Vehicle safety system having methods and apparatus configurable for various vehicle geometries
First Claim
1. A system for calculating an angle between an articulated tractor and trailer, comprising:
- a plurality of transducers arranged on said tractor substantially symmetrically about a centerline of a substantially straight line and oriented towards said trailer, each transducer operable to transmit and receive signals and having an angular orientation substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers of said plurality of transducers on a same side of said centerline; and
a control circuit operative to control said plurality of transducers to determine said angle, wherein said control circuit sequentially activates ones of said plurality of transducers such that only a single transducer of said plurality of transducers transmits signals at any given time and said control circuit only processes a return signal received by an emitting transducer.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of a rotatable side view mirror of an articulated tractor and trailer includes transducers attached to the tractor for transmitting signals toward the trailer and for receiving signals reflected by the trailer. The transducers have a substantially symmetrical arrangement about a centerline of a linear transducer bar attached to the tractor and each has an angular orientation substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers on a same side of the centerline. A control circuit sequentially activates ones of the transducers such that only a single transducer transmits signals at any given time. Thereafter, the control circuit only processes reflected signals received by the emitting transducer. The control circuit calculates an angle between the tractor and trailer and causes the mirrors to rotate. Transducer calibration and mirror adjustment relative to a zero position set by a driver are also contemplated.
35 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for calculating an angle between an articulated tractor and trailer, comprising:
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a plurality of transducers arranged on said tractor substantially symmetrically about a centerline of a substantially straight line and oriented towards said trailer, each transducer operable to transmit and receive signals and having an angular orientation substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers of said plurality of transducers on a same side of said centerline; and
a control circuit operative to control said plurality of transducers to determine said angle, wherein said control circuit sequentially activates ones of said plurality of transducers such that only a single transducer of said plurality of transducers transmits signals at any given time and said control circuit only processes a return signal received by an emitting transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of calculating an angle between an articulated tractor and trailer, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of transducers on said tractor substantially symmetrically about a centerline of a substantially straight line, each transducer having an angular orientation substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers of said plurality of transducers on a same side of said centerline;
orienting said plurality of transducers towards said trailer such that each transducer is operable to transmit signals to said trailer and receive signals reflected from said trailer;
controlling said plurality of transducers to sequentially activate such that only a single transducer of said plurality of transducers is transmitting at any given time, said single transducer being an emitting transducer;
processing signals received only by said emitting transducer; and
calculating said angle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. A transducer bar having a longitudinal extent and a centerline for attaching to a tractor to facilitate in calculations of an angle between said tractor and a trailer articulated together during use, comprising a plurality of transducers arranged substantially symmetrically about said centerline, each transducer having an angular orientation relative to said longitudinal extent substantially dissimilar to adjacent transducers on a same side of said centerline, wherein an innermost transducer and an outermost transducer on said same side angle in opposite directions relative to said centerline.
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33. A system for calculating an angle between an articulated tractor and trailer, comprising:
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a plurality of transducers arranged on said tractor, each transducer operable to transmit and receive signals; and
a control circuit operative to control said plurality of transducers, wherein said control circuit activates ones of said plurality of transducers such that only a single transducer of said plurality of transducers transmits signals at any given time and said control circuit only processes a return signal received by said single transducer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification