Computer controlled positioning device
First Claim
1. A positioning apparatus for a towing vehicle having an attachment point comprising:
- a towing vehicle having an attachment point for attaching a towed item;
a 5th wheel encoder secured to the attachment point, the 5th wheel encoder adapted to be in contact with the towed item;
a sensor on the 5th wheel encoder for determining an angular position of the towed vehicle relative to the towed item; and
a device for receiving the relative angular position and transmitting information on the relative angular position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer controlled positioning device detects the relative position of a towing vehicle and item being towed based on the feedback signal of a 5th wheel encoder affixed to the attachment point on the towing vehicle and in contact with the towed item. The signal is produced based on the rotation of a wheel on the 5th wheel encoder in response to the angular change between the towing vehicle and item being towed at the pivot (attachment) point as the towing vehicle turns, corners, or reverses. The signal is transmitted to a microprocessor under software control that determines if the rearview mirror(s) should be rotated and/or if a notification should be provided to a driver.
98 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A positioning apparatus for a towing vehicle having an attachment point comprising:
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a towing vehicle having an attachment point for attaching a towed item;
a 5th wheel encoder secured to the attachment point, the 5th wheel encoder adapted to be in contact with the towed item;
a sensor on the 5th wheel encoder for determining an angular position of the towed vehicle relative to the towed item; and
a device for receiving the relative angular position and transmitting information on the relative angular position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A positioning apparatus for a towing vehicle having a fifth wheel plate attachment point comprising:
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a towing vehicle having a fifth wheel plate;
a towed item attached to the towing vehicle at the fifth wheel plate;
a 5th wheel encoder secured to the attachment point, the 5th wheel encoder comprising an actuating wheel being in contact with the towed item for determining an angular position of the towed vehicle relative to the towed item, the actuating wheel mechanically coupled to an optical encoder; and
a microprocessor device for receiving the relative angular position from the optical encoder and transmitting information on the relative angular position to a rearview mirror actuating device for controlling the position of a rearview mirror and to a notification device for providing notification of the relative angular positioning.
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22. A computer-readable medium with executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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receiving a signal from a sensor, the signal comprising positional variables selected from the group consisting of the relative angular position of a towing vehicle and a towed item, a position of a rearview mirror, a distance from the rearview mirror and an attachment point, and a distance from the attachment point to an axle of a trailer; and
correlating the positional variables using at least one of routines and lookup tables. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification