Appeal No. 2005-0682 Page 4
Application No. 10/064,682
11. A trailer brake controller for use in a passenger vehicle for controlling a
towed trailer comprising;
a control element positioned within the passenger vehicle and in
communication with a vehicle anti-lock braking system,
a vehicle speed input providing vehicle speed from said vehicle anti-lock
braking system to said control element;
a vehicle brake pressure input providing vehicle brake pressure from said
anti-lock braking system to said control element; and
a trailer brake output, said trailer brake output controlled by said control
element in response to said vehicle speed input and said vehicle brake pressure
input.
20. A method of controlling a trailer braking system comprising:
determining vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure through
communication with an anti-lock braking system on the vehicle;
relaying the vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure to a control
element positioned on the vehicle;
using said vehicle speed and vehicle braking pressure to determine a
trailer brake output signal; and
sending said trailer brake output signal to the trailer braking system.
McGrath's invention relates in general to an electronic controller for energizing
electrically operated brakes in a towed vehicle and, in particular, to an electronic brake
controller which is responsive to the brake actuation of the towing vehicle for supplying
electric current to the towed vehicle brakes. The electronic brake controller includes a
sensor for producing a brake control signal which is representative of the desired
braking of the towed vehicle. The controller also includes a control means responsive
to the brake control signal for generating an output signal for actuating the electric
wheel brakes of the towed vehicle. The output signal is related to the brake control
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