Trailer connection checking device and method
First Claim
1. A lighting 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;
the first of two ends of a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light; and
a vehicle controller programmed to have a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior lights is subject to manual actuation by an operator, and a trailer connection checking mode wherein manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights is simulated at the first end of the terminal connection, without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, according to a predetermined timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual actuation 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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A lighting 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; the first of two ends of a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light; and a vehicle controller programmed to have a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior lights is subject to manual actuation by an operator, and a trailer connection checking mode wherein manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights is simulated at the first end of the terminal connection, without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, according to a predetermined timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual actuation 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 for checking an electrical terminal connection between a vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
in a vehicle including a plurality of vehicle lights subject to manual actuation by an operator and the first of two ends of a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light, simulating manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights at the first end of the terminal connection with a vehicle controller, without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, in a predetermined timed sequence according to a trailer connection checking mode, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual actuation 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)
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21. A lighting 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; the first of two ends of a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light; and a vehicle controller programmed to have a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior lights is subject to manual actuation by an operator, and a trailer connection checking mode wherein manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights is simulated at the first end of the terminal connection, without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, according to a predetermined timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly; wherein the vehicle controller is responsive to an operator input device to initiate and commence the trailer connection checking mode, and is programmed to sound an audible signal to alert the initiation of the trailer connection checking mode and thereafter delay the commencement of the trailer connection checking mode.
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Specification