Target monitoring system and method

• US 10,196,088 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US14/571,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• 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: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• 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 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A target monitoring system and method are provided herein. An imager is configured to image a scene rearward of a vehicle and containing a target disposed on a trailer attached to the vehicle. A controller is configured to receive images from the imager, modify each image to increase the size of the imaged target, and analyze the modified images to determine at least one trailer related information.

Claims

1. A target monitoring system comprising:

an imager configured to capture an image of a target on a trailer; and

a controller configured to;

identify the target in the image;

determine if a pixel size of the target meets a minimum pixel threshold selected to facilitate identification of the target;

wherein if the pixel size of the target fails to meet the minimum pixel threshold, modify the image to increase a pixel size of the target relative to a total pixel size of the image;

compress the modified image from the first resolution to a second resolution; and

analyze the compressed modified image to determine at least one trailer related information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modifies the image by cropping the image about the target.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to center the target in the modified image.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one trailer related information comprises at least one of a hitch angle and a change in hitch angle.

6. The system of claim 1, for use in a trailer backup assist system.

7. A target monitoring method comprising the steps of:

capturing an image of a target on a trailer;

processing the image to identify the target;

determining if a pixel size of the target meets a minimum pixel threshold selected to facilitate identification of the target, and if not, modifying the image to increase the pixel size of the target relative to the image;

compressing the modified image from a first resolution to a second resolution; and

analyzing the compressed modified image to determine at least one trailer related information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of modifying comprises cropping the image about the imaged target.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of centering the target in the modified image.

10. The method claim 7, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one trailer related information comprises at least one of a hitch angle and a change in hitch angle.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of utilizing the method in conjunction with a trailer backup assist system to aid an operator of a vehicle in performing a trailer backing maneuver.

13. A target monitoring system comprising:

an imager capturing an image of a target on a trailer; and

a controller;

identifying the target in the image;

modifying the image to increase a pixel size of the target relative to a total pixel size of the image if the pixel size of the target fails to meet a minimum pixel threshold;

compressing the modified image; and

analyze the compressed modified image to determine trailer hitch angle information.