Rear camera system for a vehicle with a trailer

• US 10,418,757 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kageta Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott Kageta
• Inventors: Kageta, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/853,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20180138644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding

Abstract

A vehicle plug for transmitting power and signals between a vehicle and a trailer includes a power conductor and one or more video signal conductors. The power conductor is configured to provide power to one or more electrical components of the trailer, the one or more electrical components of the trailer includes one or more video cameras. The one or more video signal conductors are configured to receive video signals from the one or more video cameras of the trailer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing signals between a vehicle and a trailer, comprising:

a first interface comprising a first conductor for coupling to a video system of the vehicle and to a set of second conductors associated with lights of the vehicle;

a second interface configured for removable connection to a trailer plug and comprising a set of third conductors for coupling to the trailer plug and a receptacle configured to receive a connection to a trailer camera at a fourth conductor, wherein the receptacle is disposed at a bottom of a periphery of the second interface and under at least one of the third conductors, wherein the set of third conductors are for coupling to the set of second conductors and the first conductor is for coupling to the fourth conductor, wherein the first interface and the second interface are a unitary piece for attachment at a hitch area of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises at least a seven pin interface and the receptacle, and wherein the set of third conductors are coupled to the set of second conductors and the first conductor is coupled to the fourth conductor within a single housing of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the seven pin interface is provided in a circular layout.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trailer plug is a cylindrical plug and the trailer plug is received in the second interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface engages a vehicle receptacle and includes a key disposed on a periphery of the first interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a slot is disposed on a periphery of the vehicle receptacle and receives the key.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is disposed below the set of third conductors within the second interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is disposed at a first side of the periphery of the second interface, wherein a key is disposed on a second side of a periphery of the first interface and engages a slot in a vehicle receptacle, wherein the first side is opposite the second side, and wherein the receptacle has at least a partial rectangular perimeter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is disposed at a first side of the periphery of the second interface, wherein a key is disposed on a second side of a periphery of the first interface and engages a slot in a vehicle receptacle, wherein the first side is on a bottom end and the second side is on a top end.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of second conductors comprise comprising a light conductor, a brake signal conductor, a ground conductor, a right turn conductor, a left turn conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a video enable signal (VES) circuit configured to detect connection to the trailer camera; and

a video control circuit configured to automatically select a video signal from the fourth conductor when the vehicle is in reverse and the trailer camera.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is rectangular.

13. A vehicle plug for transmitting signals between a vehicle and a trailer, comprising:

a power conductor configured to receive power from the vehicle, wherein the received power is used at least in part on one or more video cameras of the trailer;

one or more video signal conductors configured to transmit video signals from the one or more video cameras of the trailer to the vehicle through the vehicle plug of the vehicle,

a first interface comprising the one or more video signal conductors and a set of second conductors associated with lights of the vehicle; and

a second interface configured for removable connection to a trailer plug and comprising a set of third conductors for coupling to the trailer plug and a receptacle configured to receive a connection to a trailer camera at a fourth conductor, wherein the receptacle is disposed at a bottom of a periphery of the second interface and under at least one of the third conductors, wherein the set of third conductors are for coupling to the set of second conductors and the one or more video signal conductors is for coupling to the fourth conductor, wherein the first interface and the second interface are a unitary piece for attachment at a hitch area of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle plug of claim 13, wherein the second conductors are disposed about a circumference and comprise six conductors and the receptacle is outside the periphery of the six conductors.

15. The vehicle plug of claim 14, wherein the vehicle plug is disposed below a bumper of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle plug of claim 14, the set of the second conductors comprise a light conductor, a brake signal conductor, a ground conductor, a right turn conductor, a left turn conductor and an auxiliary conductor.

17. A method of transmitting signals between a vehicle and a trailer, comprising:

creating an electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer and a trailer plug attached to the trailer using a first interface and a second interface, the first interface comprises a first conductor for coupling to a video system of the vehicle and a set of second conductors associated with lights of the vehicle, and the second interface is configured for removable connection to the trailer plug and comprises a set of third conductors for coupling to the trailer plug and a receptacle configured to receive a connection to a trailer camera at a fourth conductor, wherein the receptacle is disposed at a bottom of a periphery of the second interface and under at least one of the third conductors, wherein the set of third conductors are coupled to the set of second conductors and the first conductor is coupled to the fourth conductor, wherein the first interface and the second interface are a unitary piece attached to an external rear portion of the vehicle;

receiving a video signal through the electrical connection, wherein the video signal is provided by one or more video cameras; and

providing trailer light signals to the trailer through the electrical connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical connection between the vehicle plug and the trailer plug are connected external to the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein creating the electrical connection comprises using an adapter, and wherein the set of the second conductors comprise a power conductor, a light conductor, a brake signal conductor, a ground conductor, a right turn conductor, a left turn conductor and an auxiliary conductor.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining a transmission of the vehicle is in reverse;

providing an image associated with the video signal to a display at least in part in response to determining the transmission of the vehicle is in reverse.