Apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator
AssigneeBendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
InventorMichael D. Cremona
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Abstract
A device for controlling a directional motion indicator includes a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector. A controller includes a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal. The controller determines a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal. The controller transmits a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector.
Claims21
A device for controlling a directional motion indicator, the device comprising:
- a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector;
- a controller including a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal, the controller determining a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from a rear side of the motion detector and transmitting a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector;
- and
- an electrical power source electrically connected to both the motion detector and the controller, the motion detector and the controller being electrically powered by the power source, the motion detector, the controller and the electrical power source are a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer.
A vehicle trailer backup warning system, comprising:
- a motion detector transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of the motion detector;
- a controller including a controller input port receiving the directional motion signal, the controller determining a backward movement of the motion detector based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from a rear side of the motion detector and transmitting a motion indicator signal, via a controller output port, based on the determined backward movement of the motion detector;
- a directional motion indicator activated based on the transmitted motion indicator signal;
- and
- an electrical power source electrically connected to the motion detector, the controller and the directional motion indicator, the motion detector, the controller and the directional motion indicator being electrically powered by the power source, the motion detector, the controller and the electrical power source being a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer.
A method for activating a vehicle trailer directional motion indicator, the method comprising:
- transmitting a directional motion signal based on a movement and a direction of the movement of a motion detector on an associated vehicle trailer;
- receiving the directional motion signal;
- determining a backward movement of the vehicle trailer based on the directional motion signal indicating a motion vector having a motion vector component extending away from an identified rear side of the motion detector;
- transmitting a motion indicator signal based on the determined backward movement of the vehicle trailer;
- receiving electrical power at the motion detector and the directional motion indicator from a power source on the associated vehicle trailer, the motion detector and the electrical power source being a self-contained system on an associated vehicle trailer;
- and
- activating the directional motion indicator based on the motion indicator signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.