Overhead view for hitch connection

• US 9,889,714 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Bochenek, Jeffrey Allen, Diedrich, Jonathan Charles, Gehrke, Mark, Rottner, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US15/035,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• 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: B60D 1/46 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a hitch connection system to attach a vehicle to a trailer. The hitch connection system includes at feast one camera and a controller. The camera is configured to collect snags data of a vehicle hitch and a trailer coupler. The controller is configured to generate an overhead view image based on the image data. The controller is farther configured to calculate a relative height between the vehicle hitch and the trailer coupler based on the image data and generate an alert when the relative height is less ton a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A hitch connection system for attaching a vehicle to a trailer, the system comprising:

at least one camera configured to collect image data of a vehicle hitch and a trailer coupler; and

a controller configured to

generate an overhead view image based on the image data,

calculate a relative height between the vehicle hitch and the trailer coupler based on the image data,

generate an alert when the relative height is less than a predetermined threshold,

adjust a hitch height when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold, by

adjusting a position of the vehicle hitch relative to the vehicle when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold.

2. The hitch connection system according to claim 1, wherein the alert includes at least one selected from a group including an audible warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.

3. The hitch connection system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a vehicle suspension height when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold.

4. The hitch connection system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the relative height based on the overhead view image.

5. The hitch connection system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a hitch height and a coupler height based on the image data.

6. The hitch connection system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the relative height based on the hitch height and the coupler height.

7. The hitch connection system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera includes a first camera mounted on the vehicle.

8. The hitch connection system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one camera further includes a second camera mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the first camera is coupled to the controller via a wired connection and the second camera is coupled to the controller via a wireless connection.

9. The hitch connection system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one camera further includes a second camera mounted on the trailer.

10. The hitch connection system according to claim 9, where the first camera is coupled to the controller via a wired connection and the second camera is coupled to the controller via a wireless connection.

11. A method for aiding a driver in connecting a vehicle to a trailer, the method comprising:

collecting, by at least one camera, image data of a vehicle hitch and a trailer coupler;

generating, by a controller, an overhead view image based on the image data;

calculating, by the controller, a relative height between the vehicle hitch and the trailer coupler based on the image data;

generating, by the controller, an alert when the relative height is less than a predetermined threshold;

adjusting, by the controller, a hitch height when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold;

by

adjusting, using the controller, a position of the vehicle hitch relative to the vehicle when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the alert includes at least one selected from a group including an audible warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting, using the controller, a vehicle suspension height when the relative height is less than the predetermined threshold.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising calculating, the relative height based on the overhead view image.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining, using the controller, a hitch height and a coupler height based on the image data.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising calculating, the relative height based on the hitch height and the coupler height.