Abstract: A vehicle positioning apparatus (10) includes a sensor (34), light source (32) and adjustment mechanism (30). The light source (32) projects a light beam (192) toward a vehicle (196) when the sensor senses the operation of a garage door opener (16). When the vehicle (196) is in a desired parking location, the light beam (192) can be adjusted to hit a reference point on the vehicle. Thereafter, when pulling into the garage, the driver is signaled to stop when the light beam (192) reaches the predetermined reference point.

Abstract: An inclination measuring apparatus including a level for measuring the inclination of an object; an LED for creating an image of the level; and a photodiode array for sensing the image of the level and for generating a level signal representative of the inclination of the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for adapting the independent brake lights and turn signal lights on a towing vehicle to the combined brake and turn signal lights on an associated trailer. An isolation network and a first CMOS exclusive OR integrated circuit are connected between the right turn signal light connection and brake light connection of the towing vehicle and the combined right turn signal and brake light connection on the trailer. An isolation network and a second CMOS exclusive OR integrated circuit are similarly connected between the left turn signal light connection and brake light connection of the towing vehicle and the combined left turn signal and brake light connection on the trailer. The isolation network prevents feedback from the electrical lighting system of the trailer to the electrical lighting system of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: An improved vehicle headlight aiming apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlight aiming apparatus includes a reflective surface, a light intensity sensing device, and a light intensity comparator. The reflective surface is provided for receiving a light beam and reflecting a reflected lightbeam therefrom. The light intensity sensing device measures the pattern and intensity of the reflected lightbeam. The comparator compares the pattern and intensity of the reflected lightbeam to a known standard in order to provide headlight adjustment information. The comparator includes a plurality of externally-accessible plug-in memory modules for storing different headlight aiming standards. These plug-in memory modules are coupled to the comparator by way of a plurality of sockets mounted on the exterior of the comparator. A plug-in extension model having a serial communication port is also provided for coupling the comparator to external devices such as a printer or other computer equipment.

Abstract: A leveling apparatus is provided for use on the reflector of an automotive headlamp assembly for permitting the assembly to be leveled on an automobile so that the beam of the headlamp is aimed in a predetermined direction. The apparatus includes a level and a holder for supporting the level on the reflector. A pair of arms are connected to opposite sides of the front end of the holder, and include a pair of pawls for securing the holder to the headlamp assembly. An adjustment member is connected to the rear of the holder for adjusting the angular orientation of the level relative to the reflector so that a horizontal indication is provided by the level when the reflector is properly oriented for use. Each arm includes an inner arm segment that is connected to the front end of the holder and extends rearward to a rear free end and an outer arm segment that is connected to the rear free end of the inner arm segment and extends forward to a forward free end.

Abstract: An automotive electrical wiring harness for connecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle to that of a trailer or the like has a flat connector at one end which is foldable along a hinge line of weakness in the body of the connector. When folded, the connector body is smaller than the diameter of a small opening in the bumper of the towing vehicle so as to permit the connector to be passed through the opening while the rest of the harness stays behind. Once on the far side of the opening, the connector is unfolded to reestablish its original flat, full size configuration, whereupon it may be coupled with other connector components of the vehicle's electrical system. Optionally, a protective sleeve may be slipped over the connector and frictionally retained in place thereon once the connector has been passed through the opening, so as to maintain structural integrity of the connection and to guard against the ingress of moisture and contaminants.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for adapting the independent brake lights and turn signal lights on a towing vehicle to the combined brake and turn signal lights on an associated trailer. An isolation network and a first CMOS exclusive OR integrated circuit are connected between the right turn signal light connection and brake light connection of the towing vehicle and the combined right turn signal and brake light connection on the trailer. An isolation network and a second CMOS exclusive OR integrated circuit are similarly connected between the left turn signal light connection and brake light connection of the towing vehicle and the combined left turn signal and brake light connection on the trailer. The isolation network prevents feedback from the electrical lighting system of the trailer to the electrical lighting system of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A method for aiming vehicle headlights and for visually displaying the illumination patterns of the headlights using "pattern framing". The apparatus focuses the light beam on a screen and senses the intensity of the light in each cell of a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam with an image sensor. The apparatus generates an electrical signal for each cell indicative of the intensity of the light beam in each cell. The apparatus includes a computer for comparing at least some of the electrical signals to each other and with established criteria to determine whether the headlight is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy. The matrix is searched to find a row and column of points farthest away from the "hot spot" of the beam which have at least one point with a certain light intensity relationship. The row and column are compared with the established criteria to determine if the headlight is properly aimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating the edge of a headlamp and for centering a headlight aiming device with respect to a particular location on the headlamp includes an elongated hollow tube having first and second ends, the first end of which has an entrance opening designed to have light from the headlamp incident thereon. The entrance opening of the tube and the length of the tube provide an appropriate field of view such that the light incident upon the entrance opening of the tube travels down the tube and is incident upon a light detection device located at the far end of the tube. The light detection device is connected to signal amplifying circuitry which provides a digitally coded output signal indicative of the intensity of the light from the headlamp. The tube is moved vertically and horizontally from positions outside of the headlamp beam pattern to locations within the headlamp beam pattern and across the plane of the headlamp edge.

