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Magnetic field communication arrangement and method for a tractor-trailer

  • US 9,354,617 B2
  • Filed: 09/20/2013
  • Issued: 05/31/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A tractor-trailer arrangement, comprising:

  • a trailer including;

    at least one wall separating an interior of the trailer from an ambient environment;

    a door disposed in one said wall, the door having an open position and a closed position;

    a wireless door contact sensor configured to;

    sense whether the door is in the open position or the closed position; and

    transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic position signals, each of the position signals being indicative of whether the door is in the open position or the closed position at a respective point in time; and

    a tractor unit mechanically coupled to the trailer, the tractor unit including;

    at least one of an audio speaker and a video display; and

    a controller configured to;

    receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor; and

    control presentation of information on the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received position signals,wherein the trailer further includes a motion detector configured to;

    sense a presence of movement within the interior of the trailer; and

    transmit a sequence of long wave magnetic motion signals, each of the motion signals being indicative of whether there is movement within the interior of the trailer at a respective point in time;

    the controller being configured to;

    receive the long wave magnetic motion signals from the motion detector; and

    control presentation of information to the at least one of an audio speaker and a video display dependent upon the received motion signals, andwherein the motion detector is configured to receive the long wave magnetic position signals from the sensor, the motion detector being calibrated to detect non human motion when the door monitored by the sensor is in the closed position, the motion detector being configured to switch to being calibrated to detect human motion in response to receiving a position signal indicating that the door has been opened.

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