Vehicle Hitch Assistance System

• US 20160052548A1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: SINGH, Harpreet, WARD, Damian, BRADLEY, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/784,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• 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 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0265 Automatic obstacle avoidance by steering
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for aligning a tow hitch (5) mounted to a vehicle (3) with a trailer coupling (7) mounted to a trailer (9). An imaging system (11, 13, 15) is provided to generate image data for analysis by a processor (37) to identify first and second feature sets (35, 39) associated with the trailer (9). The processor generates a guidance signal for steering the vehicle (3) at least substantially to align the tow hitch (5) with the trailer coupling (7). When the distance between the vehicle (3) and the trailer (9) is greater than a predefined threshold, the position of the trailer coupling (7) relative to the tow hitch (5) is determined in dependence on said first feature set (35). When the distance between the vehicle (3) and the trailer (9) is less than said predefined threshold, the position of the trailer coupling (7) relative to the tow hitch (5) is determined in dependence on said second feature set (39). Aspects of the invention also relate to a processor (37); a vehicle (3); and a method of aligning a tow hitch (5) with a trailer coupling (7).

Claims

1. A system for aligning a tow hitch mounted to a vehicle with a trailer coupling mounted to a trailer, the system comprising:

an imaging system disposed on the vehicle for generating image data; and

a processor configured to analyze said image data to identify first and second feature sets associated with said trailer, and to generate a steering guidance signal for steering the vehicle at least substantially to align the tow hitch with the trailer coupling;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a position of the trailer coupling relative to the tow hitch in dependence on said first feature set when a distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than a predefined threshold, and to determine the position of the trailer coupling relative to the tow hitch in dependence on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position of the trailer coupling relative to the tow hitch in dependence on both said first feature set and said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging system is configured to focus on said first feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than said predefined threshold and/or to focus on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first feature set comprises one or more targets mounted to the trailer and/or a profile of the trailer and/or wherein said second feature set comprises a trailer coupling frame to which the trailer coupling is mounted and/or the trailer coupling.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate image correction data based on said first feature set and to apply said image correction data to the image data to identify said second feature set.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze said image data to identify obstructions proximal to said vehicle and/or said trailer, and wherein the processor is configured to modify said steering guidance signal to avoid any obstructions identified in said image data.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze said image data to determine if there is sufficient space available to maneuver the vehicle to align the tow hitch with the trailer coupling.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the image data to determine a height of the trailer coupling, and to output a suspension height change signal to lower the tow hitch below the height of the trailer coupling.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to output said steering guidance signal to a human machine interface (HMI) for display on a screen and/or to an electronic power assisted steering (EPAS) system to control a steering angle of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle incorporating the system as claimed in claim 1.

11. A method of aligning a tow hitch mounted to a vehicle with a trailer coupling mounted to a trailer, the method comprising:

receiving image data from an imaging system disposed on the vehicle;

analyzing said image data to identify first and second feature sets associated with said trailer; and

generating a steering guidance signal for steering the vehicle at least substantially to align the tow hitch with the trailer coupling;

wherein the image data is analyzed to determine a position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said first feature set when a distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than a predefined threshold, and to determine the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising focusing on said first feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than said predefined threshold, and/or focusing on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first feature set comprises one or more targets mounted to the trailer and/or a profile of the trailer, and/or wherein said second feature set comprises a trailer coupling frame to which the trailer coupling is mounted and/or the trailer coupling.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising;

generating image correction data based on said first feature set; and

applying said image correction data to the image data to identify said second feature set.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising determining the position of the trailer coupling relative to the tow hitch in dependence on both said first feature set and said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

16. A processor programmed to:

receive image data from an imaging system disposed on a vehicle;

analyze said image data to identify first and second feature sets associated with said trailer; and

generate a steering guidance signal for steering the vehicle at least substantially to align the tow hitch with the trailer coupling;

wherein the image data is analysed to determine a position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said first feature set when a distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than a predefined threshold and to determine the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.

17. (canceled)

18. A computer program product for aligning a tow hitch mounted to a vehicle with a trailer coupling mounted to a trailer, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving image data from an imaging system disposed on the vehicle;

analyzing said image data to identify first and second feature sets associated with said trailer; and

generating a steering guidance signal for steering the vehicle at least substantially to align the tow hitch with the trailer coupling;

wherein the image data is analyzed to determine a position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said first feature set when a distance between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than a predefined threshold, and to determine the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle in dependence on said second feature set when the distance between the vehicle and the trailer is less than said predefined threshold.