FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to trailer diagnostics. In particular, the invention relates to a trailer diagnostics device, a method and system of diagnosing electrical circuits of a trailer, and a trailer diagnostics device installation.

The invention is expected to be particularly advantageously applicable to towed vehicles, such as trailers and recreational vehicles, for example caravans. Accordingly, such applications should particularly, but not exclusively, be borne in mind when considering this specification.

In this specification, the term “trailer” should be broadly interpreted to include any kind of towed vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The inventor is aware of on-board vehicle diagnostics system that report driven vehicle electrical faults to drivers. However, such systems are limited to reporting faults on the driven vehicle and such reporting is limited to a display of diagnostics information on the dashboard of the vehicles. The present invention aims to provide a device, system and method of monitoring and diagnosing faults on towed vehicles.

Reference in this specification to "fault status" should not be interpreted that there is indeed a fault being detected on one of the electrical wires, but rather that if no fault is detected that the fault status would be clear. Therefore, the term "fault status" may also be interpreted as "status".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer diagnostics device, which includes an input interface for connection to a wiring harness of a towing vehicle, the input interface operable to measure an electrical signal (current flow) in one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness operably connected to a trailer; an output interface for connection to the wiring harness of the towing vehicle, the output interface operable to apply a test signal (test voltage) to the one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness operably connected to the trailer; and a processor connected to the input interface and the output interface, the processor operable to determine the effect of the applied test signal (test voltage) on the measured electrical signal (current flow) and transmit a fault status of the one or more electrical wires to a user via an external communications interface.

The one or more electrical wires may carry any one or more of: a ground signal; a brake light signal; a left turn signal; a right turn signal; a tail lamp signal; a reverse lamp signal; a registration plate lamp signal; a fog lamp signal; a permanent 12V auxiliary signal for powering an auxiliary device such as an auxiliary battery; a permanent 24V auxiliary signal; a spare signal; or the like.

The trailer diagnostics device may be operable, via the external communications interface, to transmit the fault status to a remote control device of the user via a communications channel.

The trailer diagnostics device may be operable to receive a test control signal from the remote control device of the user via the communications channel, and in response to receiving the test control signal, apply the test signal (test voltage) to the one or more electrical wires and if applicable, transmit the fault status to the remote control device of the user.

The external communications interface may include a wireless external communications interface operable to transmit the fault status to and receive the test control signal from the remote control device of the user via the communications channel. The external communications interface may be in the form of a radio frequency interface. The wireless external communications interface may include, but is not limited to, a short-range wireless communications interface implementing, for example, a Bluetooth™ protocol; a medium-range wireless interface implementing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocol; and a cellular network communications interface.

The cellular network communications interface may implement any one or more of: a second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol; a third generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) protocol; a fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol; a fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocol; and the like.

The wireless external communications interface may be operable to establish a local area wireless network or hotspot for operative connection to the remote control device of the user.

The input interface and the output interface of the trailer diagnostics device may include voltage buffer circuitry for operatively shielding the wiring harness of the towing vehicle from voltage surges in the trailer diagnostics device.

The output interface of the trailer diagnostics device may include one or more power switches for operatively applying the test signal (test voltage) to the one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness.

The trailer diagnostics device may be operable to monitor the fault status of the one or more electrical wires, and in response to detecting a fault on at least one of the wires, applying a signal (voltage) to at least another of the wires. The monitoring of the fault status may be iterated at set intervals to provide continuous monitoring of the one or more electrical wires.

For example, in one embodiment of the invention in use, and in case of detecting a brake light signal fault during daytime, the trailer diagnostics device is operable to respond by applying a tail lamp signal, causing tail lamps of the trailer to activate upon depressing of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle. In another embodiment and in case of detecting a brake light signal fault at night, the trailer diagnostics device is operable to respond by applying an intermittent tail lamp signal, causing tail lamps of the trailer to flash upon depressing of a brake pedal of the towing vehicle.

Likewise, according to another embodiment of the invention in use, and in case of detecting a turn signal fault, the trailer diagnostics device is operable to respond by applying an intermittent tail lamp signal, causing a tail lamp of the trailer to flash upon depressing of a respective turn indicator of the towing vehicle.

