Trailer hold assist during standstill

摘要

A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a trailer brake system of a trailer using a trailer brake controller of a tow vehicle to which the trailer is attached, comprising:
determining that the tow vehicle is in a zero-velocity state for a first prescribed duration of time associated with the zero-velocity state; waiting for a delay time duration to elapse; determining that a brake system of the tow vehicle is in a brake torque providing state for a second prescribed duration of time after at least a portion of the delay time duration has elapsed and while the tow vehicle is in the zero-velocity state, the second prescribed duration of time is associated with the brake torque providing state and is distinct from the first prescribed duration of time associated with the zero-velocity state; and causing a brake-actuating output signal of the trailer brake controller to transition from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value, wherein causing the brake-actuating output signal transition is performed in response to determining that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state for the second prescribed duration of time while the tow vehicle is in the zero-velocity state for the first prescribed duration of time.