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EP-4739517-A2 - INTEGRATED CONNECTOR FILTER FOR TRUCK-TRAILER DATA COMMUNICATION

EP4739517A2EP 4739517 A2EP4739517 A2EP 4739517A2EP-4739517-A2

Abstract

An integrated connector filter for adapting a tractor or a trailer to communicate data over tractor/trailer cable includes a housing that provides first and second connectors that are in electrical communication with one another, the first connector is configured to be removably connected to a cable that electrically connects the tractor and the trailer to one another, the second connector is configured to be connected to one of the tractor and the trailer. A filter is arranged within the housing and electrically connected between the first and second connectors by at least one wire. A first filter connector is electrically connected to the filter and configured to carry a signal. The filter is configured to superimpose the signal onto the at least one wire and/or split off the signal from the at least one wire, and the first filter connector is configured to be electrically connected to a gateway on one of the tractor and the trailer.

Inventors

  • LePage, Gabriel
  • COOPRIDER, Troy
  • KIRWAN, JOHN
  • SLOAN, Justin
  • WHEELER, Grant

Assignees

  • Stoneridge Electronics AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (15)

  1. 1. An integrated connector filter for adapting a tractor or a trailer to communicate data over tractor/trailer cable, comprising: a housing providing first and second connectors in electrical communication with one another, the first connector configured to be removably connected to a cable electrically connecting the tractor and the trailer to one another, the second connector configured to be connected to one of the tractor and the trailer; a filter arranged within the housing and electrically connected between the first and second connectors by at least one wire; and a first filter connector electrically connected to the filter and configured to carry a signal, wherein the filter is configured to superimpose the signal onto the at least one wire and/or split off the signal from the at least one wire, and wherein the first filter connector is configured to be electrically connected to a gateway on one of the tractor and the trailer.
  2. 2. The integrated connector filter of claim 1 , comprising a PCB including the filter, wherein the housing includes first and second housing portions, the PCB is mounted to one of the first and second housing portions.
  3. 3. The integrated connector filter of claim 2, comprising a cover is arranged between the first and second housing portions, wherein the cover is secured to the one of the first and second housing portions over the PCB to seal the PCB.
  4. 4. The integrated connector filter of claim 2, comprising a wiring harness arranged within the housing and electrically connecting the first and second connectors to one another and to the filter via the PCB.
  5. 5. The integrated connector filter of claim 4, comprising a first data connector provided on the PCB or the housing, the first data connector electrically connected to the filter, wherein the wiring harness includes the at least one wire terminating in a second data connector electrically connected to the first data connector, wherein the filter is electrically interposed between the first data connector and the first filter connector.
  6. 6. The integrated connector filter of claim 3, wherein the wiring harness includes first and second pinned connectors removably connected respectively to a backside of the first and second connectors.
  7. 7. The integrated connector filter of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is a female connector and the second connector is a male connector.
  8. 8. The integrated connector filter of claim 7, wherein the first and second connectors are each 7-pin connectors.
  9. 9. The integrated connector filter of claim 8, wherein the 7-pin connectors are compatible with standard J560 connectors.
  10. 10. The integrated connector filter of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is removably secured and electrically coupled to the housing.
  11. 1 1 . The integrated connector filter of claim 10, wherein the first connector is a standard 7-pin female J560 connector.
  12. 12. The integrated connector filter of claim 2, wherein the second housing portion includes an opening configured to receive gateway wires for connection to the first filter connector.
  13. 13. A tractor comprising the integrated connector filter of claim 1 , comprising: a CMS including first and second rear-facing cameras, at least one display, and a CMS controller in communication with the first and second rear-facing cameras and the at least one display, the CMS controller configured to provide video feeds from the first and second rear-facing cameras to the at least one display; vehicle controls configured to operate trailer components; a wiring harness electrically connected to the vehicle controls and terminating at a bulkhead connector, the integrated connector filter of claim 1 electrically connected to the bulkhead connector; another controller including at least one processor and the gateway, the other controller configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor on the trailer and to receive control signals for controlling the trailer components, the at least one processor configured to transform the sensor signal for transmission over the wiring harness with at least one of the plurality of control signals using common wires within the wiring harness.
  14. 14. A trailer comprising: multiple trailer components; a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal; a wiring harness electrically connected to the multiple trailer components and the sensor, the wiring harness terminating at a bulkhead connector, the integrated connector filter of claim 1 electrically connected to the bulkhead connector; a controller including at least one processor and the gateway, the controller configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensor and to receive control signals for controlling the trailer components, the at least one processor configured to transform the sensor signal for transmission over the wiring harness with at least one of the plurality of control signals using common wires within the wiring harness.
  15. 15. A method of installing the integrated connector filter of claim 1 , comprising the steps of: a) removing a standard connector from a tractor or trailer socket at a bulkhead; b) connecting a second filter connector from the tractor or trailer to the first filter connector; c) inserting the first connector into the tractor or trailer socket; d) tightening fasteners to secure the housing to the tractor or trailer socket; and e) inserting a cable into the second connector to couple the tractor and trailer to one another.

