SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STARTING POINT OF A GUIDANCE LINE FOR ATTACHING A TRAILER TO A TRAILER HITCH MOUNTED IN A CARGO BED OF A VEHICLE

• US 20180312112A1
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: LEWIS, Allan K., NASERIAN, Mohammad, BLISS, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,654,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/003 for viewing trailer hitches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A system according to the present disclosure includes an edge detection module, a hitch identification module, a guidance line module, and a display control module. The edge detection module detects edges of an object within an image of a cargo bed of a vehicle. The hitch identification module identifies at least one of a type of a trailer hitch attached to the cargo bed and a size of the trailer hitch based on the detected edges of the object. The guidance line module determines a starting point of a guidance line for connecting a trailer to the trailer hitch based on at least one of the type of the trailer hitch and the size of the trailer hitch. The display control module controls an electronic display to display the image of the cargo bed and to display the guidance line on the image of the cargo bed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an edge detection module configured to detect edges of an object within an image of a cargo bed of a vehicle;

a hitch identification module configured to identify at least one of a type of a trailer hitch attached to the cargo bed and a size of the trailer hitch based on the detected edges of the object;

a guidance line module configured to determine a starting point of a guidance line for connecting a trailer to the trailer hitch based on at least one of the type of the trailer hitch and the size of the trailer hitch; and

a display control module configured to control an electronic display to display the image of the cargo bed and to display the guidance line on the image of the cargo bed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the hitch identification module is configured to identify the type of the trailer hitch; and

the guidance line module is configured to determine the starting point of the guidance line based on the type of the trailer hitch.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the hitch identification module is configured to identify a height of the trailer hitch; and

the guidance line module is configured to determine the starting point of the guidance line further based on the height of the trailer hitch.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the edge detection module is configured to detect edges an object within a fifth wheel envelop that includes a first portion of the image of the cargo bed; and

the hitch identification module is configured to identify whether the trailer hitch is a fifth wheel hitch based on the detected edges of the object.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the edge detection module is configured to detect edges of an object within a gooseneck envelop that includes a second portion of the image of the cargo bed; and

the hitch identification module is configured to identify whether the trailer hitch is a gooseneck hitch based on the detected edges of the object.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the edge detection module is configured to detect edges of an object within the gooseneck envelop when the hitch identification module identifies that no fifth wheel hitch is present within the fifth wheel envelop.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the fifth wheel envelop has a first predetermined size, and the gooseneck envelop has a second predetermined size that is less than the first predetermined size.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the edge detection module is configured to detect edges of the cargo bed; and

at least one of the fifth wheel envelop and the gooseneck envelop have a predetermined location relative to the detected edges of the cargo bed.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the guidance line module is configured to determine a curvature of the guidance line based on an angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the guidance line module is configured to determine a length of the guidance line based on a distance between the trailer hitch and a rear end of the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

detecting edges of an object within an image of a cargo bed of a vehicle;

identifying at least one of a type of a trailer hitch attached to the cargo bed and a size of the trailer hitch based on the detected edges of the object;

determining a starting point of a guidance line for connecting a trailer to the trailer hitch based on at least one of the type of the trailer hitch and the size of the trailer hitch; and

controlling an electronic display to display the image of the cargo bed and to display the guidance line on the image of the cargo bed.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

identifying the type of the trailer hitch; and

determining the starting point of the guidance line based on the type of the trailer hitch.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

identifying a height of the trailer hitch; and

determining the starting point of the guidance line further based on the height of the trailer hitch.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

detecting edges an object within a fifth wheel envelop that includes a first portion of the image of the cargo bed; and

identifying whether the trailer hitch is a fifth wheel hitch based on the detected edges of the object.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting edges of an object within a gooseneck envelop that includes a second portion of the image of the cargo bed; and

identifying whether the trailer hitch is a gooseneck hitch based on the detected edges of the object.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting edges of an object within the gooseneck envelop in response to identifying that no fifth wheel hitch is present within the fifth wheel envelop.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the fifth wheel envelop has a first predetermined size, and the gooseneck envelop has a second predetermined size that is less than the first predetermined size.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting edges of the cargo bed, wherein at least one of the fifth wheel envelop and the gooseneck envelop have a predetermined location relative to the detected edges of the cargo bed.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a curvature of the guidance line based on an angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a length of the guidance line based on a distance between the trailer hitch and a rear end of the vehicle.