HITCH ANGLE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140324295A1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• 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: Lavoie, Erick Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/22 Articulation angle, e.g. between tractor and trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/00 Estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub unit, e.g. by using mathematical models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A hitch angle monitoring system and method are provided. A display shows an imaged scene of a hitch connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer. A processor is configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene, wherein the overlay indicates a hitch angle position limit. A hitch angle position indicator is shown on the display and visually relates a current hitch angle position to the hitch angle position limit.

Claims

1. A hitch angle monitoring system comprising:

a display for showing an imaged scene of a hitch connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer;

a processor configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene, wherein the overlay indicates a hitch angle position limit; and

a hitch angle position indicator that is shown on the display and visually relates a hitch angle position to the hitch angle position limit.

2. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

3. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the hitch angle position indicator is one of an imaged object visible in the imaged scene and a virtual object that is overlaid on the imaged scene.

4. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the hitch angle position indicator coincides with the centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer and is positioned closer towards the hitch angle position limit when a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer increases.

5. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

6. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a warning signal when the current hitch angle position nears, reaches, and/or exceeds the hitch angle position limit.

7. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to superimpose a virtual steering input apparatus on the imaged scene that mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.

8. A hitch angle monitoring system comprising:

a display for showing an imaged scene;

a processor configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene that indicates a hitch angle position limit between a tow vehicle and a trailer; and

a hitch angle position indicator that is shown on the display and moves in relation to the hitch angle position limit based on a change in hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

9. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

10. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the hitch angle position indicator moves within the overlay based on changes in a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a virtual steering input apparatus that is superimposed on the imaged scene and mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.

11. The system of 10, wherein the hitch angle position indicator moves by way of angular displacement and coincides in position with a centerline axis of the trailer while being displaced.

12. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

13. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

15. A hitch angle monitoring method comprising the steps of:

imaging a rear vehicle scene;

displaying the imaged scene;

superimposing an overlay on the imaged scene that identifies a hitch angle position limit between a tow vehicle and a trailer; and

displaying a hitch angle position indicator that identifies a current hitch angle position in relation to the hitch angle limit position.

16. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 15, wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

17. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 16, wherein the hitch angle position indicator coincides with the centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer and is positioned closer towards the hitch angle position limit when a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer increases.

18. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 17, wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

19. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 18, further comprising the step of generating a warning signal when the current hitch angle position nears, reaches, and/or exceeds the hitch angle position limit.

20. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 19, further comprising the step of generating a virtual steering input apparatus that is overlaid on the imaged scene and mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.