TRAILER HITCHING AID SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
- a camera mounted at a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system and having a field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, the equipped vehicle having a hitching ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer;
wherein the field of view of said camera encompasses the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle;
a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the equipped vehicle;
said plurality of distance measuring sensors at least comprising a first distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a first location and a second distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a second location;
wherein said second location is spaced from said first location;
a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;
a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said plurality of distance measuring sensors;
wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images captured by said camera as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle approaching the hitching receiver of the trailer; and
wherein, during the tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle having a hitching ball for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer includes a camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view that encompasses the hitching ball of the vehicle. The system also includes a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the vehicle. A display screen is disposed in the vehicle and is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. A control receives input from the camera and input from the distance measuring sensors. During a tow hitching maneuver, the display screen displays video images captured by the camera, and at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
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a camera mounted at a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system and having a field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, the equipped vehicle having a hitching ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer; wherein the field of view of said camera encompasses the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle; a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the equipped vehicle; said plurality of distance measuring sensors at least comprising a first distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a first location and a second distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a second location; wherein said second location is spaced from said first location; a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said plurality of distance measuring sensors; wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images captured by said camera as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle approaching the hitching receiver of the trailer; and wherein, during the tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
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a camera mounted at a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system and having a field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, the equipped vehicle having a hitching ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer; wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imager having a two dimensional imaging array of photosensing pixels; wherein the field of view of said camera encompasses the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle; a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the equipped vehicle; said plurality of distance measuring sensors at least comprising a first distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a first location and a second distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a second location; wherein said second location is spaced from said first location; a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein said display screen is located in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle at an instrument panel or fascia portion; a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said plurality of distance measuring sensors; wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images captured by said camera as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle approaching the hitching receiver of the trailer; and wherein, during the tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
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a camera mounted at a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system and having a field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, the equipped vehicle having a hitching ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a hitching receiver of a trailer; wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imager having a two dimensional imaging array of photosensing pixels; wherein the field of view of said camera encompasses the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle; a plurality of distance measuring sensors disposed at the equipped vehicle; said plurality of distance measuring sensors at least comprising a first distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a first location and a second distance measuring sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle at a second location; wherein at least one of said first and second distance measuring sensors comprises an ultrasonic sensor; wherein said second location is spaced from said first location; a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said plurality of distance measuring sensors; wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images captured by said camera as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle approaching the hitching receiver of the trailer; and wherein, during the tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, at least one graphic overlay is superimposed over the displayed video images to assist the driver during the tow hitching maneuver to connect the hitching ball of the equipped vehicle with the hitching receiver of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification