System and method of inputting an intended backing path

• US 9,500,497 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael, Shutko, John, Trombley, Roger Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US14/460,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/55 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 : Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/22 : Articulation angle, e.g. between tractor and trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 : Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 : Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 : Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18036 : Reversing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 : for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 : Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 : by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 : Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 : for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 : for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 : Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 : Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 : Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A path input system is provided. The path input system includes at least one imaging device for generating image data. A GPS device is included for generating satellite image data. A controller generates an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on the image data and the satellite data. A display is included for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A path input system comprising:

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle; and

a display having a touch screen for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that traces an intended backing path for the vehicle and the trailer, wherein unobstructed portions and obstructed portions of the intended backing path are displayed in different colors, and wherein the touch event further comprises dragging an obstructed portion of the intended backing path to modify a path curvature of the intended backing path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether an unacceptable path condition is present and generate a warning indicating the presence of the unacceptable path condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the unacceptable path condition comprises one of a traced portion of the intended backing path resulting in a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer exceeding a maximum hitch angle and one or more obstacles blocking a traced portion of the intended backing path.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a path curvature of the intended backing path to avoid an unacceptable path condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate one or more possible backing paths that are displayed alongside the intended backing path.

6. A path input system comprising:

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer; and

a display for displaying the aerial view on a touch screen configured to register a first touch event thereon that traces an intended backing path for the vehicle and the trailer and a second touch event thereon that modifies the intended backing path by dragging an obstructed portion of the intended backing path.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether an unacceptable path condition is present and generate a warning indicating the presence of the unacceptable path condition.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the unacceptable path condition comprises one of a traced portion of the intended backing path resulting in a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer exceeding a maximum hitch angle and one or more obstacles blocking a traced portion of the intended backing path.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a path curvature of the intended backing path to avoid an unacceptable path condition.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to generate one or more possible backing paths that are displayed alongside the intended backing path.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to save the intended backing path for later use.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the obstructed portion of the intended backing path is displayed in a color that is visually distinguishable from a color used to display an unobstructed portion of the intended backing path.

13. A path input system comprising:

a controller for generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer; and

a display for displaying the aerial view on a touch screen configured to register a touch event thereon that traces an intended backing path for the vehicle and the trailer, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether an unacceptable path condition is present and generate a warning indicating the presence of the unacceptable path condition, and wherein the touch screen is further configured to register a touch event thereon that drags an obstructed portion of the intended backing path to modify a path curvature of the intended backing path.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the obstructed portion of the intended backing path is displayed in a color that is visually distinguishable from a color used to display an unobstructed portion of the intended backing path.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the unacceptable path condition comprises one of a traced portion of the intended backing path resulting in a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer exceeding a maximum hitch angle and one or more obstacles blocking a traced portion of the intended backing path.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust a path curvature of the intended backing path to avoid an unacceptable path condition.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to generate one or more possible backing paths that are displayed alongside the intended backing path.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to save the intended backing path for later use.