METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE TRAILER POSE

• US 20180056868A1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: NASERIAN, MOHAMMAD, ZENG, SHUQING, SIM, JAY H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,391,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates

Abstract

A system and method to determine trailer pose includes imaging first and second telltales affixed to a trailer to provide trailer image data. A controller is operable to determine trailer pose from the trailer image data. The trailer pose information may be provided to one or more controllers of a vehicle towing the trailer.

Claims

1. A system to determine trailer pose comprising:

first and second telltales affixable to a trailer;

an imaging system operable to detect the first and second telltales and to indicate at least one geometric relationship between the telltales and the imaging system and to provide trailer image date; and

a controller coupled to the imaging system to receive the trailer image data, the controller being operable to determine from the trailer image data the trailer pose.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to determine the trailer pose in real time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled to at least one additional controller, and the controller is operable to provide the trailer pose to the additional controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the telltales include an identifiable image or shape.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the telltales have a unique identifiable color.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third telltale affixable to the trailer, and the imaging system is operable to detect the third telltale.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises a camera.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a vehicle arranged to tow the trailer, and wherein the imaging system and the controller are disposed on or within the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second telltales are affixed on the trailer to indicate a width of the trailer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to determine the trailer pose in real time and to provide the trailer pose to a controller of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third telltale affixed to the trailer to indicate a length of the trailer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the imaging system comprises a first camera associated with the vehicle and arranged to detect the first and second telltales, and a second camera associated with the vehicle and arranged to detect the third telltale.

13. The system of claim 8, the telltales being provided as a kit.

14. A method to determine trailer pose comprising:

imaging first and second telltales affixed to a trailer to provide trailer image data; and

determining from the trailer image data the trailer pose.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising determining the trailer pose in real time.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising communicating the trailer pose to at least one additional controller.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the telltales include an identifiable image or shape, and imaging comprises identifying the unique image or shape.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the telltales include an identifiable color, and imaging comprises identifying the color.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising imaging a third telltale affixed to the trailer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein imaging comprises optically imaging.