System for a vehicle with a trailer coupled thereto

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12090824-B2
Application number	US-202117229159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2021
Priority date	Apr 13, 2021
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A system for a vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto includes a rear gate assembly of the vehicle having a first closure panel operable between an open position and a closed position. The system also includes at least one sensor coupled to the first closure panel. The system further includes a controller that prompts execution of a security measure in response to the at least one sensor detecting a person within a predetermined proximity of at least a portion of the trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for a vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto, comprising:
a rear gate assembly of the vehicle having a first closure panel operable between an open position and a closed position;
at least one sensor coupled to the first closure panel; and
a controller that determines a position of a person and a position of a coupler assembly of the trailer based on data received from the at least one sensor, and prompts execution of a security measure based on the determined position of the person relative to the determined position of the coupler assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein execution of the security measure comprises:
activation of an imager coupled to the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein execution of the security measure comprises:
transmission of an alert to a portable electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein execution of the security measure comprises:
emission of an audible alert by the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rear gate assembly further comprises:
a second closure panel operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first closure panel is operable to pivot about a first pivot axis a first direction from the closed position to the open position and the second closure panel is operable to pivot about a second pivot axis a second direction from the closed position to the open position, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first closure panel is positioned vehicle-upward of the second closure panel and is coupled to the second closure panel when the first and second closure panels are in the closed positions.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises:
at least one radar sensor that emits a radar beam.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller prompts adjustment of a width of the radar beam based on a determination that the trailer is coupled to the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller prompts adjustment of the width of the radar beam based on the determination that the trailer is coupled to the vehicle, such that the width of the radar beam decreases.

10. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
a trailer coupled to the vehicle;
at least one radar sensor coupled to the vehicle that emits a radar beam; and
a controller that determines that the trailer is connected to the vehicle and prompts adjustment of a width of the radar beam emitted by the at least one radar sensor from a first radar beam width to a second radar beam width based on the determination that the trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the first radar beam width is greater than the second radar beam width.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
an imager coupled to the vehicle, wherein the controller prompts activation of the imager in response to the at least one radar sensor detecting a person within a predetermined proximity of at least a portion of the trailer.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller prompts transmission of an alert to a portable electronic device in response to the at least one radar sensor detecting a person within a predetermined proximity of at least a portion of the trailer.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller prompts the vehicle to emit an audible alert in response to the at least one radar sensor detecting a person within a predetermined proximity of at least a portion of the trailer.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle includes a rear gate assembly that comprises:
a top gate panel operable to pivot about a first pivot axis between open and closed positions, wherein the top gate panel pivots a first direction about the first pivot axis from the closed position to the open position; and
a bottom gate panel operable to pivot about a second pivot axis between open and closed positions, wherein the bottom gate panel pivots a second direction that is opposite the first direction about the second pivot axis from the closed position to the open position, wherein the at least one radar sensor is coupled to the top gate panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Brown Kristopher Karl
• Diamond David Michael
• Ford Clayton Benjamin

Classifications

• B60R25/00

  Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles (locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00) · CPC title

• B60R25/31

  of human presence inside or outside the vehicle · CPC title

• E05F15/73

  responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects · CPC title

• B60Q9/008

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60Q9/005

  using a video camera · CPC title