Patent Publication Number: US-9409510-B1

Title: Automatic tractor/trailer tracking system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention generally pertains to systems that monitor the status and location of a tractor/trailer, and more particularly to an automatic tractor/trailer tracking system that provides the identification and the location of a particular trailer. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     To properly manage a fleet of tractor/trailers is necessary to provide real time data on the location of each tractor and trailer, the time and location of where and when a trailer is tethered or un-tethered and the identification of the trailer and the tractor pulling the trailer. Typically, it is the responsibility of the tractor driver to identify and provide the data via an asset tracking management system. This system is prone to errors due to potential misreading the tractor&#39;s or trailer&#39;s identification, damaged labeling or identification plates, theft, or human error. 
     Other prior art systems communicate the required data automatically to the tractor via a hard-wired connection through an anti-lock braking system using a Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication bus. This system requires the installation of a complex and expensive PLC transceiver on both the trailer and on the tractor. 
     Wireless trailer identification systems have also been used in combination with a Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). These systems have a long event reporting latency time since the system is not active unless the trailer gets power and the trailer starts moving. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. PAT. NO. 
                 INVENTOR  
                 ISSUED 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 8,068,019  
                 Bennie 
                 29 Nov. 2011 
               
               
                 6,799,814  
                 Lesesky 
                 5 Oct. 2004 
               
               
                 6,529,529  
                 Tohkairin 
                 4 Mar. 2003 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The U.S. Pat. No. 8,068,019 discloses a system that upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, recognizes the trailer and applies a stored trailer configuration in a controller. In one embodiment, tire pressure sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Transmission from the sensor are decoded in a controller and processed to identify a particular trailer configuration. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,814 discloses the status of one or more subsystems positioned on one or more trailer is communicated to a tractor electrically and mechanically connected to the trailer. The status is automatically supplied by the subsystem or can be requested either by the operator of the tractor/trailer combination or automatically by another subsystem on either the tractor or the trailer. These systems require the installation of complex and expensive Power Line Carrier (PLC) transceivers on the trailers and on the tractors. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,529 discloses an automatic tracking system that utilizes a multiplicity device for reducing the time period during which a signal is formatted that is applied to a relay exchange mode. This system requires the use of a complex system of sensors and transmitters. The system also fails to properly identify the exact time and location of a hook/unhook event as well as the identification of the tracker/trailer. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The automatic tractor/trailer tracking system (ATTS) is designed to produce and provide to a receiver located in a tractor cab, on a trailer or in a dispatch office data pertaining to the location, date, and time that a trailer is tethered or un-tethered from a tractor. 
     The ATTS is comprised of an electronic circuit that functions in combination with a power connector or the like, that includes a hinged cover. The cover is either in a closed vertical position or in an open horizontal position which allows access to the connector. 
     The electronic circuit is attached to the connector cover and is comprised of a microcontroller enabled by a battery that is controlled by a switching unit. When the cover is opened the microcontroller is enabled and data pertinent to the trailer is applied to a short range RF transmitter that sends the data, via an RF antenna, to, the tractor cab, the trailer and/or to a dispatch office. 
     The electronic circuit is located on a single printed circuit board (PCB) that, in turn, is enclosed in a hermetically sealed enclosure which is attached typically by screws to the inside cover of the power connector. The placement of the electronic circuit on the cover allows the movement of the cover from either a closed to an open position or from an open to a closed position which are then detected and applied to the transmitter. 
     In view of the above disclosure the primary object of the invention is to provide an ATTS that wirelessly and automatically sends data to a receiver that pertains to the time, date and the connectivity status of the trailer. 
     In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to produce an ATTS that:
         can be applied to various tractor/trailer combination,   is easily maintained,   is reliable,   can be designed to be attached to fit a variety of power connector,   can be processed as an aftermarket product or an OEM product,   avoids situations where a trailer is attached to the wrong tractor, and   is cost effective from both a manufacturer&#39;s and fleet&#39;s point of view.       

