Vehicle load indicator

A system for a vehicle comprises a load sensor configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a load indicator where the load indicator is disposed proximate the vehicle such that the load indicator generates an output in response to the load sensed by the load sensor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle load indicating systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles are often configured to carry a load and have load capacities. It is important for vehicle users to know when they are approaching and/or exceeding the load capacities of their vehicles. If vehicle load limits are surpassed, then steering, handling, and braking can be compromised. If a vehicle is overloaded, then there is an increased chance of the vehicle experiencing a mechanical failure, a tire rupture, or a roll event. It may be difficult for a user to estimate the weight of the vehicle contents as the user is in the process of loading the vehicle. Thus, it is desirable for the user to know the load being added to the vehicle.

Furthermore, it is paramount that a user be able to intuitively and easily understand the amount of load the user has loaded into the vehicle while the user is loading the vehicle. For example, it would be very beneficial to a fork lift operator to know how close a load is to maximum capacity while he or she is loading the vehicle with the fork lift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a load indicator system for a vehicle comprises a load sensor configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The system further includes a load indicator. The load indicator is disposed proximate the vehicle such that the load indicator generates an output in response to the load sensed by the load sensor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a load indicator system for a vehicle comprises one or more load indicators coupled to a vehicle. A load sensor is configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The load sensor is in communication with the one or more indicators. The one or more indicators are configured to generate an output based on the load sensed by the load sensor.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for indicating a vehicle load includes the steps of coupling a load-sensing device to the vehicle and sensing a load on the vehicle with the load-sensing device. A load indicator is selectively activated at a variable intensity as a function of the load sensed by the load-sensing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the disclosure as described in the following description together with the claims and appended drawings.

Turning now toFIGS. 1-3, reference numeral10generally designates a vehicle capable of carrying a load and having a load indicator system11. The vehicle10includes a load sensor30configured to sense a load on the vehicle10. The load sensor30senses the load on the vehicle10. The vehicle10further includes a load indicator50where the load indicator50is in communication with the load sensor30. The load indicator50is configured to generate an output based on the load sensed by the load sensor30. In the embodiment shown, the vehicle10is a pickup truck which includes a body14defining a bed area18. A bed22is operably coupled to the frame26through a plurality of mounting features34,38,42,46. In the embodiment shown, a load sensor30is positioned on each of the mounting features34,38,42,46and configured to sense a load on the bed22associated with cargo in the bed22. The load is the weight of cargo loaded in the bed22. It should be appreciated that other load sensing arrangements may be employed. It should further be appreciated that the load indicator system11may be used on other vehicles such as sedans, SUVs and others to sense and indicate load.

Various lights are located on the vehicle10. In one embodiment, the CHMSL (Center High Mount Stop Light)65includes brake light66and lights67and68, which perform courtesy light and load indicator functions. In one embodiment, light67may be a courtesy light and light68may be a load indicator. Alternatively, light68will be a courtesy light, and light67will be a load indicator.

The vehicle has taillights73and front lights80. Each taillight73includes a stop/brake light74and back up light75. The backup light75is sometimes referred to as the reverse light. Each front light80includes running lamps81and head lights82. Puddle lamps87are also located on the vehicle10. Lighted stripes88are located on the vehicle. Referring now toFIG. 1A, the tailgate area28has tailgate handle light84, tailgate top light85, and tailgate bottom light86on tailgate29.

In one embodiment, a load sensor30is located on each of the mounting features34,38,42,46. According to other embodiments, only one or more than one sensor is/are used and in which the sensor(s) is (are) located in the bed area18or another area of the vehicle10. The load sensor30may also be located proximate the vehicle10.

The load indicator system11includes one or more load indicators50that can provide an output indicative of a load condition. Such load indicators50include: horn62, backup light75, brake light66, bed light67, bed light68, stop/brake light74, and miscellaneous exterior lamps including puddle lamps87, lighted stripes88, tailgate handle light84, tailgate top light85, and tailgate bottom light86. The load indicators50may further include a display58such as an IP touch screen. The load indicators50may also include one or more electronic devices in communication with the load sensor. The electronic devices may include telephones or computers. The term “communication” as used herein refers to hardwired or wireless communication. For example, the bed load sensor30could be in wireless communication with a user's cell phone. The load indicator system11can include or make use of other systems in the vehicle.

