Importance

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Abstract

A guidance system for use in docking a movable vehicle with a stationary target, such as a vehicle to be towed, includes a sensing unit pivotally mounted on a towing vehicle in alignment with a hitch member thereof and a display unit, electrically coupled to the sensing unit, the display unit being mounted on the towing vehicle in view of the driver, either directly or through use of a rear view mirror. A tensioned line is stored on a spring and reel assembly within the sensing unit and is adapted to be unreeled therefrom and attached to a connection point on the stationary target that is aligned with a hitch member of the stationary target. Optical switches within a shutter assembly through which the tensioned line passes sense lateral deviations from a position of perfect axial alignment of the tensioned line with the hitch members on both the towing vehicle and the stationary target. Electrical signals from the optical switches are used to appropriately illuminates a plurality of visual turn indicators on the display unit to signal to the driver of the towing vehicle the need for either a left or right turn correction, as required to axially align the hitch members of the towing vehicle and the stationary target. A stop function is provided to visually and audibly signal the driver of the towing vehicle when a predetermined closure distance between the towing vehicle and the stationary target has been reached.

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First Claim