Trailer Backup Camera Housing With Automatic Wireless Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semi-truck and trailer backup camera systems require complex coordination between tractor and trailer owners for wireless or wired pairing, complicating installation and maintenance, especially when trailers are not owned by the same entities.
Innovation Solution
A backup camera system mounted at the trailer's center marker light, powered by its wiring, uses a gyroscope and accelerometer to detect motion, and establishes a mesh network for wireless communication with external devices, eliminating the need for physical connectors and complex pairing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated receivers are mounted in the tractor to receive signals from the trailer backup camera, then the driver can view the image from the trailer camera, but the system complexity increases due to pairing requirements and coordination between tractor and trailer owners
Solution Approach 1:
The backup camera system automatically performs pairing with the tractor's receiver without requiring manual coordination between tractor and trailer owners. The system self-configures by detecting the trailer-tractor connection and establishing communication automatically, eliminating the need for dedicated pairing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup camera system is designed to work universally with different tractor and trailer combinations without requiring entity-specific pairing. The system accepts connections from any standard-equipped tractor, making it adaptable to the common scenario where trailers are rented or contracted to different tractor owners.
2Reliability
If wired connectors are used to connect the trailer camera to the tractor receiver, then stable signal transmission is achieved, but installation complexity increases due to mating connectors requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connector system with a wireless communication system. The backup camera transmits video signals wirelessly to the tractor receiver, eliminating the need for physical mating connectors and simplifying installation while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
3Ease of operation
If wireless pairing interface is implemented for camera-receiver connection, then installation flexibility is improved, but coordination between trailer and tractor owners is required which complicates deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless pairing process is automated through self-service mechanisms. When the trailer is physically connected to the tractor, the backup camera system automatically detects the connection and initiates pairing with the tractor receiver without requiring manual intervention or coordination between different owners.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions automatically upon detection of the trailer-tractor connection. The pairing process is initiated and completed in advance of actual use, so that when the driver needs to view the backup camera feed, the connection is already established and functional.
Data Source
AI summary
A backup camera system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a back of a trailer at a location of a center marker light of the trailer and having a rear surface offset from and facing away from the trailer, a camera at the housing and configured to capture a rear view of the trailer, a first light at a center of the rear surface of the housing, a second light at the rear surface of the housing and offset from the first light, and a controller within the housing and configured to selectively couple the first light or the second light to a wiring of the center marker light of the trailer.