Appeal No. 2005-0682 Page 8
Application No. 10/064,682
An alternate embodiment of the electronic brake controller of McGrath is
illustrated in the schematic diagram shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the brake controller
is identified with the number 250. The components in Figure 4 which are the same as
components shown in Figure 1 have the same numerical designator. The controller
250 is electrically coupled by a data link 251 to an anti-lock brake system 252 (ABS),
which is included in the towing vehicle. While a single line is shown for the data link 251
in Figure 4, it will be appreciated that the data link 251 may be a multi-conductor cable
or a portion of a data highway.
McGrath provides that the ABS 252 is of a conventional design. The ABS 252 is
responsive to data concerning the operation of the towing vehicle to control the
hydraulic brake system 20 during impending wheel brake lock-up conditions. The ABS
252 sends data over the data link 251 to the controller 250. McGrath teaches (column
19, lines 27-36) that:
The controller 250 is responsive to the data to control the towed vehicle brakes
13 and 14 as a function thereof. For example, actuation of the ABS 252 due to
an impending wheel lock-up condition of the towing vehicle brakes could cause
the brake controller 250 to decrease the braking of the towed vehicle. Other data
which can be transmitted from the ABS 252 to the controller 250 can include
vehicle speed, vehicle deceleration, brake failure, brake application, and changes
in road surface conditions.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007