Methods and apparatus for payload estimation and hitch condition detection using integrated sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005749-B2
Application number	US-202218084391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2022
Priority date	Jun 7, 2019
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for payload estimation and fault detection using hitch integrated sensors. An example apparatus includes a pin orientation determiner to determine a first orientation of a first pin and a second orientation of a second pin, the first pin and the second pin disposed within a hitch and calculate a relative orientation of the first pin and the second pin based on the first orientation and the second orientation. The example apparatus further includes a hitch condition detector to determine if a physical change has occurred in the hitch by comparing the relative orientation to an installation orientation of the first pin and the second pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an accelerometer coupled to a hitch;
change detector circuitry to detect a pitch angle change of a vehicle based on an output of the accelerometer;
at least two force sensing pins on the hitch to detect hitch loads; and
a payload determiner circuitry configured to:
determine a time difference between a hitch load change measured by the at least two force sensing pins and the pitch angle change measured by the accelerometer; and
in response to determining the time difference satisfies a threshold time, calculate a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on at least a squat of the vehicle measured by at least one of the accelerometer or the at least two force sensing pins.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the payload determiner circuitry is further configured to, in response to determining the time difference does not satisfy the threshold time, determine no payload has been disposed within the bed of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the payload determiner circuitry calculates the squat of the vehicle based on a measurement of a deflection of a portion of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two force sensing pins include the accelerometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hitch load change is associated with a coupling of a trailer to the vehicle via the hitch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the pitch angle change is associated with at least one of the coupling of the trailer to the vehicle or an addition of the payload to the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the payload determiner circuitry calculates the weight associated with the payload disposed within the bed of the vehicle without input from the at least two force sensing pins associated with measuring a deflection of a suspension system of the vehicle.

8. A method, comprising:
detecting a pitch angle change of a vehicle based on an output of an accelerometer of a hitch;
determining a time difference between a hitch load change and the pitch angle change, the hitch load change detected by at least two force sensing pins on the hitch, the pitch angle change measured by the accelerometer; and
in response to determining that the time difference satisfies a threshold time, calculating a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on at least a squat of the vehicle measured by at least one of the accelerometer or the at least two force sensing pins.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including in response to determining the time difference does not satisfy the threshold time, determining no payload has been disposed within the bed of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein calculating the weight of the vehicle includes calculating the squat based on a measurement of a deflection of a portion of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least two force sensing pins include the accelerometer.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hitch load change is associated with a coupling of a trailer to the vehicle via the hitch.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pitch angle change is associated with at least one of the coupling of the trailer to the vehicle or an addition of the payload to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the calculating the weight associated with the payload disposed within the bed of the vehicle is performed without input from the at least two force sensing pins associated with measuring a deflection of a suspension system of the vehicle.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:
detect a pitch angle change of a vehicle based on an output of an accelerometer of a hitch;
determine a time difference between a hitch load change and the pitch angle change, the hitch load change detected by at least two force sensing pins on the hitch, the pitch angle change measured by the accelerometer; and
in response to determining that the time difference satisfies a threshold time, calculate a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on at least a squat of the vehicle measured by at least one of the accelerometer or the at least two force sensing pins.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, in response to determining the time difference does not satisfy the threshold time, determine no payload has been disposed within the bed of the vehicle.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to calculate the squat based on a measurement of a deflection of a portion of the vehicle.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the hitch load change is associated with a coupling of a trailer to the vehicle via the hitch.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the pitch angle change is associated with at least one of the coupling of the trailer to the vehicle or an addition of the payload to the vehicle.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the processor calculates the weight associated with the payload disposed within the bed of the vehicle without input from the at least two force sensing pins associated with measuring a deflection of a suspension system of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech

Inventors

• Giaier Kevin Stanton
• Niedert Andrew
• Pearson Elliott
• Rogness Anton

Classifications

• B60D1/248 Primary

  for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight · CPC title

• G01L5/136

  Force sensors associated with a vehicle traction coupling (vehicle connections B60D; control of vehicle brakes B60T) · CPC title

• B60D1/62 Primary

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• G01L1/12

  by measuring variations in the magnetic properties of materials resulting from the application of stress · CPC title

• G01L5/0028

  Force sensors associated with force applying means (G01L5/0052, G01L5/0057, G01L5/0061 take precedence) · CPC title