Trailer light check activation system

• US 10,053,002 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Randolph, Corey, Workman, Ernest, Ratliff, Jonathon, Kasedo, Kouhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US15/143,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170313240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 701 70, 340431
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/02 for personal initiation
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

A vehicle comprises a control system. The control system is connectable to a trailer and includes a trailer connection checking mode in which the control system actuates trailer lights of the trailer in a predetermined sequence. The control system makes a trailer presence determination of whether the trailer is connected to the control system. According to the trailer presence determination, the control system performs the trailer connection checking mode.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a control system connectable to a trailer and having a trailer connection checking mode in which the control system actuates trailer lights of the trailer in a predetermined sequence;

wherein the control system makes a trailer presence determination of whether the trailer is present near the vehicle, and the control system performs the trailer connection checking mode according to the trailer presence determination; and

wherein the control system provides a dynamic prompt in response to the trailer presence determination, and the dynamic prompt communicates a user input option selectable by a user to initiate the trailer connection checking mode.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control system performs the trailer connection checking mode according to the trailer presence determination upon selection of the user input option.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic prompt is at least one of visual or audible.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic prompt is visual and is provided by a visual display of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a vehicle controller, a trailer brake controller, and one or more connectors for connecting trailer lights of the trailer to the vehicle controller and for connecting the trailer brakes to the brake controller;

wherein the vehicle controller controls actuation of the trailer lights, and performs the trailer connection checking mode; and

wherein the trailer brake controller controls operation of the trailer brakes.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the trailer brake controller makes the trailer presence determination, and sends a trailer presence signal according to the trailer presence determination;

and

wherein the vehicle controller receives the trailer presence signal, and provides a dynamic prompt in response to the trailer presence signal, the dynamic prompt communicating a user input option selectable by a user to initiate the trailer connection checking mode.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle controller makes the trailer presence determination, and provides a dynamic prompt in response to the trailer presence determination, the dynamic prompt communicating a user input option selectable by a user to initiate the trailer connection checking mode.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a camera in communication with the vehicle controller, wherein the vehicle controller makes the trailer presence determination according to one or more images captured by the camera.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the user input option is at least one of a virtual button of a touch sensitive screen or an audible input received by a microphone.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle controller connectable to trailer lights of a trailer, the vehicle controller having a trailer connection checking mode in which the vehicle controller operates the trailer lights in a predetermined sequence;

a trailer brake controller connectable to trailer brakes of the trailer, the trailer brake controller operable to control the trailer brakes; and

a visual display in communication with the vehicle controller;

wherein one of the vehicle controller or the trailer brake controller makes a trailer presence determination of whether a trailer is present, and in response to the trailer presence determination, the vehicle controller causes the visual display to display a dynamic prompt communicating a user input option selectable by a user for initiating the trailer connection checking mode; and

wherein the user input option is at least one of a virtual button of a touch sensitive screen or an audible input received by a microphone.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the trailer brake controller makes the trailer presence determination, and sends a trailer presence signal in response to the trailer presence determination;

and

wherein in response to receiving the trailer presence signal, the vehicle controller causes the visual display to display the dynamic prompt.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle controller makes the trailer presence determination, and causes the visual display to display the dynamic prompt in response to the trailer presence determination.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle controller makes the trailer presence determination by at least one of visual recognition or sending trailer check signals to the trailer lights.

14. A method for checking trailer light operation comprises:

making, with one of a vehicle controller or a trailer brake controller, a trailer presence determination of whether a trailer is present;

providing, with one of the vehicle controller or the trailer brake controller, a dynamic prompt to a user for initiating a trailer connection checking mode in which trailer lights of the trailer are operated in a predetermined sequence; and

receiving, with one of a touch sensitive screen or a microphone, a user input for initiating the trailer connection checking mode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a selection by the user to initiate the trailer connection checking mode, and performing the trailer connection checking mode in response to the selection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing the dynamic prompt includes communicating a user input option that is selectable by the user to initiate the trailer connection checking mode, and the step of receiving the selection includes receiving the selection via the user input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing the dynamic prompt includes providing the dynamic prompt visually on a visual display.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of making the trailer presence determination includes one of analyzing an image, sending and processing a trailer check signal to the trailer lights, or sending and processing another trailer check signal to trailer brakes of the trailer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of making the trailer presence determination is performed by the trailer brake controller that sends a trailer presence signal to the vehicle controller in accordance with the trailer presence determination, and the vehicle controller performs the step of providing the dynamic prompt in response to the trailer presence signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of making the trailer presence determination is performed by the vehicle controller that, in response to the trailer presence determination, performs the step of providing the dynamic prompt.