Rear camera system for a vehicle with a trailer

• US 9,154,746 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kageta Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott Kageta
• Inventors: Kageta, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/554,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding

Abstract

An apparatus including a video control circuit is configured to receive a first video signal from a first camera and a second vide signal from a second camera. The video control circuit is configured to provide the first video signal or the second video signal in response to a control signal. The control signal is indicative of whether a trailer plug is connected to a vehicle plug.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a video control circuit configured to receive a first video signal from a first camera and a second video signal from a second camera, wherein the video control circuit is configured to provide the first video signal or the second video signal in response to a control signal, wherein the control signal is indicative of whether a trailer plug is connected to a vehicle plug, wherein the video control circuit comprises a sense circuit configured to generate the control signal, the sense circuit being configured to determine the trailer plug is connected by monitoring power provided to the second camera.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the video control circuit provides both the first video signal and the second video signal in response to the control signal, wherein the second video signal is shown in a picture-in-picture relationship with the first video signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sense circuit provides the control signal in response to current on a power conductor associated with the vehicle plug.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the video control circuit receives a reverse signal indicative of whether a vehicle is in a reverse gear and provides the first video signal or the second video signal to a vehicle display in response the reverse signal and the control signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a trailer enable signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first camera is a vehicle camera and the second camera is a rear trailer camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first camera is a vehicle camera and the second camera is a rear trailer camera, wherein the second video signal is provided from the trailer plug to the vehicle plug.

8. A method of using a trailer camera with a vehicle including a reverse camera and a display, the method comprising:

receiving at least one of a first video signal from the reverse camera and a second video signal from a trailer camera;

providing the first video signal to the display when the vehicle is in reverse and a sense signal is not present; and

providing the second video signal to the display when the vehicle is in reverse and the sense signal is present, wherein the sense signal is provided by a sense circuit configured to monitor power associated with the trailer camera through a trailer plug associated with the trailer camera.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second video signal is provided via the trailer plug and a vehicle plug.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle plug includes a power conductor and the sense circuit is configured to monitor the power on the power conductor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the method is performed by a control module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control module includes a video multiplexer.

13. A video control module for a vehicle, the vehicle being capable of use with a trailer, the vehicle having a backup camera and a display and the trailer having a trailer camera, the video control module comprising:

a first input for receiving a first video signal from the backup camera;

a second input for receiving a second video signal from the trailer camera; and

a control input for receiving a video signal enable signal on a video signal enable conductor, and

a control circuit for providing the second video signal to the display in response at least in part to the video signal enable signal, wherein the video signal enable signal is provided by a sense circuit configured to sense power usage by the trailer camera through a trailer plug.

14. The module of claim 13, further comprising a third input for receiving a reverse signal, the reverse signal indicating that a transmission of the vehicle is in reverse.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein the control circuit does not provide the second video signal to the display when the reverse signal is not present.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein the second video signal is provided across a vehicle plug and the trailer plug.

17. The module of claim 16, wherein the trailer plug includes conductors for a brake signal and turn signals.

18. The module of claim 16, wherein the trailer plug is an eight pin plug comprising a power conductor for the trailer camera.

19. The module of claim 18, wherein the sense circuit monitors a power signal provided on the power conductor.

20. The module of claim 16, wherein the display is an in dashboard display.