Patent ID: 6452485
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B62D,Y10S

Abstract:
An electronic system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system determining whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer, the system comprising:a trailer sensor for sensing the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly; a lock sensor for sensing the position of the locking mechanism; a control circuit coupled to the trailer sensor and the lock sensor, the control circuit determining whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer; a memory device coupled to the control circuit, the memory device storing coupling status information that includes a history of changes in position of the trailer and the locking mechanism as respectively sensed by the trailer sensor and the lock sensor; and an output interface coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the stored coupling status information to an external device through the output interface responsive to a coupling status information request.