TRAILER CONNECTION CHECKING DEVICE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A trailer light checking system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of exterior vehicle lights, the exterior vehicle lights including a left turn indicator light, a right turn indicator light and a brake indicator light;
a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light; and
a vehicle controller having a trailer connection checking mode configured to check the terminal connection by simulating manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights according to a timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a trailer light checking system for a vehicle for checking an electrical connection between the vehicle and a trailer comprising a plurality of exterior vehicle lights, the exterior vehicle lights including a left turn indicator light, a right turn indicator light and a brake indicator light, and further comprises a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light. The trailer light checking system also comprises a vehicle controller having a trailer connection checking mode configured to check the terminal connection by simulating manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights according to a timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A trailer light checking system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of exterior vehicle lights, the exterior vehicle lights including a left turn indicator light, a right turn indicator light and a brake indicator light; a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light; and a vehicle controller having a trailer connection checking mode configured to check the terminal connection by simulating manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights according to a timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of checking an electrical terminal connection between each of a plurality of exterior vehicle lights and a respective trailer light, comprising:
simulating manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights with a vehicle controller in a timed sequence according to a trailer connection checking mode, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification