SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INPUTTING AN INTENDED BACKING PATH

• US 20140358424A1
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• 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, Shutko, John, Trombley, Roger Arnold
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/428
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• 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 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 30/06 : Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18036 : Reversing
• 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: B62D 15/027 : Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 : by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 : Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 : for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 : for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 : Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 : Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 : Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A path input system is provided. The path input system includes at least one imaging device for generating image data. A GPS device is included for generating satellite image data. A controller generates an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on the image data and the satellite data. A display is included for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A path input system comprising:

at least one imaging device for generating image data;

a GPS device for generating satellite image data;

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on the image data and the satellite data; and

a display for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of imaging devices, each disposed on at least one of the vehicle and the trailer and each configured to generate image data of an operating environment surrounding the vehicle and the trailer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the intended path is one of a backing path and a pull out path

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the intended path is stored in the GPS device and is accessible for future use.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch event comprises tracing the intended path.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the touch event further comprises dragging a traced portion of the intended path to modify a path curvature of the intended path.

7. A path input system comprising:

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer amidst an operating environment; and

a display for displaying the aerial view on a touch screen configured to register a first touch event that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer and a second touch event that modifies the intended path.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising at least one imaging device for generating image data that is processed by the controller.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one imaging device is disposed on at least one of the vehicle and the trailer and is configured to image objects present in the operating environment.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a GPS device for generating satellite image data that is processed by the controller, wherein the satellite image data relates to a position and a location of the vehicle and the trailer.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the intended path is one of a backing path and a pull out path.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first touch event comprises tracing the intended path.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second touch event comprises dragging a traced portion of the intended path to modify a path curvature of the intended path.

14. A path input system comprising:

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer; and

a display for displaying the aerial view on a touch screen configured to register a first touch event that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen is further configured to register a second touch event that inputs a modification of the intended path.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first touch event comprises tracing the intended path.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second touch event comprises dragging a traced portion of the intended path to modify a path curvature of the intended path.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller generates the aerial view based on at least one of an image data and a satellite image data.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one imaging device disposed on at least one of the vehicle and the trailer for generating the image data.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a GPS device for generating the satellite image data.