Method and apparatus for detecting a status of an electrical connection with an object

• US 9,840,119 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Melaragni, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/251,735
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 340431, 340438, 3406822, 3406826, 340687, 2804551, 280477, 701 1, 701 36, 701 41
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting an object behind a vehicle are provided. The method includes determining a status of an electrical connection between an object and the vehicle; detecting a forward movement of the vehicle; based on the status of the electrical connection and the detecting of the forward movement, detecting the object behind the vehicle; and controlling to output a notification that alerts of the status of the electrical connection. The method and apparatus may be used to alert an operator when the trailer is electrically disconnected from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a status of an electrical connection with an object behind a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining the status of the electrical connection between the object and the vehicle;

detecting a forward movement of the vehicle;

based on the status of the electrical connection and the detecting of the forward movement, detecting the object behind the vehicle; and

controlling to output a notification that alerts of the status of the electrical connection,

wherein the determining the status of the electrical connection comprises;

retrieving a predetermined calibration value based on a measured baseline current of the electrical connection between the vehicle and the object;

comparing an electrical signal of the object to the predetermined calibration value; and

determining that the electrical signal of the object and the predetermined calibration value differ by a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the status of the electrical connection comprises determining that the vehicle is electrically disconnected from the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a trailer attached to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the object behind the vehicle comprises detecting that the object is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle during the forward movement of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting the object behind the vehicle comprises controlling to generate an ultrasonic frequency wave and detecting an echo of the ultrasonic frequency wave to determine whether the object is within the predetermined distance of the vehicle during the forward movement of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting the object behind the vehicle comprises determining whether an electromagnetic signal indicates that the object is within the predetermined distance of the vehicle during the forward movement of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the object behind the vehicle comprises determining whether a static portion of an image from a rear facing camera of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold portion of the image during the forward movement of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the forward movement of vehicle comprises determining whether a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold speed.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

10. An apparatus for detecting a status of an electrical connection with a second object behind a first object, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing the at least one processor to;

determine the status of the electrical connection between the first object and the second object;

detect a forward movement of the first object;

based on the status of the electrical connection and the detecting of the forward movement, detect a second object behind the first object; and

control to output a notification alerting of the status of the electrical connection,

wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to determine the status of the electrical connection between the first object and the second object by;

retrieving a predetermined calibration value based on a measured baseline current of the electrical connection between the first object and the second object;

comparing an electrical signal of the second object to the predetermined calibration value; and

determining that the predetermined calibration value and the electrical signal differ by a predetermined threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to determine the status of the electrical connection between the first object and the second object by:

determining that the status of the electrical connection indicates the second object is electrically disconnected from the first object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first object comprises a vehicle and the second object comprises a trailer attached to the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to detect the second object behind the first object by detecting that the second object is within a predetermined distance of the first object during the forward movement of the first object.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to detect the second object behind the first object by controlling to generate an ultrasonic frequency wave and detect an echo of the ultrasonic frequency wave to determine whether the second object is within the predetermined distance of the first object during the forward movement of the first object.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to detect the second object behind the first object by determining whether an electromagnetic signal indicates that the second object is within the predetermined distance of the first object during the forward movement of the first object.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to detect the second object behind the first object by determining whether a static portion of an image from a rear facing camera of the first object is greater than a predetermined threshold portion of the image during the forward movement of the first object.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to detect the forward movement of the first object by determining whether a speed of the first object is greater than a predetermined threshold speed.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for detecting a status of an electrical connection with a trailer behind a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting that the trailer is electrically disconnected from the vehicle by using a first detection method;

detecting a forward movement of the vehicle;

based on the detecting that the trailer is electrically disconnected from the vehicle using the first detection method and the detecting the forward movement of the vehicle, determining whether the trailer is present behind the vehicle using a second detection method; and

in response to determining that the trailer is present behind the vehicle using the second detection method, controlling to output a notification alerting that the trailer is electrically disconnected.