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GUIDED TOW HITCH CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

  • US 20170151846A1
  • Filed: 12/01/2015
  • Published: 06/01/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for providing guided control of a hitching operation between a tow vehicle having a first hitch device and a trailer having a second hitch device engageable with the first hitch device, the method comprising:

  • collecting dynamic pixel images of the first and second hitch devices using a camera connected to the tow vehicle;

    determining a position of the second hitch device relative to the first hitch device via a controller using raw position data signals received from a local positioning device operable to transmit the raw position data signals;

    displaying a first graphical overlay to the collected dynamic pixel images of the second hitch device on a display screen, via the controller, wherein the first graphical overlay depicts a path to attach the first hitch device of the tow vehicle to the second hitch device of the trailer and a trajectory line between the first and second hitch devices;

    calculating, via the controller, a distance between a calibrated position of the first hitch device and the determined position of the second hitch device;

    automatically increasing a zoom level of the camera and displaying a second graphical overlay to the collected dynamic pixel images at the increased zoom level, via the controller using the display screen, when the calculated distance is less than a calibrated distance, wherein the second graphical overlay includes indicia of the respective positions of the first and second hitch devices; and

    executing a control action via the controller when the second graphical overlay indicates substantial overlap of the indicia of the respective positions indicating that the first and second hitch devices are aligned to complete the hitching operation, the control action including activating at least one of an audio and a visual indicator signaling the substantial overlap.

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