Hitch system using a video camera to facilitate hitch alignment
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said system comprising:
- a target area located on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area having an alignment indicia located thereupon, said target area facing the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle;
a video camera for installation in a fixed position on the vehicle, said video camera being oriented with a lens of said video camera facing toward said alignment indicia located on said target area, directly in a generally straight and level manner at substantially the same height with respect to ground as is the alignment indicia when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; and
a video monitor for placement in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said video monitor for displaying thereon an image viewed by said video camera, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video monitoring system is disclosed which may be used by the operator of a vehicle to guide the approach of the vehicle to an implement or a trailer or the like to bring connecting members of a hitch mechanism respectively located on the vehicle and on the implement or trailer into alignment and engagement with each other. A video camera is installed onto either the vehicle in the closest possible proximity to the hitch latching mechanism and is directed toward an alignment indicia located on the implement or trailer. A video monitor in the cab of the vehicle displays the video image “seen” by the video camera of the alignment indicia, allowing the vehicle to be driven into a position in which the implement or trailer may be hitched to the vehicle.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a target area located on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area having an alignment indicia located thereupon, said target area facing the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; a video camera for installation in a fixed position on the vehicle, said video camera being oriented with a lens of said video camera facing toward said alignment indicia located on said target area, directly in a generally straight and level manner at substantially the same height with respect to ground as is the alignment indicia when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; and a video monitor for placement in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said video monitor for displaying thereon an image viewed by said video camera, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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13. A system for facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a target area located on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area facing the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; a video camera for installation in a fixed position on the vehicle, said video camera being oriented toward said target area on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; and a video monitor for placement in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said video monitor for displaying thereon an image viewed by said video camera, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle, and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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25. A system for facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a video camera for installation in a fixed position on one of the vehicle and the object to be removably connected to the vehicle; a target area located on the other of the vehicle and the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area having an alignment indicia located thereupon, said target area facing one of the vehicle and the object to be removably connected to the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle, said video camera being oriented with a lens of said video camera facing toward said alignment indicia on said target area, directly in a generally straight and level manner at substantially the same height with respect to ground as is the alignment indicia when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement; and a video monitor for placement in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said video monitor for displaying thereon an image viewed by said video camera.
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26. A method of facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a target area on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area facing the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement; providing an alignment indicia on said target area; installing a video camera in a fixed position on the vehicle, orienting said video camera with a lens of said video camera facing the alignment indicia on said target area, directly in a generally straight and level manner at substantially the same height with respect to ground as is the alignment indicia when the object is in position for connection to the vehicle; and displaying an image viewed by said video camera on a video monitor located in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle.
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27. A system for facilitating the alignment of a hitching mechanism located on a vehicle with a mating hitching mechanism located on an object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said system comprising:
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a target area located on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle, said target area facing the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle; a video camera for installation in a fixed position on the vehicle, said video camera being oriented toward said target area on the object to be removably connected to the vehicle when the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is in position for connection to the vehicle, said video camera including a wireless transmitter for transmitting video signals; and a video monitor for placement in the passenger compartment of said vehicle in a position in which it may be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, said video monitor for displaying thereon an image viewed by said video camera, said video monitor including a wireless receiver for receiving said video signals from said wireless transmitter, wherein the hitching mechanism located on the vehicle is mounted at the front of the vehicle and wherein the object to be removably connected to the vehicle is an implement. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification