# US 11,027,645 B2 · Trailer visibility safety system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,645 B2 - Document ID: US11027645B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/895,110 - Filed: 2020-06-08 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-13 - Assignees: IdeaTek Equity Group, LLC - Applicants: IdeaTek Equity Group, LLC - Inventors: Steven Adam Schrag - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027645B2 ## CPC - B60D 1/64: Couplings or joints therefor - B60D 1/62: involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like - B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle} - B60Q 1/24: for lighting other areas than only the way ahead - B60Q 1/247: {for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323)} - B60Q 1/305: {Indicating devices for towed vehicles} - B60Q 1/543: {for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045)} - B60Q 1/46: for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights} - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A safety lighting system for use with trailers is described herein. In some embodiments, the trailer lighting system comprises a sensor, a controller, and safety lights. The safety lighting system may be used for illuminating trailers while being towed, for example, in shipping yards, construction yards, and shipping and receiving docks. The safety lighting system may be activated upon connection of a pneumatic system with a spotting tractor and deactivated upon establishing an electrical connection from a tractor to the trailer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting system of a trailer activating based on a pneumatic connection between the trailer and a vehicle, comprising: at least one light disposed on the trailer; a power source supplying power to the at least one light; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure from the pneumatic connection between the trailer and the vehicle; and a controller configured to— receive a first signal indicative of the pressure from the pressure sensor, wherein at least one brake of the trailer is released based on the pressure; upon receiving the first signal, illuminating the at least one light; receive a second signal indicative of an electrical connection between the trailer and the vehicle; and deactivating the at least one light when both the first signal and the second signal are received. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The safety lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the at least one light when the pressure is above a minimum threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The safety lighting system of claim 2, wherein the minimum threshold is associated with a minimum pressure required to release the brakes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The safety lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery and is charged when the electrical connection is established. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The safety lighting system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a power level of the rechargeable battery and is configured to recharge the rechargeable battery when the power level is low. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The safety lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect when a hot line of the electrical connection is connected to the trailer from the vehicle and deactivate the at least one light when the hot line is detected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The safety lighting system of claim 6, further comprising a switch to bypass the hot line of the electrical connection for activating the at least one light when an electrical system of the vehicle is connected to the trailer, and wherein the electrical connection is a 7-pin connection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The safety lighting system of claim 7, wherein the switch is activated based on triggers, and wherein the triggers include at least one of air bag deployment, hazard light activation, accelerometer measurements, GPS location, or speed. ### Claim 9 A method of illuminating a lighting system of a trailer based at least in part on a pneumatic connection between the trailer and a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal indicative of a pressure from a pressure sensor, wherein at least one brake of the trailer is released based at least in part on the pressure; upon receiving the first signal, illuminating at least one light of the lighting system; receiving a second signal indicative of an electrical connection between the trailer and the vehicle; and deactivating the at least one light when both the first signal and the second signal are received. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of controlling a secondary lighting system via the electrical connection to illuminate the secondary lighting system according to a mode of operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: powering the lighting system with a battery; detecting a state of the battery with a battery controller; controlling a flow of current to the battery when the state of the battery is determined to be a low power state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the flow of current is provided by at least one of a trailer power source, a vehicle power source, and a solar power source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the trailer power source is a generator receiving mechanical motion from at least one rotating wheel of the trailer and converting the mechanical motion to electrical energy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of bypassing a hot line of the electrical connection to activate the lighting system when the electrical connection is established. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of controlling the at least one light of the lighting system in accordance with a mode of the vehicle, wherein the mode of the vehicle is at least one of braking, turning, and hazard. ### Claim 16 A lighting system of a trailer that activates based on a pneumatic connection between the trailer and a vehicle, comprising: at least one light disposed on the trailer; a power source supplying power to the at least one light; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure from a pneumatic connection between the trailer and the vehicle; and a controller configured to— receive a signal indicative of the pressure from the pressure sensor, wherein at least one brake of the trailer is released based on the pressure; and upon receiving the signal, illuminating the at least one light, wherein the at least one light is controlled to be deactivated when an electrical connection between the trailer and the vehicle is detected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one light is illuminated based at least in part on the pressure being above a threshold, wherein the threshold is based at least in part on a required pressure to release the brake. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one light is controlled by the controller to be illuminated based on a mode of the trailer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the mode of the trailer is detected by at least one of a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and a GPS receiver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one power source is a battery; and further comprising: a battery controller detecting a state of the battery; and wherein the battery controller controls a flow of current to the battery when the battery is determined to be in a low power state.