Abstract: A boom arm sensor assembly is provided. The boom arm sensor assembly includes a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor detects whether a boom arm for a trailer is positioned within a saddle on the trailer. The boom arm sensor assembly also includes a transmitter that transmits a signal at least when the boom arm is not detected in the saddle to a boom arm alarm assembly, which also is provided. The boom arm alarm assembly provides an alarm to a vehicle driver that the boom arm is not positioned within the saddle.

Abstract: A boom arm sensor assembly is provided. The boom arm sensor assembly includes a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor detects whether a boom arm for a trailer is positioned within a saddle on the trailer. The boom arm sensor assembly also includes a transmitter that transmits a signal at least when the boom arm is not detected in the saddle to a boom arm alarm assembly, which also is provided. The boom arm alarm assembly provides an alarm to a vehicle driver that the boom arm is not positioned within the saddle.

Abstract: A monitoring unit wirelessly monitors sensor(s) associated with a vehicle and includes (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver that receives RF signals from one or more sensors; (b) a processing unit connected to the RF receiver that monitors information related received RF signals from the sensor(s); (c) the processing unit monitoring the received RF signals and a status of an output of the sensor(s) associated with the vehicle. The received RF signals may include information on a value of an output of the sensor and limits of acceptable values, and the processing unit generates an alarm when the value of the output is outside of the limits of acceptable values. The alarm may be a visual indication visible from the exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electronic pressure regulator is provided to regulate the pressure in one or more pneumatic tires that are selectively in fluid communication with a pressurized air source. The electronic pressure regulator may include a proportional MEMS valve that may be used to vary pressure behind a diaphragm in a method that provides a relatively fast response time and may experience relatively little wear over a relatively large number of cycles.

Abstract: A monitoring unit wirelessly monitors sensor(s) associated with a vehicle and includes (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver that receives RF signals from one or more sensors; (b) a processing unit connected to the RF receiver that monitors information related received RF signals from the sensor(s); (c) the processing unit monitoring the received RF signals and a status of an output of the sensor(s) associated with the vehicle. The received RF signals may include information on a value of an output of the sensor and limits of acceptable values, and the processing unit generates an alarm when the value of the output is outside of the limits of acceptable values. The alarm may be a visual indication visible from the exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A monitoring unit wirelessly monitors sensor(s) associated with a vehicle and includes (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver that receives RF signals from one or more sensors; (b) a processing unit connected to the RF receiver that monitors information related received RF signals from the sensor(s); (c) the processing unit monitoring the received RF signals and a status of an output of the sensor(s) associated with the vehicle. The received RF signals may include information on a value of an output of the sensor and limits of acceptable values, and the processing unit generates an alarm when the value of the output is outside of the limits of acceptable values. The alarm may be a visual indication visible from the exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A flow indication system for a central tire inflation system is provided. The flow indication system provides a venturi in fluid communication with the conduit providing air to a tire. A pressure reading is taken at the inlet and throat of the venturi and the air flowing through the venturi is calculated based on the pressure differential. According to some embodiments, the pressure readings are provided to a microcontroller that uses a table and interpolation algorithms to calculate the flow of the air flowing through the venturi, such as the mass of air in a given unit of time (grams/second for example). In one embodiment, two separate pressure sensors are coupled to different ends of a narrowed orifice that causes a pressure change in the flow as flow rate increases in the throat of the sensor. This pressure change is then used to calculate a proportional flow that can then be broadcast to various parties instead of an on/off reading.

Abstract: An electronic pressure regulator is provided to regulate the pressure in one or more pneumatic tires that are selectively in fluid communication with a pressurized air source. The electronic pressure regulator may include a proportional MEMS valve that may be used to vary pressure behind a diaphragm in a method that provides a relatively fast response time and may experience relatively little wear over a relatively large number of cycles.

Abstract: A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring of vehicle efficiency use wireless remote sensors associated with the vehicle and with a fueling station. Vehicle data is collected from the wireless sensors in conjunction with fueling of the vehicle. Efficiency is calculated, such as by calculating miles per gallon for the vehicle, and the information is stored in a computing system. Vehicle efficiency may be tracked over time to identify deviations or irregularities that may be addressed to improve overall vehicle efficiency, and overall vehicle efficiency for a fleet of vehicles that are all monitored in such a manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring a brake stroke of an air brake assembly utilize a sensor, such as an accelerometer, mountable on a movable component, such as a brake cam shaft, of the air brake assembly that is external of the brake chamber of the air brake assembly for detecting an acceleration of the movable component during a braking event. The sensor generates an output signal that depends on a magnitude of the detected acceleration, which is sent to a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller translates the sensor output signal to a value corresponding to a displacement of the movable component of the brake assembly during the braking event and calculates a brake stroke distance based on said value.

