Vehicle blind spot system operation with trailer tow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101730-A1
Application number	US-201414509876-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	Oct 8, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to a vehicle blind spot detection system, method, and module for adjusting parameters of a vehicle blind spot detection algorithm based on a trailer being attached to the back of the vehicle. More specifically, based on a determination that a trailer is attached to the vehicle and the reception of trailer information corresponding to the attached trailer, an adjust to the parameters of a blind spot detection area is disclosed for ensuring the continued operation of the blind spot detection feature will take into account the attached trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A blind spot detection system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a plurality of object sensors configured to detect an object within a blind spot detection area; an interface configured to receive trailer information; a processor in communication with the plurality of object sensors and interface, configured to:
detect a trailer attached to the vehicle;
obtain the trailer information; and
adjust the blind spot detection area based on the trailer information.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer information includes at least a length dimension for the trailer attached to the vehicle; and
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the blind spot detection area to extend at least a predetermined length behind the trailer based on the length dimension for the trailer.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer information includes at least a length dimension for the trailer attached to the vehicle; and
wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive trailer hitch information identifying a length of a trailer hitch attaching the trailer to the vehicle; and
adjust the blind spot detection area to extend at least a predetermined length behind the trailer based on the trailer hitch information.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an input command interface configured to receive inputs from a passenger; and wherein the processor is configured to detect the trailer is attached to the vehicle based on a passenger input received via the input command interface.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the trailer is attached to the vehicle by:
receiving sensor information from at least one of the object sensors identifying an object behind the vehicle; analyzing the sensor information; and determining the object behind the vehicle is the trailer based on the analysis.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an input command interface configured to receive inputs from a passenger; and wherein the processor is configured to obtain the trailer information based on a passenger input received via the input command interface.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory configured to store a trailer database including database trailer identification information corresponding to database trailer information; and wherein the processor is configured to obtain the trailer information by:
receiving trailer identification information from a trailer module on the trailer;
comparing the trailer identification information against the trailer database;
identifying the database trailer identification information within the trailer database that corresponds to the trailer identification information; and
selecting the database trailer information that corresponds to the identified database trailer identification information as the obtained trailer information.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of object sensors includes a plurality of radar based sensors.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of rear parking sensors.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the trailer is attached to the vehicle by:
receiving sensor information from at least one of the rear parking sensors identifying an object behind the vehicle; analyzing the sensor information; and determining the object behind the vehicle is the trailer based on the analysis.

11 . A method for operating a blind spot detection system of a vehicle, comprising:
determining, by a processor, that a trailer is attached to the vehicle; obtaining, by the processor, trailer information; and adjusting a blind spot detection area based on the trailer information, wherein a plurality of object sensors are configured to detect an object within the blind spot detection area.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the trailer information includes at least a length dimension for the trailer attached to the vehicle; and
wherein adjusting the blind spot detection area comprises extending the blind spot detection area at least a predetermined length behind the trailer based on the length dimension for the trailer.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the trailer information includes at least a length dimension for the trailer attached to the vehicle; and
wherein the method further comprises:
receiving trailer hitch information identifying a length of a trailer hitch attaching the trailer to the vehicle; and
adjusting the blind spot detection area to extend at least a predetermined length behind the trailer based on the trailer hitch information.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the trailer is attached to the vehicle comprises:
receiving, via an input command interface, a passenger input that identifies the trailer is attached to the vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the trailer is attached to the vehicle comprises:
receiving sensor information from at least one of the object sensors identifying an object behind the vehicle; analyzing the sensor information; and determining the object behind the vehicle is the trailer based on the analysis.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein obtaining the trailer information comprises receiving, via an input command interface, a passenger input identifying the trailer information.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
storing, in a memory, a trailer database including database trailer identification information corresponding to database trailer information; and wherein obtaining the trailer information comprises:
receiving trailer identification information from a trailer module on the trailer;
comparing the trailer identification information against the trailer database;
identifying the database trailer identification information within the trailer database that corresponds to the trailer identification information; and
selecting the database trailer information that corresponds to the identified database trailer identification information as the obtained trailer information.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of object sensors includes a plurality of radar based sensors.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle further includes a plurality of rear parking sensors.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining the trailer is attached to the vehicle comprises:
receiving sensor information from at least one of the rear parking sensors identifying an object behind the vehicle; analyzing the sensor information; and determining the object behind the vehicle is the trailer based on the analysis.

21 . An object detection module, comprising:
an object sensor configured to detect an object within a blind spot detection area; and a processor in communication with the object sensor, configured to:
detect a trailer attachment to a vehicle;
receive trailer information; and
adjust the blind spot detection area based on the trailer information.

22 . The object detection module of claim 21 , wherein the trailer information includes at least a length dimension for the trailer attached to the vehicle; and
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the blind spot detection area to extend at least a predetermined length behind the trailer based on the length dimension for the trailer.

23 . The object detection module o

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Continental Automotive Systems

Inventors

• Shehan Mark Alan
• Snarski Kenneth
• Mackey Joseph
• Mcconnell Douglas
• Kanzler Steven Gerd

Classifications

• G01S13/93

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• G01S2013/9315

  Monitoring blind spots · CPC title

• G01S2013/93272

  in the back of the vehicles · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93274

  on the side of the vehicles · CPC title