Abstract: A trailer light connection system includes a T-shaped connector having three terminals including a modularized tap plug as the third terminal for direct or indirect connection to the trailer lighting system. One of the conductors leading to the tap plug can be selectively disconnected from the first and second terminals and then reconnected to a ground receptacle on the vehicle to ground the trailer to the towing vehicle when the trailer does not have a back-up light system. By standardizing the system components and modularizing the tap plug connections, the trailer light system of the present invention reduces the number of stock keeping units required while simplifying system installation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming vehicle headlights and for visually displaying the illumination patterns of the headlights. A light beam is focused on a screen and the intensity of the light in each cell of a matrix of cells overlying the reflected light beam is sensed with an image sensor. An electrical signal is generated for each cell indicative of the intensity of the light beam in each cell. A computer compares at least some of the electrical signals to each other and with established criteria to determine whether the headlight is aimed within a prescribed degree of accuracy. The illumination pattern of a headlight is described by visually displaying at least some of the electrical signals i.e. the light intensities and their locations, on a display. The illumination pattern can be displayed as a series of isocandela lines, or can be displayed as a simulated headlight illumination pattern on a road surface.

Abstract: An ice/snow scraping apparatus and method characterized by an edge-illuminated, light transmitting scraping blade which provides illumination for the interior and scraping edge of a blade, thereby illuminating at least a portion of an area to be scraped from the blade illumination phenomena.

Abstract: An ice, snow, and any combination thereof scraping apparatus and method characterized by an edge-illuminated, light transmitting scraping blade which provides illumination for the interior and scraping edge of a blade, thereby illuminating at least a portion of an area to be scraped from the blade illumination phenomena.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp adjuster has an expandable plate with pads for contacting a roadway surface and then a vehicle headlamp. A level indicator has perpendicular, communicating spirit levels and is rotatable about an axis parallel to the plate, to set one spirit level when the pads contact the surface on which the vehicle rests, so that the other spirit level will indicate horizontal when the plate and pads are rotated 90.degree. and brought to bear on the vehicle headlamps.

Abstract: A molded ice scraper one piece body has independently flexible finger portions terminating in aligned scraping edges that are joined by webs a few thousandths of an inch thick. A continuous, but breakable, blade is thereby formed that will clean a streak-free swath on a windshield or similar surface. The slots separating the fingers are curved where they meet the scraper intermediate section, to eliminate stress concentration. The fingers have forward facing ice deflecting surfaces at an obtuse angle to the surface to be cleaned, extending from the scraper edge, and front facing ice chipping surfaces extending vertically upwardly from an intersection with the ice deflecting surfaces that is spaced back from the scraper edge.

Abstract: An ice and snow scraper adapted to be held in the hand of a user is disclosed. The scraper comprises a one-piece body having a hand-fitting handle section, a blade section, and an intermediate section. The blade section comprises a scraping surface and an oblique ice-deflecting surface. The intermediate section is curved so as to displace the blade section below the plane of the handle section. This scraper shape facilitates the application of force longitudinally of a surface to be scraped with the hand of the user remaining spaced from that surface while ice is deflected substantially away from the hand of the user and the blade is oriented at the optimum scraping angle.