Tow hitch lead in system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12508855-B2
Application number	US-202318116790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2023
Priority date	Mar 2, 2023
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems for aligning a vehicle and a trailer. The system includes a guide coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle, a plurality of sensors disposed along the guide, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The guide includes a first arm extending from a hinge and a second arm extending from the hinge. The first arm and the second arm are configured to provide a space therebetween to receive a tongue of the trailer. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect sensor data indicative of an alignment between the vehicle and the trailer. The ECU is configured to receive the sensor data, determine a position of the tongue relative to the first arm and the second arm, and transmit the determination to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for aligning a trailer to attach to a vehicle, the system comprising:
a guide coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle, the guide having:
a first arm rotatably coupled to a hinge and extending out in a straight line from the hinge; and
a second arm rotatably coupled to the hinge and extending out in a straight line from the hinge at an angle relative to the first arm, the first arm and the second arm having proximal ends located on or near the hinge and distal ends configured to extend outward from a back end of the vehicle, the first arm and the second arm configured to provide a space between the first arm and the second arm, the distal ends of the first arm and the second arm being unconnected and further apart than the proximal ends of the first arm and the second arm, the space configured to receive a tongue of the trailer;
a plurality of sensors disposed along the first arm and the second arm of the guide, the plurality of sensors configured to detect sensor data indicative of an alignment between the vehicle and the trailer; and an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to:
receive the sensor data;
determine a position of the tongue relative to the first arm and the second arm; and
transmit the position to the vehicle.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive the determination of the position of the tongue relative to the first arm and the second arm.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a camera configured to detect image data of the environment behind the vehicle.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the ECU is further configured to:
analyze the image data from the camera; and determine a proximity of the trailer to the vehicle or an orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a RADAR or LIDAR sensor.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to rotate about the hinge such that the distance between the first arm and the second arm is variable.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to form a V-shape.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ECU is further configured to actuate an actuator configured to position the guide.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ECU is further configured to determine an ideal hitch location based on the sensor data, and instruct an actuator to move the guide to the ideal hitch location.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide is rotatably coupled to the hinge such that the guide may be folded in a stowed position and rotated about the hinge to a deployed position.

12 . A tow hitch lead-in system comprising:
a vehicle having a hitch disposed on a rear end of the vehicle; a trailer having a tongue disposed on a front end of the trailer and configured to couple to the hitch; a guide coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle, the guide having a first arm extending from a hinge and a second arm extending from the hinge at an angle relative to the first arm and configured to provide an error tolerance for aligning the vehicle and the trailer; and a plurality of sensors disposed along the first arm and the second arm of the guide, the plurality of sensors configured to detect sensor data indicative of an alignment between the vehicle and the trailer.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to provide a space therebetween to receive the tongue of the trailer, the space defined by the hinge and distal ends of the first arm and second arm.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to rotate about the hinge such that the distance between the first arm and the second arm is variable.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to:
receive the sensor data; determine a position of the tongue relative to the first arm and the second arm; and transmit the determination to the vehicle.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive the determination of the position of the tongue relative to the first arm and the second arm.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the ECU is further configured to:
analyze the sensor data; and determine a proximity of the trailer to the vehicle or an orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

18 . A method for aligning a vehicle to a trailer, the method comprising:
deploying a guide coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle, the guide extending outwards from the vehicle and including a first arm and a second arm in a V-formation; detecting, by one or more sensors located along the first arm and the second arm of the guide, sensor data indicating a location and an orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle; determining, by an electronic control unit (ECU), a position of a tongue of the trailer relative to the tow hitch of the vehicle based on the sensor data; and transmitting the determination of the position of the tongue to the vehicle.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
identifying, by the ECU, potential contact between the guide and the tongue based on the sensor data; determining, by the ECU, a vehicle movement to align the vehicle and the trailer; and transmitting the determination of the vehicle movement to the vehicle, wherein the determination is received at a user interface.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Abro Lauren M
• Gidcumb Yuko N
• Vargo Michelle R
• Babian Lindsay A

Classifications

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• G06T2207/10028

  Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds · CPC title

• G06T2207/30252

  Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle · CPC title

• G06T2207/10024

  Color image · CPC title

• B60D1/62

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