Trailer backup assist system with multi-purpose camera in a side mirror assembly of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10496101-B2
Application number	US-201514965017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A side mirror assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. The side mirror assembly includes a body portion and a camera mounted to the body portion for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment. The camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a second horizontal extent making an angle with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A side mirror assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a securing member coupled to the vehicle;
a body portion extending outward from the securing member;
a side mirror housed by the body portion and having vehicle-lateral edges defining the vehicle-laterally-inboard-most and vehicle-laterally-outboard-most portions of the side mirror; and
a camera positioned outside of the vehicle-lateral-outboard-most portion of the side mirror for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment, wherein the camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis of the vehicle rearwardly thereof and a second horizontal extent making an angle with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera.

2. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the camera is located in a lower corner region of the body portion defined by a lower portion and a side portion of the body portion.

3. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal extent is located in front of the lateral axis of the vehicle.

4. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal extent is located behind the lateral axis of the vehicle.

5. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second horizontal extent coincides with the lateral axis of the vehicle.

6. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal field of view angle is obtuse.

7. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal field of view angle is normal.

8. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal field of view angle is acute.

9. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for processing the captured images.

10. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the captured images are processed to at least one of generate a 360 degree view of the vehicle on a vehicle display and provide trailer reverse guidance during a trailer backup maneuver.

11. The side mirror assembly of claim 1 , wherein the camera is coupled to the body portion.

12. A side mirror assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a securing member coupled to the vehicle;
a body portion coupled to the securing member and extending outward therefrom;
a side mirror coupled to the body and having vehicle-lateral edges defining the vehicle-laterally-inboard-most and vehicle-laterally-outboard-most portions of the side mirror; and
a camera mounted side mirror-laterally-outboard of the side mirror for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment, wherein the camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis rearwardly of the vehicle and a second horizontal extent making an angle with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera; and
a controller for processing the captured images, wherein the captured images are processed to at least one of generate a 360 degree view of the vehicle on a vehicle display and provide trailer reverse guidance during a trailer backup maneuver.

13. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the camera is located in a lower corner region of the body portion defined by a lower portion and a side portion of the body portion.

14. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second horizontal extent is located in front of the lateral axis of the vehicle.

15. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second horizontal extent is located behind the lateral axis of the vehicle.

16. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second horizontal extent coincides with the lateral axis of the vehicle.

17. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the horizontal field of view angle is obtuse.

18. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the horizontal field of view angle is normal.

19. The side mirror assembly of claim 12 , wherein the camera is coupled to the body portion.

20. A side mirror assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
a body portion having a lower portion and a side portion that is distal to the vehicle;
a side mirror housed by the body portion; and
a camera mounted to a lower corner region of the body portion vehicle-laterally-outboard of the side mirror for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment, wherein the lower corner region is defined by the lower portion and the side portion, and wherein the camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis of the vehicle rearwardly of the vehicle and a second horizontal extent that coincides with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ghneim Maher
• Jawad Yasmin
• Shaw Jennifer Danielle

Classifications

• B60W2520/14

  Yaw · CPC title

• B60W10/184

  with wheel brakes · CPC title

• B60W50/10

  Interpretation of driver requests or demands · CPC title

• B60Y2200/147

  Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans · CPC title

• B60W10/04

  including control of propulsion units · CPC title