According to yet another embodiment, and in case of detecting a tail lamp signal fault, the trailer diagnostics device is operable to respond by applying turn signals, causing both turn indicators of the trailer to activate.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of diagnosing electrical circuits of a trailer, the method including the steps of: providing a trailer diagnostics device, as hereinbefore described, being operatively installed on a wiring harness of a towing vehicle; applying a test signal (test voltage) to one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness of the towing vehicle via the output interface of the trailer diagnostics device; measuring an electrical signal (current flow) in the one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness via the input interface of the trailer diagnostics device; determining the effect of the applied test signal (test voltage) on the measured electrical signal (current flow); and transmitting a fault status of the one or more electrical wires to a user via the external communications interface of the trailer diagnostics device.

Transmitting a fault status of the one or more electrical wires to a user may include transmitting the fault status to a remote control device of the user via the communications channel. The fault status may be transmitted to a remote control device software application installed on the remote control device and in data communication with the trailer diagnostics device.

The remote control device may include a mobile device, for example a mobile phone. The remote control device software application may include any one or more of: a mobile device application such as an Android™ or iOS™ software application; and a browser-based software application. The browser-based software application may provide a Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) interface for facilitating communications between the browser-based software application and the processor of the trailer diagnostics device.

The processor may be operable to host a web server, accessible by the browser-based software application.

The method may include transmitting the fault status to the remote control device of the user in response to receiving a test control signal from the remote control device software application operatively installed on the remote control device of the user. The remote control device software application may include a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the user’s inputting of the test control signal and reporting of the fault status to the user.

Advantageously, the remote control device software application may include a checklist to facilitate the user’s input of the test control signal and reporting of the fault status to the user.

The method may include monitoring the fault status of the one or more electrical wires, and in response to detecting a fault on at least one of the wires, apply a signal (voltage) to at least another of the wires.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer diagnostics system for implementing the method, as described above, which includes a trailer diagnostics device, as hereinbefore described; and a remote control device having installed thereon the remote control device software application as hereinbefore described, the system being operable to:

• apply a test signal (test voltage) to one or more electrical wires of a wiring harness of a towing vehicle via the output interface of the trailer diagnostics device; • measure an electrical signal (current flow) in the one or more electrical wires of the wiring harness via the input interface of the trailer diagnostics device;

• determine the effect of the applied test signal (test voltage) on the measured electrical signal (current flow); and

• transmit a fault status of the one or more electrical wires to a user at the remote control device software application via the external communications interface of the trailer diagnostics device and the communications channel.

The trailer diagnostics system may include one or more sensors installed on the electrical system of a trailer.

The one or more sensors may be remotely connected and in data communication with any one or more of: the trailer diagnostics device; and the remote control device for providing operative fault reporting of the one or more sensors to the remote control device software application installed on the remote control device of the user. The remote control device may be a mobile phone.

The one or more sensors may include any one or more of: a tyre pressure sensor and a wheel theft sensor.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer diagnostics device installation, wherein a trailer diagnostics device as hereinbefore described is installed on a towing vehicle to which a trailer is operatively hitched.

The trailer diagnostics device may be installed by connecting the input interface of the trailer diagnostics device to any one or more of: a trailer connector of a towing vehicle; a wiring harness of a towing vehicle; a network bus of a towing vehicle, for example a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus; a prepared, proprietary connector of a towing vehicle designed to accept a specifically designed towing module; and a bypass system of a towing vehicle.

The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figures. FIGURE(S)

In the figure(s):

Figure 1 illustrates, schematically, a trailer diagnostics system featuring a trailer diagnostics device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a step-by-step diagram illustrating a method of diagnosing electrical circuits of a trailer according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 shows example screenshots of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the mobile device software application according to another aspect of the invention.

In the figures, like reference numerals denote like parts of the invention unless otherwise indicated.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1 , reference numeral (10) denotes, generally, an embodiment of a trailer diagnostics system which includes a trailer diagnostics device (12) for operatively diagnosing electrical circuits of a trailer (20).

Referring to the trailer diagnostics device (12), the device (12) includes: an input interface (26) for connection to a wiring harness (16) of a towing vehicle (14), the input interface (26) operable to measure an electrical signal (current flow) (24) in one or more electrical wires (15) of the wiring harness (16) operably connected to the trailer (20) via a trailer connector (18); an output interface (28) for connection to the wiring harness (16) of the towing vehicle (14), the output interface (28) operable to apply a test signal (test voltage) (22) to the one or more electrical wires (15) of the wiring harness (16) operably connected to the trailer (20); and a processor (30) in the form of a microcontroller connected to the input and output interfaces (26) and (28), the processor (30) operable to determine the effect of the applied test signal (22) on the measured electrical signal (24) and transmit a fault status (46) on the one or more electrical wires (15) to a user (38) via an external communications interface (32). In use, the one or more electrical wires (15) carry: a ground signal; a left turn signal; a right turn signal; a tail lamp signal; a reverse lamp signal; a registration plate lamp signal; a fog lamp signal; a permanent 12V auxiliary signal for powering an auxiliary device such as an auxiliary battery; a permanent 24V auxiliary signal; and a spare signal.