The horn62may emit various audible sounds, including honking and chirping sounds.

Backup light75and bed lights67,68may include RGB LEDS. An RGB LED is a red, green, blue light emitting diode light source that can mix together colors in various ways to produce a wide array of light colors. For example, an RGB LED could indicate the percentage of allowable weight in the bed area18by showing green color light for less than a 10% load, yellow color light for a 50% load, and red color light for a 100% allowable load. A PWM mixture refers to pulse width modulation, which is a modulation technique used to encode a message into a pulsing signal. The PWM feature may be incorporated in the RGB LEDs to generate different proportions of the red, green and blue colors. For the loading measurement function, backup light75and bed light67,68could cycle from green for no (less than 10%) load and red for fully (100%) loaded with a PWM mixture in between to indicate the exact amount of load by color. In one embodiment, the two bed lights67,68on the CHMSL65are configured to function as load indicators and/or courtesy lights. For example, while the user is loading the vehicle, light67may be configured to act as a load indicator while light68acts as a courtesy light. Alternatively, while the user is loading the vehicle, light68may be configured to act as a load indicator while light67acts as a courtesy light.

Referring now toFIG. 1, positioned within the vehicle10is display58. The display58may be a touchscreen and/or be operated by mechanical inputs (e.g. keyboard, mouse, scroll, wheel, knob, etc.). The display58may be configured to depict an image or show data from the bed load sensor30or controller90to indicate the sensed load, as explained in greater detail below.

Referring now toFIG. 2, as explained above, in the one embodiment, each of the mounting features34,38,42,46in bed area18include a load sensor30. The load sensor30is a weight-based sensing system for determining a load in truck bed22. When a load is placed in bed22, it applies a downward force F, acting on the bed22and, in turn, bed frame26. As the magnitude of the downward force increases, the weight on the bed22acting on the bed frame26increases. Bed frame26may contain one or more embedded weight sensors30which can determine the weight of bed22with its load therein. In instances where multiple weight sensors30are used, weight sensors30may be positioned so that the distribution of the load on the bed22can be determined. For example, weight sensor30in a rear right location near mounting feature46might sense a greater weight of bed22than weight sensor30in a front left location near mounting feature34of bed22. Weight sensors30may be any known weight sensors, including load cells or pressure sensors in an air suspension. An electronic module may supply power to the weight sensor30and provide the associated buffer circuitry to transform a signal that is emitted from the weight sensor30into an operator indicator. One example of a weight sensor used in a pickup truck is disclosed in, U.S. Pat. No. 8,160,806 entitled Load-Sensing Systems for Light-Duty Trucks, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The weight sensor30may be in communication with a load indicator50. Also, the weight sensor30may be in communication with the controller90which may communicate with the load indicator50.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a block diagram of the vehicle10is shown including the load indicator system11. As explained above, the bed area18includes one or more load sensors30. Each load sensor30is in communication with controller90. Load sensor30may emit an analog, digital, or bus signal to the controller90. The controller90may include a processor92and a memory94for executing stored routines or for storing information (e.g., related to the operation of load sensor30and/or vehicle inputs100). In the depicted embodiment, the memory94of the controller90includes a control routine98. In various embodiments, the controller90is a standalone device that is not in communication with body control modules, electronic control modules, engine control modules and/or other features of the vehicle10. In various embodiments, the controller90can be any type of control circuitry. For example, the controller90could be a switch on a wire. In the depicted embodiment, the controller90is in communication with one or more vehicle inputs100that may be used in conjunction with the controller90and may communicate with the controller90through a multiplex communication bus (e.g., Lin, Can, etc.). In one embodiment, the vehicle input100may include communications from one or more vehicle sensors102. The vehicle sensors102may include a gear position or transmission sensor106, a door courtesy switch110, a battery state of charge sensor114, a key fob signal118, a day/night sensor122, and/or any other sensor that may be disposed within or in communication with vehicle10. The door courtesy switch110provides a door ajar indication. The day/night sensor detects the ambient light level near the vehicle10.

