VEHICULAR TRAILER BACKUP ASSIST SYSTEM

• US 20190143895A1
• Filed: 12/20/2018
• Published: 05/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pliefke, Sebastian, Diessner, Horst D., Weber, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 10,493,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicular trailer backup assist system is operable to steer a vehicle, with a trailer connected at the rear of the vehicle, during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer. The system electronically overlays a plurality of zones over displayed video images, with each individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones being indicative of a respective individual region rearward of the vehicle and trailer. Responsive to a selected zone of travel for the trailer, the control controls steering of the vehicle to steer the vehicle to guide the trailer towards the respective individual region that is encompassed by the selected zone of travel during reversing of the vehicle and trailer. The driver of the vehicle manually adjusts steering of the vehicle to more accurately steer the vehicle towards a target location within the respective individual region that is encompassed by the selected zone of travel.

Claims

1. A vehicular trailer backup assist system, said vehicular trailer backup assist system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and at least rearward of the vehicle;

wherein, with a trailer hitched at a trailer hitch of the vehicle, the field of view of said camera at least partially encompasses the trailer;

a control comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;

wherein image data captured by said camera is processed at said control;

a display screen disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when operating the vehicle, wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said display screen displays video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said camera;

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said vehicular trailer backup assist system electronically overlays a plurality of zones over the video images displayed at said display screen, and wherein each individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones is indicative of a respective individual region rearward of the vehicle and trailer;

a user input operable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein the driver operates the user input to select an individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones as a zone of travel for the trailer during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to the selected zone of travel for the trailer, said control controls, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, steering of the vehicle to steer the vehicle such that, during the reversing maneuver, the trailer travels towards the respective individual region displayed in the displayed video images that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel;

wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to move the trailer relative to the overlayed plurality of zones in a manner that guides the trailer towards the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel during reversing of the vehicle and trailer; and

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, the driver of the vehicle manually adjusts steering of the vehicle to more accurately steer the vehicle towards a target location within the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel.

2. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 1, wherein said control, responsive at least in part to processing at said control of image data captured by said camera, determines a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

3. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 2, wherein said control, via processing at said control of image data captured by said camera, determines the angle of the trailer via determining a location of a target disposed at the trailer.

4. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 3, wherein image data captured by said camera is morphed by processing at said control before said control determines the location of the target disposed at the trailer.

5. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 4, wherein said image data, when morphed by processing at said control, results in straightened lines in regions of image data captured by said camera.

6. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 1, wherein said control, via processing at said control of image data captured by said camera, determines an orientation of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle via determining a location of a target disposed at the trailer.

7. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 6, wherein, with the trailer hitched at the trailer hitch of the vehicle, said control determines a zone of the overlayed plurality of zones where the target disposed at the trailer is located, and wherein steering of the vehicle is controlled responsive at least in part to the determined zone.

8. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 7, wherein the overlayed plurality of zones comprises an overlay of a plurality of pie-shaped zones electronically overlayed over the video images displayed at said display screen so as to appear over the displayed video images and partially surrounding the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

9. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 8, wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to maintain the target disposed at the trailer in the selected zone of travel.

10. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 1, wherein the overlayed plurality of zones comprises an overlay of a plurality of pie-shaped zones electronically overlayed over the video images displayed at said display screen so as to appear over the displayed video images and partially surrounding the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

11. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 10, wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to maintain a portion of the trailer in the selected zone of travel during reversing of the vehicle and trailer.

12. A vehicular trailer backup assist system, said vehicular trailer backup assist system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and at least rearward of the vehicle;

wherein, with a trailer hitched at a trailer hitch of the vehicle, the field of view of said camera at least partially encompasses the trailer;

a control comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;

wherein image data captured by said camera is processed at said control;

a display screen disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when operating the vehicle, wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said display screen displays video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said camera;

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said vehicular trailer backup assist system electronically overlays a plurality of zones over the video images displayed at said display screen, and wherein each individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones is indicative of a respective individual region rearward of the vehicle and trailer;

wherein the overlayed plurality of zones comprises an overlay of a plurality of pie-shaped zones electronically overlayed over the video images displayed at said display screen so as to appear over the displayed video images and partially surrounding the trailer hitch of the vehicle;

wherein said control, via processing at said control of image data captured by said camera, determines an orientation of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle via determining a location of a target disposed at the trailer;

a user input operable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein the driver operates the user input to select an individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones as a zone of travel for the trailer during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to the selected zone of travel for the trailer, said control controls, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, steering of the vehicle to steer the vehicle such that, during the reversing maneuver, the trailer travels towards the respective individual region displayed in the displayed video images that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel;

wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to move the trailer relative to the overlayed plurality of zones in a manner that guides the trailer towards the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel during reversing of the vehicle and trailer; and

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, the driver of the vehicle manually adjusts steering of the vehicle to more accurately steer the vehicle towards a target location within the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel.

13. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 12, wherein image data captured by said camera is morphed by processing at said control before said control determines the location of the target disposed at the trailer.

14. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 13, wherein said image data, when morphed by processing at said control, results in straightened lines in regions of image data captured by said camera.

15. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 12, wherein, with the trailer hitched at the trailer hitch of the vehicle, said control determines a zone of the overlayed plurality of zones where the target disposed at the trailer is located, and wherein steering of the vehicle is controlled responsive at least in part to the determined zone.

16. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 15, wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to maintain the target disposed at the trailer in the selected zone of travel.

17. A vehicular trailer backup assist system, said vehicular trailer backup assist system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and at least rearward of the vehicle;

wherein, with a trailer hitched at a trailer hitch of the vehicle, the field of view of said camera at least partially encompasses the trailer;

a control comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;

wherein image data captured by said camera is processed at said control;

a display screen disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle when operating the vehicle, wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said display screen displays video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said camera;

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, said vehicular trailer backup assist system electronically overlays a plurality of zones over the video images displayed at said display screen, and wherein each individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones is indicative of a respective individual region rearward of the vehicle and trailer;

wherein said control, via processing at said control of image data captured by said camera, determines an orientation of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle via determining a location of a target disposed at the trailer;

wherein image data captured by said camera is morphed by processing at said control before said control determines the location of the target disposed at the trailer;

a user input operable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein the driver operates the user input to select an individual zone of the overlayed plurality of zones as a zone of travel for the trailer during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to the selected zone of travel for the trailer, said control controls, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, steering of the vehicle to steer the vehicle such that, during the reversing maneuver, the trailer travels towards the respective individual region displayed in the displayed video images that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel;

wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to move the trailer relative to the overlayed plurality of zones in a manner that guides the trailer towards the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overlay of the selected zone of travel during reversing of the vehicle and trailer;

wherein, with the trailer hitched at the trailer hitch of the vehicle, said control determines a zone of the overlayed plurality of zones where the target disposed at the trailer is located, and wherein steering of the vehicle is controlled responsive at least in part to the determined zone where the target disposed at the trailer is located; and

wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, the driver of the vehicle manually adjusts steering of the vehicle to more accurately steer the vehicle towards a target location within the respective individual region that is encompassed by the overly of the selected zone of travel.

18. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 17, wherein said image data, when morphed by processing at said control, results in straightened lines in regions of image data captured by said camera.

19. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 18, wherein the overlayed plurality of zones comprises an overlay of a plurality of pie-shaped zones electronically overlayed over the video images displayed at said display screen so as to appear over the displayed video images and partially surrounding the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

20. The vehicular trailer backup assist system of claim 19, wherein said control controls steering of the vehicle to maintain the target disposed at the trailer in the selected zone of travel.