TRAILER TARGET PLACEMENT ASSIST SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140058668A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Trombley, Roger Arnold, Nave, Christopher Scott, Pilutti, Thomas Edward, Shutko, John, Elwart, Shane, Mayer, Kenneth Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/523
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle trailer backup assist system and method includes a hitch angle detection apparatus and a target monitor controller. The target monitor controller processes images acquired of the trailer towed by a towing vehicle to assist with placement of a target on the trailer. The target monitor controller also monitors the target and provides feedback to the user as to proper positioning of the target on the trailer. A target move detection routine detects movement of a target by processing the pixels of the image to determine if a new trailer has been connected. Further, a trailer connection monitoring routine monitors for a changed trailer based on loss of the hitch angle or target for a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method of assisting placement of a target on a trailer comprising:

generating an image of a trailer with a camera on a towing vehicle;

processing the image to determine a target placement zone;

generating a target overlay on the image indicative of the target placement zone; and

displaying the image and target overlay on a display for presentation to a user to assist with placement of the target on the trailer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is portable.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting the image and target overlay to a portable device comprising the display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of transmitting the image and target overlay to a portable device comprises transmitting the image and target overlay via a wireless communication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the portable display comprises a portable phone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the image comprises generating the image with a camera mounted on a rear side of the towing vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the image comprises generating a plurality of images with a video camera, wherein the plurality of video images are processed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed for use on a trailer backup assist system for assisting with backing up the trailer connected to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the target is employed for hitch angle detection.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of generating instructions for a user to place the target on the trailer and transmitting the instructions to a portable device.

11. A trailer target placement assist system comprising:

a camera mounted on a towing vehicle and arranged to generate an image of a trailer;

an image processor for processing the image to determine a target placement zone and generate a target overlay on the image indicative of the target placement zone;

a display for displaying the image and target overlay to assist with placement of the target on the trailer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the display is portable.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the image and the target overlay to a portable device comprising the display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting the image and target overlay via a wireless communication.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable device is a portable phone.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the camera is mounted on a rear side of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the camera comprises a video camera generating a plurality of video images.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the trailer target placement assist system is employed for use on a trailer backup assist system for assisting with backing up the trailer connected to the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the target is employed for hitch angle detection.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the display displays instructions for a user to place the target on the trailer.