Backup system to position vehicle relative to stationary trailer during backing procedure

A vehicle backup guidance system to provide for an operator of a vehicle to be informed of an alignment orientation indication and a distance measurement indication, both indications of a relative position of a coupling ball member and a coupling member during a backing procedure, the coupling ball member mounted on a rearward end of the vehicle, the coupling member mounted on a forward end of a stationary trailer, the backing procedure to position the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer to allow the connection of the coupling member to the coupling ball member, the vehicle backup guidance system comprising:

• a) a sending unit mounted on the vehicle in close proximity to the coupling ball member, the sending unit to provide for:
• 1) production of a transmitted light having unique characteristics and generated to extend rearward from the rearward end of the vehicle, and;
• 2) production of an electronic sending signal indicative of the unique characteristics of the transmitted light;
• b) at least one reflector mounted on the stationary trailer in close proximity to the coupling member, the reflector to provide for a reflection of the transmitted light from the sending unit;
• c) a first receiving unit and a second receiving unit, the first receiving unit mounted on the vehicle on a first lateral side of the coupling ball member, the second receiving unit mounted on the vehicle on a second lateral side of the coupling ball member, the first lateral side of the coupling ball member and the second lateral side of the coupling ball member located on opposing sides of the coupling ball member, the first and the second receiving units to provide for receiving light, the light received reflected from the reflector mounted on the stationary trailer, the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit each producing an electronic receiving signal indicative of unique characteristics of the received light;
• d) transfer receiving means to provide for receiving:
• 1) the electronic sending signal produced by the sending unit;
• 2) the electronic receiving signals produced by the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit;
• e) measuring means to provide for a measurement of a distance and a measurement of an alignment of a relative placement of the sending unit, the reflector and the receiving units based upon a comparison of the electronic signals received by the transfer receiving means;
• f) orientation transfer means to provide for electronically transferring an electronic signal of the measurement of the distance and for electronically transferring an electronic signal of the measurement of the alignment;
• g) indication means to provide for informing the operator based upon the measuring means of the alignment orientation indication of the positional placement of the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer and the distance measurement indication of the positional placement of the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer, the indication means receiving the electronic signal transferred by the orientation transfer means;
• whereby the sending unit produces the transmitted light having unique characteristics which is generated to extend rearward from the rearward end of the vehicle to be reflected by the reflector mounted on the trailer to be received by the receiving units mounted on the vehicle on opposing lateral sides of the coupling ball member wherein the measuring means determines the measurement of the distance and the alignment of the relative placement of the sending unit, the reflector and the receiving units and these measurements are indicated by the indication means to the operator of the vehicle.

A vehicle backup guidance system to provide for an operator of a vehicle to be informed of an alignment orientation indication and a distance measurement indication, both indications of a relative position of a coupling ball member and a coupling member during a backing procedure, the coupling ball member mounted on a rearward end of the vehicle, the coupling member mounted on a forward end of a stationary trailer, the backing procedure to position the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer to allow the connection of the coupling member to the coupling ball member, the vehicle backup guidance system comprising:

• a) a first sending unit mounted on the vehicle in close proximity to the coupling ball member, the first sending unit to provide for:
• 1) production of a transmitted light having unique characteristics and generated to extend rearward from the rearward end of the vehicle, and;
• 2) production of an electronic sending signal indicative of the unique characteristics of the transmitted light;
• b) a second sending unit mounted on the vehicle in close proximity to the coupling ball member, the second sending unit to provide for:
• 1) production of a transmitted light having unique characteristics and generated to extend rearward from the rearward end of the vehicle, and;
• 2) production of an electronic sending signal indicative of the unique characteristics of the transmitted light;
• c) a reflector mounted on the stationary trailer in close proximity to the coupling member, the reflector to provide for a reflection of the transmitted light from the first sending unit and the second sending unit;
• d) a receiving unit mounted on the vehicle in close proximity to the coupling ball member, the receiving unit to provide for receiving light, the light received reflected from the reflector mounted on the stationary trailer, the receiving unit producing an electronic receiving signal indicative of unique characteristics of the received light;
• e) transfer receiving means to provide for receiving:
• 1) the electronic sending signal produced by the first sending unit;
• 2) the electronic sending signal produced by the second sending unit;
• 3) the electronic receiving signals produced by the receiving unit;
• f) measuring means to provide for a measurement of a distance and a measurement of an alignment of a relative placement of the first sending unit, the second sending unit, the reflector and the receiving unit based upon a comparison of the electronic signals received by the transfer receiving means;
• g) orientation transfer means to provide for electronically transferring an electronic signal of the measurement of the distance and for electronically transferring an electronic signal of the measurement of the alignment;
• h) indication means to provide for informing the operator based upon the measuring means of the alignment orientation indication of the positional placement of the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer and the distance measurement indication of the positional placement of the vehicle relative to the stationary trailer, the indication means receiving the electronic signal transferred by the orientation transfer means;
• whereby the sending units each produce transmitted light having unique characteristics which is generated to extend rearward from the rearward end of the vehicle to be reflected by the reflector mounted on the trailer to be received by the receiving unit mounted on the vehicle wherein the measuring means determines the measurement of the distance and the alignment of the relative placement of the sending units, the reflector and the receiving unit and these measurements are indicated by the indication means to the operator of the vehicle.