GB2227115A

GB2227115A - Trailer registration display

Info

Publication number: GB2227115A
Application number: GB8928591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiram James Hey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-20
Filing date: 1989-12-19
Publication date: 1990-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-19
Also published as: GB8928591D0; GB2227115B; GB8829610D0

Abstract

In order to ensure that a trailer to be associated with a tractor unit displays correct registration the present invention proposes a registration configuration system comprising a trailer housing a registration display unit that is remotely configurable, and a control unit having or capable of remote communication with configuring means of the registration display unit. The control unit may be mounted in the cab of the tractor.

Description

Title: Trailer Registration Display DESCRIPTION This invention relates to method and apparatus for facilitating association of vehicular tractor units and trailers.

It will be appreciated that articulated tractor units and trailers haye become a very significant, possibly the dominant segment of the trucking industry, and that, at least within the vehicles of any particular fleet operator, there may be no necessary and permanent association of any particular tractor unit with any particular trailer. Indeed, flexibility of operation might be considered as maximised where any tractor unit can be associated with any trailer, and that might even extend beyond the vehicles of any one particular fleet operator.

Clearly, at association of any particular tractor unit with any particular trailer, it is necessary to make various connections, whether for electrical lines or for pressure fluid lines or for vacuum lines, and easy but safe connect-and-disconnect systems are well-known for those purposes, generally being made in the region of the articulation connection of a tractor unit and a trailer, often using helically coiled flexible lines or cables. In addition, of course, it is necessary to ensure that a vehicle registration plate for the trailer matches that of the tractor unit.

The checking and changing of number plates is time-consuming, and the incidence of lost or mislaid registration plates can be a problem.

It is an object of this invention to provide method and apparatus for mitigating such problem.

According to one aspect of this invention, it is proposed that each trailer have a registration display unit that is remotely configurable and that a control unit have or be capable of remote communication with configuring means of the registration display unit.

One suitable control unit can have an electrical conductor type of communication connection with the registration display unit, conveniently via a connector in the region of the tractor unit-to-trailer coupling, i.e. along with or as part of other connections to be made. Then, the control unit could be assoicated with the tractor unit, say mounted in the cab and possibly operated by the driver or some other person, though conceivably automatically operating when connection is made, whether immediately as a result of making the connection or later at or associated with use or first use of the vehicle, say as controlled by the ignition switch in a manner similar to controlling various other electrical systems of the vehicle, or some other switch.

Moreover, such a control unit is itself conveniently of a configurable type, whether at will whilst installed on the vehicle, though then requiring an alphanumeric keyboard or equivalent as a part thereof, or as te,mporarily connectable thereto, or separately at a configuration station prior to installation in the tractor unit.

Another suitable control unit, and which need not to be associated with a tractor unit, could communicate with the registration display unit by means of radiated signals, whether of radio type or of other type, such as infra-red or ultrasonic. Then, responsibility for assuring matching of trailer registration display with the registration of the tractor unit could even actually be the responsibility of a dispatcher rather than the driver.

At least where the trailers registration display unit is not permanently driven by signals from a control unit of the tractor unit, it may be of latching or associated memory or other sustained type, whether involving recovery of registration information at re-application of a current from the tractor unit or a permanent connection to the battery of the tractor unit or a battery local to the display unit at least for back-up purposes.

It is further envisaged that a system hereof have a checking or validation provision to assure that the correct registration is displayed. That may be done by way of communication control means that permits and activates two-way communication, say in different cycles or phases of operation.

It will be understood from the foregoing that a unit carried by the tractor unit, such as the aforementioned control unit, will hold the vehicle registration number in a non-volatile form and that means is provided for transferring it to the registration display unit. That transfer may take place each time the tractor is connected to a trailer or at least whenever there is a descrepency between the tractor registration number and that of the trailer being connected. The trailer unit preferably incorporates means for indicating to the tractor operator/driver, preferably automatically if the display of a coupled trailer is not connected or otherwise showing a system fault.

Interrogation of the vehicle registration number to provide required configuration of the display unit may be by intelligence located in one or both of the tractor or trailer carried units and utilising appropriate parallel or serial interconnection of the units.

The trailer unit will be required to hold the correct registration number in memory providing for retention when the trailer is temporarily decoupled from the tractor - for which a trailer power source will probably be required. Advantageously, means should also be provided on the trailer unit, for cancelling the registration in the event that the trailer is to be used with a none compatable trailer unit, preferbaly then with suitable security for preventing accidental or mischievous cancellation.

In one solution which minimises the number of wires between the trailer and trailer units a serial connection is employed (for which four wires may suffice) but then requiring a certain amount of intellegence at both the transmitting unit (i.e.

trailer control unit) and the receiving unit (i.e.

registration display).

In an alternative solution a parallel connection is employed requiring say eight wires but having the advantage that the intelligence is only required in the registration display unit to read the registration number stored in a memory device in the tractor control unit. In this regard the term "control unit" is intended to signify the unit holding the registration number which is to be read for configuration of the display unit.

