TRAILER ALIGNMENT GUIDE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A trailer alignment guide device comprising:
- a vehicle;
a trailer coupled to said vehicle;
a projector coupled to said vehicle, said projector directing a beam towards said trailer;
a reflector coupled to said trailer, said reflector reflecting said beam back towards said vehicle;
a receiver coupled to said vehicle, said receiver being positioned to receive said beam after said beam has been reflected by said reflector, said receiver detecting a position of said beam reflected back onto said receiver;
a display coupled to said vehicle; and
a processor communicatively coupled to said receiver, said processor being programmed to calculate a directional instruction for aligning said trailer behind said vehicle using said position of said beam reflected back on said receiver, said processor being communicatively and operationally coupled to said display such that said display displays said directional instruction on said display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer alignment guide device facilitates alignment of a trailer behind a vehicle when backing the trailer up. The device includes a trailer coupled to a vehicle. At least one projector is coupled to the vehicle directing a beam towards the trailer. A reflector is coupled to the trailer reflecting the beam back towards the vehicle. A receiver is coupled to the vehicle and positioned to receive the beam after the beam has been reflected by the reflector. The receiver detects a position of the beam being reflected back onto the receiver. A processor is communicatively coupled to the receiver and programmed to calculate a directional instruction for aligning the trailer behind the vehicle using the position of the beam reflected back on the receiver. A display coupled to the vehicle displays the directional instruction.
34 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A trailer alignment guide device comprising:
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a vehicle; a trailer coupled to said vehicle; a projector coupled to said vehicle, said projector directing a beam towards said trailer; a reflector coupled to said trailer, said reflector reflecting said beam back towards said vehicle; a receiver coupled to said vehicle, said receiver being positioned to receive said beam after said beam has been reflected by said reflector, said receiver detecting a position of said beam reflected back onto said receiver; a display coupled to said vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to said receiver, said processor being programmed to calculate a directional instruction for aligning said trailer behind said vehicle using said position of said beam reflected back on said receiver, said processor being communicatively and operationally coupled to said display such that said display displays said directional instruction on said display. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A trailer alignment guide device comprising:
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a vehicle; a trailer coupled to said vehicle; a pair of projectors coupled to said vehicle, each said projector directing a respective beam towards said trailer; a pair of reflectors coupled to said trailer, each said reflector reflecting a respective one of said beams back towards said vehicle; a pair of receivers coupled to said vehicle, each said receiver being positioned to receive an associated one of said beams after said associated one of said beams has been reflected by said respective one of said reflectors, each said receiver detecting a position of said associated one of said beams reflected back onto said receiver; a display coupled to said vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to each said receiver, said processor being programmed to calculate a directional instruction for aligning said trailer behind said vehicle using said position of each said beam reflected back on said associated receiver, said processor being communicatively and operationally coupled to said display such that said display displays said directional instruction on said display. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A trailer alignment guide device comprising:
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a vehicle; a trailer coupled to said vehicle, said trailer being a boat trailer; a pair of projectors coupled to said vehicle, each said projector directing a respective beam towards said trailer, each said projector being positioned on an associated side of said vehicle, each said projector being a laser, each said laser being incorporated into a respective side mirror of said vehicle; a pair of reflectors coupled to said trailer, each said reflector reflecting a respective one of said beams back towards said vehicle, each of said reflectors being configured for coupling to a boat positioned on said trailer wherein each said reflector is coupled to said trailer when said boat is positioned on said trailer; a pair of receivers coupled to said vehicle, each said receiver being positioned to receive an associated one of said beams after said associated one of said beams has been reflected by said respective one of said reflectors, each said receiver detecting a position of said associated one of said beams reflected back onto said receiver; a display coupled to said vehicle, said display being positioned in a cabin of said vehicle wherein said display is configured for being viewed by a driver of said vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to each said receiver, said processor being programmed to calculate a directional instruction for aligning said trailer behind said vehicle using said position of each said beam reflected back on said associated receiver, said processor being communicatively and operationally coupled to said display such that said display displays said directional instruction on said display.
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Specification