     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the sub sequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a typical power connector having attached to its hinged cover an ATTS 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a typical ATTS electronic circuit. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of an automatic tractor/trailer tracking system (ATTS). The ATTS is designed to identify and provide the status of a particular trailer assigned to a particular tractor. 
     The preferred embodiment of the ATTS  10  is comprised of an electronics circuit  20  that functions in combination with a trailer attached power connector  12  such as a SAE J560 7-pin connector and a tractor. The power connector  12 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , includes a hinged cover  14  that is in either a closed vertical position, or in an open horizontal position in which position a power cable can be connected from the power connector  12  to a tractor. The power connector  12  can be comprised of any power connector having a hinged cover  14  such as a data communication connector or an air hose connector. 
     The electronic circuit  20 , as typically shown in  FIG. 2 , is comprised of a microcontroller  22 , a transmitter  24 , a switching unit  26 , a battery  28 , and a radio frequency (RF) antenna  30 . 
     The microcontroller  22  has a first input  11 , a second input  13 , a third input  15  and an output  17 . Prior to installing the ATTS  10 , a set of preset signals which include a unique identification of a specific trailer and a specific microcontroller  22  are programmed into the non-volatile memory of the microcontroller  22  via the first input  11 . The transmitter  24 , which is comprised of a short range transmitter, has a first input  19 , a second input  21  and an output  23 . The first input  19  is connected to the second output  17  of the microcontroller  22 . The switching unit  26  has an input  25  and an output  27 . The output  27  is connected to the second input  13  on the microcontroller  22 . The switching unit  26  can consist of an accelerometer, a tactile button switch, a toggle switch, a tilt switch, a magnetic reed switch, an optically coupled switch and a near field communication (NFC) receiver coil. 
     The electronic circuit  20  is attached by an attachment means  34 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a trailer&#39;s structural member that interfaces with the hinged cover  14  of the power connector  12  or directly on the cover  14 . When the cover  14  is closed, the switching unit  26  is open indicating that the trailer is not tethered to a tractor. When the over  14  is open, the switching unit  26  is closed indicating that the trailer is or can be tethered to the tractor. 
     The battery  28  provides the power that enables the electronic circuit  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The battery  28  has a first output  29  connected to the third input  15  of the microcontroller  22 , a second output  31  connected to the input  25  of the switching unit  26 , a third output  33  connected to the second input  21  of the transmitter  24  and a fourth output  35  connected to circuit ground  32 . 
     The output  23  from the transmitter  24  is connected to the input  39  on the RF antenna  30  from where a set of trailer status signals are automatically and wirelessly transmitted to a designated RF receiver (not shown). The set of trailer status signals comprise:
         trailer identification,   cover position status (up, down, moving up, moving down), and   battery status.       

     As previously described, the power connector  12  has a hinged cover  14  that can be positioned in either a closed vertical position or an open horizontal position. 
     When the hinged cover  14  transitions from a closed position to an open position, the switching unit  26  closes, thereby causing power from the battery  28  to be applied to the third input  15  which enables the microcontroller  22 . The microcontroller  22  then sends, via the transmitter  24  and the RF antenna  30 , the trailer status signals to the tractor connected to the trailer and/or to a remote location. To conserve power, the output from the transmitter  24  is periodically transmitted and controlled by the microcontroller  22 . 
     When the hinged cover  14  transitions from an open position to a closed position, the switching unit  26  opens, causing the power from the battery  28  from being applied to the microcontroller  22 . The microcontroller  22  then goes into a sleep mode which is maintained until the cover transitions from the closed position to the open position. 
     When the cover is initially placed in a closed position the microcontroller  22  goes into a steady state mode. In this mode, the microcontroller  22  keeps sending the trailer status signals for a selectable period of time, after which the microcontroller goes into a sleep mode. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.