The present invention will now be described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a basic block diagram for a control unit 10 at a tractor unit and electrical conductor lines 12A and 12B from the control unit 10 and registration display unit 14 at a trailer via a plug-and-socket type connector 16; Figure 2 shows more detail of a control unit 10 including checking or validation provision; Figure 3 shows more detail of a registration display unit 20, Figures 4a and 4b show respectively tractor and tailer equipment layouts in block diagram form in the case of serial connection, and Figures 5a and 5b show respectively tractor and trailer equipment layouts in block diagram form for the case of parallel connections.

It will be readily understood that the control unit 10 may be associated with the tractor unit, usually mounted in the cab thereof, with wiring 12A going to a plug or socket of the connector 16; and that the registration display unit 14 can be located in its entirety at the rear of the trailer in a position otherwise corresponding to the number plate or split into -a display so located and an associated box of electronic circuitry connected therewith and to the wiring 12B going to a socket or plug of the connector 16, conveniently by way of an helical coil of that wiring 12A.

Turning to Figure 2, one embodiment of control unit 10 is shown comprising a register 30 capable of storing alphanumeric characters of a registration, for convenience only indicated as suiting current U.K.

requirements for a single letter prefix, a three digit number and a three-letter suffix, see stages 32A, 32B and 32C, respectively. Loading of registration letters and numbers could be by way of an associated keyboard, say of low-cost membrane type, or, and as indicated, by way of an input socket 34 from some separate but associatable input unit 40 shown dashed. At least if without a permanently associated local input key-board or equivalent, the register 30 will usually be of a type whose contents will not change or disappear between loadings thereof, say as in so-called programmable read-only memories (PROMS) which could be of erasable and reprogrammable type (EPROMS).It is of course, feasible that only the register 30 and any holder therefor be removable and replaceable for and after loading or reloading with registration information, in which case no socket 34 would be required, only such apparatus as an EPROM writer to be available at a configuration station.

However, one part 36A of control circuitry 36 is indicated as controlling loading or reloading of the register 30, say under control of a push-button switch 38, and associated latch 38L releasing only after a load phase of operation is completed.

Also, transmission to the control unit through the socket 34 is assumed to be on a one-line serial bit basis, see also shift register 42 associated with the register 30 with its stages clocked by pulses from a crystal clock 44 until unloaded to the register when full as indicated by line 46A from logic 46 including clock pulse counting and/or division in a manner generally familiar in the art, and actually shown relying on a small local battery 48 for maintaining its contents when regular supply from the tractor unit battery and line 50 to voltage regulator 50R is not available for any reason.

Another segment 36B of the control circuitry 36 is shown associated with parallel loading and serial unloading of another shift register 54, loading being from the register 30 and unloading being to one line D of wiring 12B shown with another line C for clock pulses to ensure correct reception at the registration dislay unit 14. An alternative would be to have the latter also fully equipped with control circuitry included with its own clock and to have preliminary synchronisihg protocols transmmitedover the line D, say on the well-known "hand-shake" basis.

The transmit phase is actually shown controlled by a push button 58 and associated latch 58L for operator initiation and automatic termination at the end of transmission.

A further segment 36C of the control circuitry is shown for verifying correct display of registration information by transmission back from the display unit according to retransmit control line R of the wiring 12A, actually back over line D thereof to shift register 54 and then subjecting same to comparison with the contents of the register 30, see comparator 60 and related correct display light 60L. Push button 62 and related latch 62L allow operators, for example drivers, to conduct this check for themselves.

Turning to Figure 3 a receive shift register 70 controls contents of display 72 and is loaded from line D of wiring 12B, shown as being under control of timer logic 74 from line C. Another shift register 76 is shown effectively slaved to follow the contents of shift register 70 but capable of independent read-out when enabled by one output from a bistable circuit 78 under control of the line R of wiring 12B, which bistable then disables the shift register 70 but otherwise ensures that it is enabled. Blanking logic may be required between the shift register 70 and the retransmit register 76 when unloading the latter back to the line D.

It will be appreciated that the electronics of the control unit and display unit may be of any type and organisation that achieves desired objectives, including program controlled microprocessors.

Turning now to Figures 4, a and b, there is illustrated a serial connection solution in functional block diagram form. The tractor unit carriers power supply regulation 100 which as illustrated has alternative inputs of 24 volts and 12 volts and regulated to provide a consistent 12v d.c. supply to both the tractor and trailer units via line 102, and with a further regulator as at 104 to provide a, say 5v d.c., supply to microprocessor circuitry 106. The microprocessor controls the functioning of the tractor unit. A standard interface 108 is set up and controlled by the microprocessor to connect with the trailer unit.

Also shown is a digital input/output interface 110 say connected to the trailer brake line to trigger operation when the trailer is connected up and pressurised. Another interface connection can be provided to signal physical connection.

Shown at 112 is an EPROM which holds the vehicle registration number. This can be configured to the appropriate trailer unit registration number by an EPROM blowing device, usually external for blowing before installation, but which could with additional circuitry be performed by the microprocessor itself with the addition of a plug in display and keyboard.

