PACCAR Inc
POWERLINE COMMUNICATION CONTROLLER FOR COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND A TRAILER

Abstract:

A communication interface that facilitates communications over powerlines between a trailer and a vehicle. The communication interface includes a housing having first contact and a second contact accessible from an exterior of the housing. The first contact is electrically coupled to the second contact via a powerline that connects an electrical system of the vehicle with an electrical system of the trailer. The communication interface includes a powerline communication controller having a first set of terminals coupled to a first connector and a second set of terminals coupled to the powerline. The powerline communication controller is configured to receive a first signal from a device of the trailer that indicates a condition regarding a defined region of the trailer. The powerline communication controller is configured to generate, based on the first signal, a second signal representative of the condition, and introduce the second signal onto the first power signal.