TRAILER PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20160153778A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Singh, Harpreet, Bradley, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,119,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/08 for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/20 for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes

Abstract

A trailer parameter identification system (1) for identifying at least one geometrical parameter relating to a trailer (5) comprises at least one sensor (9, 10, 11, 7A, 7B) and a processor (33A, 33B). The at least one sensor (9, 10, 11, 7A, 7B) is configured to acquire data. The processor (33A, 33B) is configured to process said data to generate a value representative of a geometrical parameter of the trailer (5).

Claims

1. A system for identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer, the system comprising:

a processor; and

at least one sensor for acquiring data relating to the trailer and arranged to send the data to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to process the data to generate a value representative of the at least one geometrical parameter of the trailer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises one or more of the following:

a tow bar position;

a maximum length of the trailer;

a hitch length of the trailer;

a rear overhang of the trailer;

trailer shape;

number of wheels;

trailer loading; and

trailer tire pressures.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises a number of axles of the trailer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises a height of the trailer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to process the data to generate a descriptive result related to the trailer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the descriptive result is associated with a shape of the trailer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the descriptive result is associated with a type, class or category of the trailer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is:

a camera, a radar, a vehicle parking sensor, an ultrasonic transceiver, or a laser scanner.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to be installed on-board a vehicle.

10. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 9.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a GPS system configured to cooperate with the system in order to associate at least one GPS coordinate to the trailer.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises a height of the trailer.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter of the trailer is determined with reference to a distance travelled by the vehicle as it travels past the trailer.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to acquire data from one or both sides of the vehicle.

12. A method of identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer, the method comprising:

acquiring data relating to the trailer via at least one sensor; and

processing the data to generate a value representative of a geometrical parameter of the trailer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor is incorporated into a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the vehicle alongside the trailer.

15. A computer program product for configuring or reconfiguring a vehicle system having at least one sensor and a processor, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed on the vehicle system, configures or reconfigures the vehicle system for performing the method of claim 12.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises one or more of the following:

a tow bar position;

a maximum length of the trailer;

a hitch length of the trailer;

a rear overhang of the trailer;

trailer shape;

number of wheels;

trailer loading; and

trailer tire pressures.

21. A trailer parameter identification apparatus configured to carry out the method of identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer according to claim 12.

16. (canceled)