The controller90may selectively activate one or more load indicators50in response to a vehicle input100and/or a sensed load input from load sensor30. In the depicted embodiment, load indicators50include horn62, PWM RGB backup light75, PWM RGB bed light67, PWM RGB bed light68, IP touchscreen58, stop/brake light66, stop/brake light74, tailgate handle light84, tailgate top light85, tailgate bottom light86, puddle lamps87, and lighted stripes88.

In one example, controller90may receive an input that is the load sensed by the load sensor30and an input that is the ambient light level from the day/night sensor122. The controller90selectively activates one or more load indicators50to generate an output in response to the load sensed and the ambient light level.

In another example, controller90may receive an input that is the load sensed by the load sensor30and an input that is the door ajar indication from the door courtesy switch110. The controller90selectively activates one or more load indicators50to generate an output in response to the load sensed and the door ajar indication.

Referring toFIG. 4, an embodiment of the control routine98for sensing and indicating a load of a vehicle is depicted. In the depicted embodiment, the control routine98may begin at step160when the first steps are taken to determine the vehicle status. From step160, the control routine98proceeds to decision step162. At decision step162, if the battery is at greater than 50% charge and the vehicle is in park, the routine98proceeds to decision step164. Decision step164is where the determination is made of whether the key fob is within 50 feet of the vehicle or whether a vehicle door has opened in the last two hours. If the answer to one or both of the conditions in decision step164is affirmative, the routine98proceeds to decision step166. The determination of step164indicates whether the owner is in the area. At decision step166, the control routine98determines whether the payload has increased or decreased in weight by an incremental amount of 50 pounds in the last 5 minutes. If the answer to one or both questions is yes, then the next step168of control routine98is performed. The determination of step166indicates whether something is being loaded into or unloaded from or out of the vehicle bed or whether someone has climbed into or out of the vehicle bed. The next step168of reading the day/night sensor122to determine the correct intensity of indicator50lights is performed. Next step170directs that bed light67or68and backup light75are turned on in RGB mode. At step170, in one embodiment, the bed light67or68and the backup light75can indicate the weight in the bed22by showing green for less than a 10% load, yellow for a 50% load, and red for a 100% load. Next a determination is made at decision step172as to whether the load is more than 100%. If the answer at step172is affirmative, then the next step174is that the horn62is activated to honk for 5 seconds while all lights flash red. In one embodiment, all lights that flash red comprise the CHMSL brake light66, stop/brake light74, CHMSL bed light67, CHMSL bed light68, and backup light75. After that, all lights turn off at step176. The control routine98returns to step162. At decision step172, if the load is not more than 100%, then if it is twilight or darker, indicative of a low or no light ambient condition, the head lights82are turned on at 5% intensity, puddle lamps87and running lamps81are turned on at 50% intensity, taillights73are turned on at 20% intensity. Also, other courtesy lights including lighted stripes88, tailgate handle light84, tailgate top light85, and tailgate bottom light86may be turned on. Head lights82, puddle lamps87, running lamps81, taillights73, and other courtesy lights including lighted stripes88, tailgate handle light84, tailgate top light85, and tailgate bottom light86are turned on to illuminate the area around the vehicle10for safe loading. Decision step182asks whether the load has changed by more than 50 pounds in the last 5 minutes. If the answer is affirmative, then the lights in step180remain on until the load has not changed by more than 50 pounds in the last 5 minutes. If the answer at182is negative, then all lights turn off at step176. The determination at step182indicates whether loading has finished. The control routine98proceeds to its early state by returning to step162.

A variety of advantages may be derived from the use of the present disclosure. A user is able to intuitively and easily understand the amount of load the user has loaded into the vehicle while the user is loading the vehicle. The vehicle load may be indicated through use of existing vehicle features (horn, lights, IP touch screen). The vehicle load may be indicated in a location on the vehicle that is visible to a user loading a vehicle. Courtesy lights responsive to ambient light levels may illuminate in combination with load indicators to aid loading.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and, further, it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims, unless these claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise. Further, the claims as set forth below, are incorporated into and constitute part of this Detailed Description.