Patent 05854517 - Communications link between a tractor and trailer utilizing tractor circuitry > Summary
US Patent
Patent No. US 05854517
Published on Dec 29, 1998
Application No. 8/957423
Filed on Oct 24, 1997
Priority Date -
Inventor/Applicants
Hines, Antonio - Tampa, FL
Abstract
A communication link between a tractor and trailer is established utilizing existing dormant tractor and trailer circuitry. In one embodiment of the invention, a tractor communications device has a communications port connected to a turn signal circuit and a trailer communications device has a communications port connected to the same turn signal circuit. The two communications devices permit communications therebetween over the turn signal circuit as long as the turn signal circuit is inactive, and otherwise inhibits such communications. In another embodiment of the invention, each communications device includes a second communications port connected to the remaining tractor/trailer turn circuit. If electrical power is being supplied to the first turn signal circuit, the two communications devices automatically switch communications to the remaining dormant turn signal circuit.
Classification
307/10.8
340/431;
307/10.1;
340/310.1;
340/431
340/825.6;
340/310.1;
340/310.6;
340/310.7;
340/465;
340/468;
340/475;
307/9.1;
307/10..1;
307/10..6;
307/10..7;
307/10..8;
307/38;
307/39;
307/1;
307/2;
307/3;
280/DIG.14;
315/77;
701/1;
701/36;
701/69;
701/70;