METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNMENT OF TRAILER HITCH

• US 20060255560A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan L. Dietz
• Original Assignee: Dan L. Dietz
• Inventors: Dietz, Dan L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/477
• 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

Abstract

A system for facilitating the backing of a vehicle to couple a hitch and trailer, the system including one or more cameras providing visual images to the vehicle driver to assist in backing the vehicle and making the coupling.

Claims

1. An image capture apparatus comprising:

a camera suitable for capturing both visible light images and infrared light images;

an infrared light source supported by the camera; and

a visible light source supported by the camera.

2. A vehicle backing apparatus for assisting in coupling a hitch supported by the vehicle with a trailer, the apparatus comprising:

a first camera positioned to provide an image of the trailer;

a second camera positioned to provide an image of the hitch;

a monitor system for displaying the image of the trailer and the image of the hitch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the camera is suitable for capturing both visible light images and infrared light images, and comprises an infrared light source supported by the camera and a visible light source supported by the camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first camera or the second camera is adapted for positioning on the vehicle or the trailer to provide security monitoring of either the vehicle or the trailer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first or second cameras comprises a motion sensor.

6. A method of backing a vehicle with a hitch toward a trailer to couple the trailer with the hitch, the method comprising:

viewing the trailer through a first camera while backing the vehicle toward the trailer;

viewing the hitch through a second camera while backing the vehicle toward the trailer.