Apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator

• US 10,118,543 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Cremona, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US15/349,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20180134209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36, 340463, 340468, 340472
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0069 Trailers, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01027 Safing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/00 Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

A device for controlling a directional motion indicator includes a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector. A controller includes a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal. The controller determines a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal. The controller transmits a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a directional motion indicator, the device comprising:

a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector;

a controller including a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal, the controller determining a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from a rear side of the motion detector and transmitting a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector; and

an electrical power source electrically connected to both the motion detector and the controller, the motion detector and the controller being electrically powered by the power source, the motion detector, the controller and the electrical power source are a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer.

2. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the direction of the movement is based on an orientation of the motion detector.

3. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the motion indicator signal is transmitted to the directional motion indicator.

4. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the movement is identified when the motion detector is moving at least a predetermined velocity.

5. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the predetermined velocity is 1.0 mph.

6. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the backward movement includes at least one of a straight and an angled movement of the motion detector.

7. The device for controlling a directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the motion detector is an accelerometer.

8. A vehicle trailer backup warning system, comprising:

a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector;

a controller including a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal, the controller determining a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from a rear side of the motion detector and transmitting a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector;

a directional motion indicator activated based on the transmitted motion indicator signal; and

an electrical power source electrically connected to the motion detector, the controller and the directional motion indicator, the motion detector, the controller and the directional motion indicator being electrically powered by the power source, the motion detector, the controller and the electrical power source being a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer.

9. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

when activated, the directional motion indicator illuminates a visual display.

10. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

when activated, the directional motion indicator also generates an audible message.

11. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the direction of the movement is based on an orientation of the motion detector.

12. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the motion detector is included on an associated vehicle trailer and oriented with an identified rear side of the motion detector facing a rear of the associated vehicle trailer; and

the backward movement occurs when the associated vehicle trailer is traveling along a vector having the motion vector component extending away from the identified rear side of the motion detector.

13. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the backward movement occurs when the associated vehicle trailer is traveling along at least one of a straight and a curved direction.

14. The vehicle trailer backup warning system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the movement is identified when the motion detector is moving at least a predetermined velocity.

15. A method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator, the method comprising:

transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of a motion detector on an associated vehicle trailer;

receiving the directional motion signal;

determining a backward movement of the vehicle trailer based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from an identified rear side of the motion detector;

transmitting a motion indicator signal based on the determined backward movement of the vehicle trailer;

receiving electrical power at the motion detector and the directional motion indicator from a power source on the associated vehicle trailer, the motion detector and the electrical power source being a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer; and

activating the directional motion indicator based on the motion indicator signal.

16. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 15, wherein the activating step includes:

activating the directional motion indicator if the backward movement of the vehicle trailer is determined.

17. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 16, wherein the activating step includes:

illuminating a visual display.

18. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 16, wherein the activating step includes:

playing an audible message.

19. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 15, further including:

determining the movement of the associated vehicle trailer based on a velocity of the associated vehicle trailer.

20. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 15, further including:

if the velocity of the associated vehicle trailer is at least a predetermined velocity in a backward direction, determining the backward movement exists for the associated vehicle trailer.

21. The method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator as set forth in claim 20, further including:

if the backward movement exists for the associated vehicle trailer, transmitting the motion indicator signal to activate the directional motion indicator.