System for detecting a tow bar connected to a vehicle
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorsJason L. Vincent, Richard S. Silbert, Patrick D. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for detecting a tow bar on a vehicle may include determining that a tow bar is installed on the vehicle, determining that the tow bar is not connected to a towed apparatus, and sending a communication indicating that the tow bar is installed on the vehicle. The tow bar may be detected using an object sensor configured to sense objects near the vehicle. The object sensor may also detect when a towed apparatus is attached to the tow bar and when motion occurs near the tow bar of the vehicle.
Claims19
A method for detecting a tow bar on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- determining that a tow bar is installed on the vehicle;
- determining that the tow bar is not connected to a towed apparatus;
- and
- sending a communication indicating that the tow bar is installed on the vehicle.
A vehicle comprising:
- a structure supporting the vehicle;
- a mount configured to receive a tow bar;
- an object sensor mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle and with a range including an area beyond the rear portion of the vehicle;
- a control system to receive communication from the object sensor, wherein the control system is configured to determine that the tow bar is installed on the vehicle based on information from the object sensor, determine that the tow bar is not connected to a towed apparatus, and to communicate that the tow bar is installed on the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.