Abstract: A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object.

Abstract: A monitoring unit wirelessly monitors sensor(s) associated with a vehicle and includes (a) a radio frequency (RF) receiver that receives RF signals from one or more sensors; (b) a processing unit connected to the RF receiver that monitors information related received RF signals from the sensor(s); (c) the processing unit monitoring the received RF signals and a status of an output of the sensor(s) associated with the vehicle. The received RF signals may include information on a value of an output of the sensor and limits of acceptable values, and the processing unit generates an alarm when the value of the output is outside of the limits of acceptable values. The alarm may be a visual indication visible from the exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Remote communication devices (i.e., radio frequency identification (RFID) tag) and systems for communicating between one or more RFID tags and a reader using a frequency modulation method to encode binary data are disclosed herein. For example, a remote communication device includes an antenna operable to receive and backscatter a carrier signal, wherein the backscattered carrier signal further comprises a secondary signal within an identification bandwidth. The remote communication device also includes a signal processing circuit coupled to the antenna, the signal processing circuit comprising at least one encoding circuit operable to encode binary data into the backscattered carrier signal by periodically modulating the frequency of the secondary signal from one encoding frequency to another one of 2n+1 encoding frequencies within the identification bandwidth, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for monitoring the status of sensors that sense the parameters of one or more vehicle components. A monitor in a first vehicle receives RF signals from sensors that are located remotely from the monitor. The sensors may be associated with vehicles other than the first vehicle, and it is desired to monitor only the sensor(s) that are also associated with the first vehicle. Sensors may be selected for monitoring by reading a plurality of different sensors and selecting one or more sensors from the plurality of sensors that are associated with the first vehicle and thus are to be monitored Sensors that are to be monitored are selected based on predetermined criteria after it is determined that the first vehicle is in motion. The monitor includes a motion sensor that is operable to determine if the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring of vehicle efficiency use wireless remote sensors associated with the vehicle and with a fueling station. Vehicle data is collected from the wireless sensors in conjunction with fueling of the vehicle. Efficiency is calculated, such as by calculating miles per gallon for the vehicle, and the information is stored in a computing system. Vehicle efficiency may be tracked over time to identify deviations or irregularities that may be addressed to improve overall vehicle efficiency, and overall vehicle efficiency for a fleet of vehicles that are all monitored in such a manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring a brake stroke of an air brake assembly utilize a sensor, such as an accelerometer, mountable on a movable component, such as a brake cam shaft, of the air brake assembly that is external of the brake chamber of the air brake assembly for detecting an acceleration of the movable component during a braking event. The sensor generates an output signal that depends on a magnitude of the detected acceleration, which is sent to a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller translates the sensor output signal to a value corresponding to a displacement of the movable component of the brake assembly during the braking event and calculates a brake stroke distance based on said value.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring a brake stroke of an air brake assembly utilize a sensor, such as an accelerometer, mountable on a movable component, such as a brake cam shaft, of the air brake assembly that is external of the brake chamber of the air brake assembly for detecting an acceleration of the movable component during a braking event. The sensor generates an output signal that depends on a magnitude of the detected acceleration, which is sent to a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller translates the sensor output signal to a value corresponding to a displacement of the movable component of the brake assembly during the braking event and calculates a brake stroke distance based on said value.

Abstract: A system and method that can provide a measurement of the weight on a trailer or vehicle, e.g., a truck or rig. The system and method can be implemented on systems that are equipped with air suspension, as well as those without air suspension, unlike conventional systems that require air suspension systems for installation. Additionally, the system and method can yield gross trailer weight, even if the truck is not instrumented. Further, the system and method can provide axle weight on properly equipped axles. A system for measuring weight on a trailer of a vehicle has a sensor system having a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is attached to an axle of the trailer or the vehicle. A microcontroller receives a transmission of strain change from a sensor. A display unit displays a calculated weight on the trailer from the microcontroller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for counting wheel revolutions are provided that include a wheel-hub mountable odometer comprising an accelerometer comprising sensor means for sensing force, wherein the sensor means are operable to sense a force acting thereon and generate an electrical signal representative of said force. Further an electronic control system is provided comprising a microcontroller and power source, the microcontroller comprising electronic filtering means for attenuating irregularities in the signal from the sensor means and computing a wheel revolution count based on said attenuated signal, and output means for communicating the wheel revolution count. The accelerometer preferably comprises a dual axis electronic accelerometer with no internally rotating parts. Further, the output means preferably comprises at least one of a display means, an IR communication system, or a RF communications system.