Tailgate position detection

• US 9,199,576 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NESLEY, TIMOTHY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/974,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence

Abstract

A system includes a camera module disposed on a vehicle. The camera module records an image and generates an image signal representing the image. The system further includes a processing device that receives the image signal generated by the camera module and determines whether a vehicle tailgate is open based on the image. A method includes receiving an image signal representing an image captured from a vehicle, processing the image signal, and determining whether a vehicle tailgate is open based on the image.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a camera module disposed on a vehicle and configured to record an image and generate an image signal representing the image;

a processing device programmed to receive the image signal generated by the camera module and determine whether a vehicle tailgate is open based on the image recorded by the camera, wherein the processing device is programmed to identify a first zone and a second zone in the image and determine whether the vehicle tailgate is open based on the first zone and the second zone comparison recorded by the camera module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to determine that the vehicle tailgate is open if the first zone shows a road surface beneath the tailgate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to determine that the vehicle tailgate is open if the first zone and the second zone are changing at a substantially similar rate while the vehicle is moving.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to determine that the vehicle tailgate is open based on whether the image includes a license plate of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to determine whether the vehicle tailgate is open based on changes to the image after rear vehicle lamps are turned on.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to present the image to a vehicle operator via a display device and prompt the vehicle operator to confirm whether the vehicle tailgate is open.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to identify a location where the vehicle tailgate opened and display, via a display device, a path from a present location to the location where the vehicle tailgate opened.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to monitor a vehicle incline and compare the vehicle incline to a predetermined threshold and display, via a display device, a location where the vehicle incline exceeded the predetermined threshold while the vehicle tailgate is open.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an image signal representing an image captured from a vehicle;

processing the image signal;

determining, via a processing device, whether a vehicle tailgate is open based on the image;

identifying a first zone and a second zone in the image;

comparing the first zone to the second zone; and

notifying a vehicle occupant if the processing device determines, based on the first zone and the second zone in the image, that the vehicle tailgate is open.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle tailgate is determined to be open if the first zone shows a road surface below the tailgate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle tailgate is determined to be open if the first zone and the second zone are changing at a substantially similar rate while the vehicle is moving.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle tailgate is determined to be open based on changes to the image after rear vehicle lamps are turned on.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting the image to a vehicle operator via a display device; and

prompting the vehicle operator to confirm whether the vehicle tailgate is open.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying a location where the vehicle tailgate opened; and

displaying, via a display device, a path from a present location to the location where the vehicle tailgate opened.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring a vehicle incline; and

comparing the vehicle incline to a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying, via a display device, a location where the vehicle incline exceeded the predetermined threshold while the vehicle tailgate is open.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to execute operations comprising:

receiving an image signal representing an image captured from a vehicle;

processing the image signal;

determining whether a vehicle tailgate is open based on the image

identifying a first zone and a second zone in the image;

compare the first zone to the second zone; and

generating a notification to a vehicle occupant if the processor device determines, based on the first zone and the second zone in the image, that the vehicle tailgate is open; and

generating a notification to a vehicle occupant if the processor determines, based on the image, that the vehicle tailgate is open.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the tailgate is determined to be open if the first zone is substantially similar to the second zone, if the first zone and the second zone are changing at a substantially similar rate while the vehicle is moving, or based on changes to the image after rear vehicle lamps are turned on.