Referring to the trailer diagnostics system (10), the trailer diagnostics device (12) is operable to transmit the fault status (46) to a remote control device (36) of the user (38) via a communications channel (44) which comprises a cellular network (42) and the Internet (40).

The trailer diagnostics device (12) is operable to receive a test control signal from the remote control device (36) of the user (38) via the communications channel (44), and in response to receiving the test control signal, apply the test signal (test voltage) (22) to the one or more electrical wires (15) and transmit the fault status (46) to the remote control device (36) of the user (38).

In this embodiment of the invention, the external communications interface (32) is a wireless external communications interface operable to transmit the fault status (46) to and receive the test control signal from the remote control device (36) of the user (38) via the communications channel (44). To this end, the wireless external communications interface (32) includes any one or combination of: a short- range wireless communications interface implementing a Bluetooth™ protocol, a medium-range wireless interface implementing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocol, and a cellular network communications interface implementing, for example, a fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol. It should be appreciated that the external wireless communications interface (32) in its Wi-Fi embodiment is operable to establish a wireless network or so-called “Hotspot” for operative connection of the trailer diagnostics device (12) to the remote control device (36) of the user (38).

The input (26) and output (28) interfaces of the trailer diagnostics device (12) include voltage buffer circuitry (not shown here) for operatively shielding the wiring harness (16) of the towing vehicle (14) from the device (12). The output interface (28) of the trailer diagnostics device (12) includes one or more power switches (not shown here) for operatively applying the test signal (test voltage) (22) to the one or more electrical wires (15) of the wiring harness (16). It is to be appreciated that the power switches may be in the form of mechanical switches, solid state switches or other semi conductor switching devices.

In this embodiment of the trailer diagnostics system (10), the remote control device (36) of the user (38) is a mobile device in the form of a smart phone having installed thereon a remote control software application (34) in the form of a browser-based software application.

With reference to Figure 2, reference numeral (50) denotes, generally, a method of diagnosing electrical circuits of a trailer in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

At step 501, the user (38) transmits a test control signal from the mobile device software application (34) installed on the mobile device (36) to the trailer diagnostics device (12) via the communications channel (44) and the external communications interface (32) of the device (12). To this end, the mobile device software application (34) has a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the user’s inputting of the test control signal and reporting of the fault status (46) to the user (38).

Next, at step 502. and in response to receiving the test control signal at the trailer diagnostics device (12), a test signal (test voltage) (22) is applied to one or more electrical wires (15) of a wiring harness (16) of the towing vehicle (14) via the output interface (28) of the trailer diagnostics device (12).

At step 503. an electrical signal (current flow) (24) is measured in the one or more electrical wires (15) of the wiring harness (16) via the input interface (26) of the trailer diagnostics device (12) and the effect of the applied test signal (test voltage) (22) on the measured signal (24) is determined by the processor (30) at step

504. Next, at step 505. the fault status (46) of the one or more electrical wires (15) is transmitted to the user (38) at the mobile device software application (34) of the user device (36) via the external communications interface (32) and the communications channel (44). Advantageously, the mobile device software application (34) includes a checklist (48) to facilitate the user’s input of the test control signal and reporting of the fault status (46) to the user (38).

It should be appreciated that the trailer diagnostics system (10) of Figure 1 includes one or more sensors installed on the electrical system of a trailer (20) that are not shown here. The one or more sensors are remotely connected and in data communication with the mobile device software application (34) of the remote control device in the form of the mobile device (36) for providing operative fault reporting of the one or more sensors to the mobile device software application (34). The one or more sensors include a tyre pressure sensor and a spare wheel theft sensor.

Lastly turning to Figure 3, reference numeral (60) denotes example screenshots of the GUI of the mobile device software application (34). In the figure, screenshot (62) exemplifies a mobile device application dashboard in use, screenshot (64) exemplifies the submitting of the test control signal by the user (38) in use, screenshot (66) exemplifies the reporting of auxiliary battery status in use, whilst screenshot (68) shows the reporting of the fault status of the tyre pressure sensor in use.

The inventors believe that the invention provides a novel device, system and method of monitoring and diagnosing various faults on towed vehicles which can be retrofitted and which is easy to use.