Trailer tracking apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A trailer tracking apparatus for monitoring movement of a trailer connected to a vehicle, the trailer tracking apparatus comprising:
- a controller comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving image data from an imaging sensor disposed on the vehicle; and
an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein;
wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to;
select a subset of the image data;
detect and monitor one or more elements within the selected subset of the image data;
characterize each of the one or more detected elements as a persistent element or a transient element; and
determine movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on evolution of the one or more detected persistent elements with respect to time;
wherein the electronic processor is configured automatically to redefine the selected subset of the image data to include image data representing one or more persistent elements of said image data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a trailer tracking apparatus (2) for monitoring movement of a trailer (3) connected to a vehicle (1). The trailer tracking apparatus (2) has a controller (5) comprising an electronic processor (6) having an electrical input for receiving image data (DAT) from an imaging sensor (10) disposed on the vehicle (1). An electronic memory device (7) having instructions stored therein is electrically coupled to the electronic processor (6). The electronic processor (6) is configured to access the memory device (7) and to execute the instructions stored therein. The electronic processor (6) is operable to select a subset of said image data (DATSUB1). One or more element (16) are detected and monitored within the selected subset (DATSUB1) of said image data (DAT). The electronic processor (6) determines movement of the trailer (3) relative to the vehicle (1) in dependence on evolution of said one or more detected element (16) with respect to time. The present disclosure also relates to a method of tracking a trailer (3); and to a vehicle (1) incorporating the trailer tracking apparatus (2).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A trailer tracking apparatus for monitoring movement of a trailer connected to a vehicle, the trailer tracking apparatus comprising:
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a controller comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving image data from an imaging sensor disposed on the vehicle; and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to; select a subset of the image data; detect and monitor one or more elements within the selected subset of the image data; characterize each of the one or more detected elements as a persistent element or a transient element; and determine movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on evolution of the one or more detected persistent elements with respect to time; wherein the electronic processor is configured automatically to redefine the selected subset of the image data to include image data representing one or more persistent elements of said image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A trailer tracking apparatus for monitoring movement of a trailer connected to a vehicle, the trailer tracking apparatus comprising:
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a controller comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving image data from an imaging sensor disposed on the vehicle; and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to; detect one or more elements within the image data; monitor the one or more elements and characterize each of the one or more elements identifiable within the image data for a time period longer than a predetermined time threshold as a persistent element and characterize each of the one or more elements identifiable within the image data for a time period less than the predetermined time threshold as a transient element; and determine movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on evolution of each persistent element with respect to time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. The trailer tracking apparatus as claimed in 34, wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive a user input to select the subset of the image data.
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13. A method of monitoring movement of a trailer connected to a vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving image data from an imaging sensor; detecting one or more elements within the image data; characterizing each of the one or more elements identifiable within the image data for a time period longer than a predetermined time threshold as a persistent element and characterizing each of the one or more elements identifiable within the image data for a time period less than the predetermined time threshold as a transient element; and determining movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on evolution of each persistent element with respect to time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. The method as claimed in 26, further comprising selecting the subset of the image data in dependence on a user input.
Specification