As concerns the trailer display unit this is shown with reference to Figure 4b as having regulation of the supply on line 102 down to 5v d.c. by regulator 104'. Interface 108' receives data from the tractor unit on power-up and the microprocessor 106' controls the reading of data and stores the vehicle registration number as ASCII code into RAM 114. The software to make the microprocessor function is held in EPROM 116.

The microprocessor controls digital inputs and outputs for test button, display cancel input, and provides the display outputs shown in block form at 118.

The vehicle registration number is stored in ASCII form in the tractor unit and when the communication link is established between the two units, the tractor transmits, at a pre-determined frequency a series of pulses which represent each character of the registration number in turn, with additional pulses at the beginning and end as a means of indicating start, stop and parity of data. The circuitry in the trailer receives the incoming pulses at the pre-determined rate and decodes the serial pulses into ASCII form then held in memory to he used by the display drive circuitry.

Referring now to Figures 5a and 5b which illustrate respectively for tractor and trailer, in functional block diagram form, the parallel communication solution. As with the serial solution power supply regulation is provided by regulator 100'' to 12v d.c. on line 102" and regulators 104'' to 5v d.c. A separate regulator 100'' may be used for the trailer if required rather than by line 102''. The vehicle registration number is held in ASCII form in seven of the memory locations of PROM 120. Line drivers and receivers 122, 124 are used to interface the PROM inputs and outputs, with all of the interrogation to address the PROM and read the data being provided by the trailer unit.

The vehicle registration number is blown into the PROM by an external programming unit before being fitted to the unit circuit board.

Additional simple logic may be provided in the tractor unit to detect the presence of a trailer to give on alert and cancel facility.

The trailer unit electronics (Figure 5b) include a microprocessor 126, RAM 128, EPROM 130 holding microprossor software control. Digital input and outputs 132, 134, 136 are provided for the driving of the display, and providing test/cancel input button for driver operation.

On power-up the microprocessor 126 will set the address for the first character of the vehicle registration number on the digital output lines 122, 132. It will then read the data on the digital input lines 124/134 and store the esult in the RAM 128. This is repeated until the whole registration number is read which is then output to the configurable display as controlled by EPROM software by way of the microprocessor.

The currently envisaged preferred configurable display for the registration number is of electro-mechanical type, especially one having a matrix of elements making up each character, with certain of those elements being selected according to desired character so as -to provide say black to one side and colour to the other to imitate existing registration format on configuration. Displays of this type are already well known for other applications such as in relation to destination boards.

Claims

1. A registration configuration system for configuring the trailer registration to a tractor unit with which it is to be associated in use comprising a trailer having a registration display unit that is remotely configurable and a control unit having or capable of remote communication with configuring means of the registration display unit.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the control unit communicates with the registration display unit by means of radiated signals.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the control unit has an electrical conductor type of communication connection with the registration display unit.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the connection is via a connector in the region of the tractor unit-to-trailer coupling.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the control unit is associated with the tractor unit.

6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the control unit is adapted for operation by the driver or some other person.

7. A system as claimed in claims 4 or 5 in which the control unit is automatically operating when connection is made, whether immediately as a result of making the connection or later at or associated with use of or first use of the vehicle.

8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the control unit is itself of a configurable type, whether at will whilst installed on the vehicle, though then requring an alphanumeric keyboard or equivalent as a part thereof, or as temporarily connectable thereto, or separately at a configuration station prior to installation in the tractor unit.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which where the trailer's registration display unit is not permanently driven by signals from a control unit of the tractor unit, it is of latching or associated memory or other sustained type, whether involving recovery of registration information at re-application of a current from the tractor unit or a permanent connection to the battery of the tractor unit or a battery local to the display unit at least for back-up purposes.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a checking or validation provision to assure that the correct registration is displayed.

11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the control unit will hold the vehicle registration number in a non-volatile form and means is provided for transferring it to the registration display unit.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 in which transfer takes place each time the tractor is connected to a trailer or at least whenever there is a descrepency between the tractor registration number and that of the trailer being connected.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which means is incorporated for indicating to the tractor operator/driver if the display of a coupled trailer is not connected or otherwise showing a system fault.

14. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which interrogation of the vehicle registration number to provide required configuration of the display unit is by intelligence located in one or both of tractor or trailer carried units and utilising appropriate parallel or serial interconnection of the units.

15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trailer unit holds the correct registration number in memory providing for retention when the trailer is temporarily decoupled from the tractor.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which means is provided on the trailer unit, for cancelling the registration in the event that the trailer is to be used with a none compatable trailer unit.

17. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a serial connection is employed between the tractor and trailer units which units require a certain amount of intelligence at both the transmitting unit (i.e. trailer control unit) and.the receiving unit (i.e. registration display).

18. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a parallel connection is employed between the tractor and trailer units requiring intelligence at only the registration display unit to read the registration number stored in a memory device in the tractor control unit.

19. A regi

configuration system constructed and arranged or adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.