Tractor-trailer coupling detection
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- tractor having an ignition switch and an electrical load,a trailer having an electrical load,an electrical line for connection between the tractor and the trailer,a power source in the tractor to power the electrical load in the tractor through the ignition switch and connected to the line for powering electrical load in the trailer,a power arrangement in the trailer and having a given impedance and connected to said line,a circuit responsive to the electrical operation of said impedance to recognize when the power arrangement is responding to only the electrical load in the trailer and when the power arrangement is responding to both the electrical load in the trailer and the electrical load in the tractor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To test whether a trailer is coupled to a tractor when the tractor ignition switch is off, a test switch in the trailer connects a high-impedance power source in a trailer to a line carrying energy from the tractor ignition switch to the trailer'"'"'s electrical load, and measures the voltage at the line. A high voltage indicates a connection only to the electrical load in the trailer and thus a decouple. A low voltage indicates a measurement of the electrical loads in both trailer and tractor and hence a coupling.
13 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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tractor having an ignition switch and an electrical load, a trailer having an electrical load, an electrical line for connection between the tractor and the trailer, a power source in the tractor to power the electrical load in the tractor through the ignition switch and connected to the line for powering electrical load in the trailer, a power arrangement in the trailer and having a given impedance and connected to said line, a circuit responsive to the electrical operation of said impedance to recognize when the power arrangement is responding to only the electrical load in the trailer and when the power arrangement is responding to both the electrical load in the trailer and the electrical load in the tractor.
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2. A fleet of vehicles, comprising:
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a plurality of tractors each having an ignition switch and an electrical load, a plurality of trailers each having an electrical load, a plurality of electrical lines each for connection between one of said tractors and one of the trailers, a power source in each of the tractors to power the electrical load in the tractor through the ignition switch and connected to the electrical line for powering the electrical load in the one of the trailers, a power arrangement in each of the trailers and having a given impedance and connected to one of said lines, a circuit in each of the trailers responsive to the electrical operation of said impedance in the one of said trailers to recognize when the power arrangement is responding to only the electrical load in the trailer and when the power arrangement is responding to both the electrical load in the trailer and the electrical load in the tractor, each of said circuits including a transmitter, a wireless link responsive to each of said transmitters for receiving data from said transmitter, a management system responsive to said wireless link and for sending commands.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeStartrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
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Original AssigneeStartrak Information Technologies LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
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InventorsPerten, Herbert, Schicke, Robert
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Primary Examiner(s)Crosland; Donnie L
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Application NumberUS12/054,380Time in Patent Office1,093 DaysField of Search340/431US Class Current340/431CPC Class CodesB60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towe...B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring d...Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing con...
