System and method for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle and its trailer when reversing
First Claim
1. A system for warning of a threat of collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing the towing vehicle with the trailer, comprising a monitoring facility for continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle, in order to detect whether there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer, and to generate a warning signal when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer;
- wherein;
the monitoring facility features at least two reflectors arranged on a front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the at least two reflectors are arranged on the trailer such that when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer, the reflectors reflect light emitted from at least one signal source of the towing vehicle into at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal;
orthe monitoring facility features a signal lamp arranged on the front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the signal lamp is arranged on the trailer such that warning light signals emitted from the signal lamp hit an exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (3) when reversing includes an arrangement for providing a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle dependent on an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle (2) and a longitudinal axis of the trailer (3), when there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3) while reversing.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for warning of a threat of collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing the towing vehicle with the trailer, comprising a monitoring facility for continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle, in order to detect whether there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer, and to generate a warning signal when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer;
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wherein; the monitoring facility features at least two reflectors arranged on a front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the at least two reflectors are arranged on the trailer such that when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer, the reflectors reflect light emitted from at least one signal source of the towing vehicle into at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal;
orthe monitoring facility features a signal lamp arranged on the front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the signal lamp is arranged on the trailer such that warning light signals emitted from the signal lamp hit an exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of warning of a threat of collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing the towing vehicle with the trailer, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
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a) continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle; b) detecting whether there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer; and c) generating a warning signal if there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer; wherein; the steps a), b) and c) comprise emitting light signals from at least one signal source of the towing vehicle when reversing the towing vehicle, providing at least two reflectors on a front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the reflectors are arranged on the trailer such that when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer the reflectors reflect the light signals emitted from the at least one signal source of the towing vehicle into at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal, and determining whether the emitted light signals are reflected in the at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle in order to detect whether there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer;
orthe steps a), b) and c) comprise providing a signal lamp on the front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the signal lamp is arranged on the trailer such that when there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer warning light signals emitted by the signal lamp hit at least one exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as the warning signal, emitting the warning light signals from the signal lamp when reversing, and determining whether the emitted warning light signals hit the at least one exterior mirror of the towing vehicle in order to detect whether there is the threat of collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A system for warning a driver of a vehicle about a threat of collision between the vehicle and a trailer being towed by the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle has an interior and/or exterior mirror and a light source mounted on the vehicle, wherein the light source is adapted to emit light, and wherein the system comprises a reflector arranged on the trailer such that the reflector reflects the light from the light source onto the mirror so that the light further reflects from the mirror toward the driver to be perceptible by the driver as a warning of the threat of collision, only when the trailer is in an angular position relative to the vehicle that causes the threat of collision.
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13. A system for warning a driver of a vehicle about a threat of collision between the vehicle and a trailer towed by the vehicle,
wherein the vehicle has a mirror mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the system comprises a signal lamp that is adapted to emit a warning light signal, and that is arranged on the trailer such that the warning light signal emitted by the signal lamp impinges on the mirror so that the warning light signal reflects from the mirror toward the driver to be perceptible by the driver as a warning of the threat of collision, only when the trailer is in an angular position relative to the vehicle that causes the threat of collision.
Specification