Automatic trailer detection and vehicle configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703279-B2
Application number	US-201715687964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 28, 2017
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A system for adjusting vehicle mirrors is disclosed and includes a memory device including at least one saved mirror position corresponding with an identified trailer. At least one vehicle mirror is movable to an extended trailering position that corresponds with the saved mirror position. The memory device is part of a controller that moves the vehicle mirror to the saved position responsive to an indication that an identified trailer is hitched to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for adjusting vehicle mirrors comprising:
a memory device including at least one saved mirror position corresponding with an identified trailer; and
at least one vehicle side mirror assembly including a mirror, the at least one side mirror assembly is extendible outward from a first position to a trailering position, the at least one vehicle side mirror assembly is automatically movable to the saved mirror position responsive to detection that the identified trailer is hitched to the vehicle, wherein in the saved mirror position the side mirror assembly extends outward to the trailering position and the mirror is adjusted to provide a view of the identified trailer and a detection device that includes a sensor detecting mating of a trailer hitch to the vehicle.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the detection device includes a camera detecting a token disposed on the trailer.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the token comprises one of a bar code, matrix code, wireless transmission device, wired transmission device and a visible number on the trailer.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the saved mirror position comprises adjustment of the side mirror to correspond with the identified trailer once in the trailering position.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one saved mirror position further corresponds with a saved vehicle driver configuration.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , including saving a trailer configuration including features corresponding with the identified trailer.

7. A method of automatically adjusting vehicle mirrors comprising:
storing at least one saved side mirror assembly position corresponding with an identified trailer in a memory device on the vehicle;
detecting that a trailer is hitched to the vehicle with a sensor detecting mating of a trailer hitch to the vehicle; and
automatically extending outward at least one vehicle mirror assembly from a first position to a trailering position and adjusting the mirror to the saved mirror position responsive to detection that the identified trailer is hitched to the vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , including detecting that a trailer is hitched to the vehicle with a camera detecting a token disposed on the trailer.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , including identifying the trailer based on information in a token disposed on the trailer and reading the token with a camera disposed on the vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the token comprises a bar code, matrix code, wireless transmission device, wired transmission device and a visible number on the trailer.

11. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein moving the vehicle mirror to the saved position comprises moving the side mirror to the trailering position and then adjusting the side mirror to correspond with the identified trailer once in the trailering position.

12. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein storing the at least one saved mirror position further includes storing the at least one saved mirror position to correspond with one of a several saved vehicle driver configurations.

13. The method as recited in claim 7 , including storing a trailer configuration including features corresponding with the identified trailer and associating the stored trailer configuration with at least one saved vehicle mirror position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dupuis Michael
• Orris David Joseph

Classifications

• B60R1/062 Primary

  with remote control for adjusting position {(B60R1/0607 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R1/072

  for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing · CPC title

• B60R2300/808

  for facilitating docking to a trailer · CPC title

• B60R1/025 Primary

  comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors · CPC title