Description

INTEGRATED CONNECTOR FILTER FOR TRUCK-TRAILER DATA COMMUNICATION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to Untied States Provisional Application No. 63/525,649 filed July 7, 2023 and United States Provisional Application No. 63/560,373 filed March 1 , 2024. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This disclosure relates to a data communications architecture suitable for use with a camera monitor system (CMS) used in a commercial truck, and in particular, to an integrated connector filter used to package various components of the communications architecture for use with existing tractor/trailer fleets. BACKGROUND [0003] Data transfer between a tractor and a trailer is an emerging trend with limited existing application. It is currently accomplished via its own connection between the tractor and trailer. This connection can be either wired, or wireless. [0004] Existing wired connections require adding a separate connection system between the tractor and the trailer (receptacles on tractor and trailer and a cable connection). This requires that the truck drivers perform an additional, separate action to accomplish the connection. [0005] Wireless connections can suffer from reliability in data transfer between the trailer and the cab. Additionally, the wireless pairing between tractor and trailer upon hook-up can be time-consuming and difficult to ensure that the tractor is paired with the right trailer in a yard that would contain multiple wireless-equipped trailers. [0006] Existing truck and trailer electrical connections provide DC power and very low frequency signals from the truck to the trailer. For example, a standard J560 connection has seven pins which carry aux power, ground, reverse lights, tail lights, right turn (brake), left turn (brake) and electric brakes. Many trucks and trailers already include standard J560 female connectors mounted thereto. SUMMARY [0007] Disclosed herein are several embodiments of an integrated connector filter for providing data communication between a truck and a trailer over a standard electrical connection without requiring significant additional steps by the driver. The integrated connector filters each receive data over a gateway and superimpose that data as low-amplitude, high-frequency signals onto at least one of a plurality of wires of the standard connector and cable. Each integrated connector filter also splits off the high-frequency signals sent by the other integrated connector filter and sends that data to a gateway on its associated truck or trailer. [0008] In one embodiment, the integrated connector filter includes a housing that is permanently secured to the existing electrical socket in each of the truck and the trailer. The housing of each integrated connector filter provides a standard connector for receiving a connector of a standard electrical cable for connecting the truck to the trailer. [0009] In another embodiment, an integrated connector filter is integrated with each of the connectors of an electrical cable for connecting the truck and the trailer. [0010] In another embodiment, a housing of an integrated connector filter is mounted to each of the truck and the trailer adjacent the standard connector. The standard electrical cable is connected between the housings of the integrated connector filters on the truck and the trailer. The integrated connector filter passes the standard DC and low-frequency signals through a jumper to the nearby standard connector. [0011] In another exemplary embodiment, an integrated connector filter for adapting a tractor or a trailer to communicate data over tractor/trailer cable includes a housing that provides first and second connectors that are in electrical communication with one another, the first connector is configured to be removably connected to a cable that electrically connects the tractor and the trailer to one another, the second connector is configured to be connected to one of the tractor and the trailer. A filter is arranged within the housing and electrically connected between the first and second connectors by at least one wire. A first filter connector is electrically connected to the filter and configured to carry a signal. The filter is configured to superimpose the signal onto the at least one wire and/or split off the signal from the at least one wire, and the first filter connector is configured to be electrically connected to a gateway on one of the tractor and the trailer. [0012] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the integrated connector filter includes a PCB that includes the filter. The housing includes first and second housing portions. The PCB is mounted to one of the first and second housing portions. [0013] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the integrated connector filter includes a cover that is arranged between the first and second housing portions. The cover is secured to the one of the first and second housing portions over the PCB