Trailer connection checking device and method
First Claim
1. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of exterior vehicle lights;
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 lighting control system having a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior vehicle 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 the exterior vehicle lights, 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 are embodiments of systems for checking an electrical connection between a vehicle and a trailer. In one embodiment, a trailer light checking system for a vehicle comprises a plurality of exterior vehicle lights and 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 lighting control system 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, 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
20 Claims
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1. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of exterior vehicle lights; 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 lighting control system having a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior vehicle 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 the exterior vehicle lights, 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)
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9. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of exterior vehicle lights actuatable in response to an electrical power being supplied thereto; the first of two ends of a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights with a respective trailer light, the first end of the terminal connection electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of exterior vehicle lights; and a lighting control system configured to control individual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights in accordance with a normal mode wherein each of the plurality of vehicle lights is subject to manual actuation by an operator, and programmed to control individual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights in accordance with a trailer connection checking mode wherein each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights is actuated over a predetermined period of time without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights such that electrical power is supplied to the first end of the terminal connection for actuating a respective trailer light. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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 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 controller, without requiring manual actuation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, in accordance with 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 (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification