyond a specified value from a target value, whereby the first automatic brake control mode is used when the longitudinal force electric signal fluctuates beyond said specified value, and the second automatic brake control mode is used when the longitudinal force electric signal does not fluctuate beyond said specified value.