System for determining hitch angle

• US 9,683,848 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• 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: Kyrtsos, Christos, Lavoie, Erick Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US14/459,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 701 41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• 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: 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: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• 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 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 : for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1656 : with passive imaging devices, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system for determining a hitch angle between a vehicle and trailer is provided. The system includes an imaging device disposed on the trailer. A first navigation system is disposed on-board the vehicle. A second navigation system is integrated with the imaging device. A controller determines the hitch angle based on data received from the first navigation system and the second navigation system.

Claims

1. A system for determining a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer, comprising:

a first GPS receiver disposed on-board the vehicle;

a portable electronic device having a second GPS receiver and disposed on-board the trailer; and

a controller for determining a hitch angle based on data received from the first and second GPS receivers and comprising a hitch angle detection module configured to alternate between receiving data from the first and second GPS receivers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is coupled to a rear structure of the trailer and is disposed to capture image data rearward of the trailer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one of a smart phone and a tablet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first GPS receiver is operable to determine a vehicle position and the second GPS receiver is operable to determine a trailer position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller calculates the hitch angle by comparing the vehicle position to the trailer position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitch angle detection module comprises a Kalman filter for extrapolating a vehicle position and a trailer position from the data and subsequently computing the hitch angle based on the extrapolated vehicle position and the extrapolated trailer position.