| US 7,548,155 B2 | ||
| Fifth wheel sensor assembly | ||
| Randy L. Schutt, Holland, Mich. (US); and Mark C. Pickhard, Lake Mills, Wis. (US) | ||
| Assigned to SAF-Holland, Inc., Holland, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 09, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/350,542. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/654283, filed on Feb. 18, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0186636 A1, Aug. 24, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 21/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—431 [340/686.1; 340/687; 340/686.2; 340/686.5; 324/207.2; 280/29] | 18 Claims |
| 1. 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 electronic system determining whether the
trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer and comprising:
a first magnet creating a first magnetic flux;
a first Hall-effect sensor for sensing the position of a kingpin of a trailer relative to a throat of a hitch plate by measuring
the first magnet flux; and
a control circuit operably coupled with the first Hall-effect sensor and determining whether the first magnetic flux indicates
a proper location of a kingpin of a trailer relative to a throat of a hitch plate wherein the control circuit is adapted to
adjust a sensitivity of the first Hall-effect sensor to the first magnetic flux.
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