Chandrakumar D Kulkarni, 72263 Cedar Creek Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49015

6445993, Sep 3, 2002

Nov 22, 2000

09/718763

Larry Eccleston - Marshall MI, 49068
Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, 49015
Bruce E. Smith - Leo IN, 46765
Marcia S. Albright - Coldwater MI, 49036

G06F 770

701 70, 340438, 303 7

A brake control unit for providing a brake output signal to a brake load includes a processor, an accelerometer and a memory subsystem. The accelerometer is coupled to the processor and provides a brake control signal to the processor, which is configured to provide the brake output signal to the brake load in response to the brake control signal. The memory subsystem is coupled to the processor and stores processor executable code, which causes the processor to automatically acquire an operating point of the brake control signal when the brake control unit is mounted within a range of operating positions.

6615125, Sep 2, 2003

May 3, 2002

10/138211

Larry Eccleston - Marshall MI
Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI
Bruce E. Smith - Leo IN
Marcia S. Albright - Coldwater MI

Tekonsha Towing Systems, Inc. - Tekonsha MI

G06F 770

701 70, 340438, 303 7

A brake control unit for providing a brake output signal to a brake load includes a processor, an accelerometer and a memory subsystem. The accelerometer is coupled to the processor and provides a brake control signal to the processor, which is configured to provide the brake output signal to the brake load in response to the brake control signal. The memory subsystem is coupled to the processor and stores processor executable code, which causes the processor to automatically set at least one of a gain level and a boost level for the brake control unit.

8179142, May 15, 2012

Mar 11, 2009

12/381340

Chandrakumar Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, US
Joseph B. Wells - Jackson MI, US

Cequent Electric Products - Tekonsha MI

G01R 31/02

324504

A signal converter and method of converting a signal are provided. The converter includes a power supply, microcontroller and current sensor. The microcontroller is connected to a power supply and is configured to receive inputs from a vehicle and output signals to loads of a second vehicle. The sensor is connected to the microcontroller to monitor current flow at the loads. The output channels are configured to stagger activity on the output signals. The microcontroller reduces the duty cycle of the output signals if the current flow rises above a first threshold and resumes the output signal to full strength once the current flow falls below a second threshold. The method includes receiving an input signal, sending an output signal, measuring current flow, measuring temperature, reducing the power of the output signal, and restoring the output signal.

2006007, Apr 13, 2006

Oct 11, 2005

11/247010

Marcia Albright - Coldwater MI, US
Chandrakumar Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, US

B60T 7/20
B60T 8/66

303123000, 303167000

Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise very dangerous conditions can be created. A method of controlling braking of a towed vehicle is, therefore, needed. The method comprises receiving speed signals based on speed of a towing vehicle, or a towed vehicle, or both said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle, receiving pressure signals based on pressure of a hydraulic brake system of the towing vehicle, and generating a brake output signal based on the speed signals and the pressure signals.

2006021, Sep 28, 2006

Oct 11, 2005

11/247690

Marcia Albright - Coldwater MI, US
Chandrakumar Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, US
Jerald Prater - Tecumseh MI, US
Jason Reichard - Scotts MI, US
Dennis Morse - Jackson MI, US
Mark Austin - Coldwater MI, US
Pat Burgess - West Point IN, US
Marvin Hoot - Woodburn IN, US
Larry Eccleston - Marshall MI, US
Steve Zavodny - Fort Wayne IN, US
Doug Marsden - Dearborn MI, US
Kirk Englert - Dearborn MI, US

B60T 7/20

303123000, 303020000

Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise undesirable conditions can be created. There is a need for a method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle. This method comprises receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of at least one the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, sending a second signal to brakes of the towed vehicle, the second signal based on said first signal.

2010015, Jun 17, 2010

Nov 25, 2009

12/625987

Bruce Edward Smith - Leo IN, US
Mark William Austin - Coldwater MI, US
Richard Lyons Hilsbos - Plainville MI, US
Chandrakumar Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, US

G06F 17/00
B60T 13/00

701 78, 303 20

A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.

2012028, Nov 8, 2012

May 14, 2012

13/470924

Chandrakumar Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI, US

CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC. - Plymouth MI

B60Q 1/26
B60Q 1/34
B60Q 1/44

340475, 340468, 340479

A signal converter and method of converting a signal are provided. The converter includes a power supply, microcontroller and current sensor. The microcontroller is connected to a power supply and is configured to receive inputs from a vehicle and output signals to loads of a second vehicle. The sensor is connected to the microcontroller to monitor current flow at the loads. The output channels are configured to stagger activity on the output signals. The microcontroller reduces the duty cycle of the output signals if the current flow rises above a first threshold and resumes the output signal to full strength once the current flow falls bellow a second threshold. The method includes receiving an input signal, sending an output signal, measuring current flow, measuring temperature, reducing the power of the output signal, and restoring the output signal.

6068352, May 30, 2000

Jan 20, 1998

9/011125

Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni - Battle Creek MI
Bruce E. Smith - Leo IN
Marcia S. Albright - Coldwater MI
Stephen A. Zavodny - Fort Wayne IN

Tekonsha Engineering Company - Tekonsha MI

B60T 1372

303 20

An electronic brake controller for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle in response to commands from the towing vehicle. The controller implements a microcontroller (10) that works in conjunction with analog circuit technology. In a preferred embodiment, the brake controller includes an input circuit (16) for generating a brake level signal representing the braking force to be applied by the towed vehicle's brakes, a display circuit (22) including a plurality of indicator lights, a power switching circuit (24) adapted for coupling to the brakes of the towed vehicle and to the power supply of the towing vehicle, for selectively supplying power from the towing vehicle power supply to the brakes of the towed vehicle in response to a switching control signal supplied to a control input terminal, a current sensing circuit (26) for sensing a level of braking current supplied to the brakes of the towed vehicle through the power switching circuit (24), and for generating a current level signal representing the sensed level of braking current, and a microcontroller (10) for generating and supplying a switching control signal to the control input terminal of said power switching circuit (24) thereby causing the power switching circuit (24) to deliver a braking current to the brakes of the towed vehicle that is related to the brake level signal supplied to the microcontroller (10) by the input circuit (16), the microcontroller (10) illuminates one or more of the indicator lights of the display circuit (22) to indicate a relative level of braking of the towed vehicle brakes and controls one or more of the indicator lights to indicate that the towed vehicle brakes are or are not properly connected to the power switching circuit (24).