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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023123744-A1
Application number	US-202218084391-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2022
Priority date	Jun 7, 2019
Publication date	Apr 20, 2023
Grant date	—

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:
a change detector to detect, via an accelerometer of a hitch, a pitch angle change of a vehicle; and a payload determiner to:
determine if a hitch load change occurred within a threshold time after the pitch angle change; and
in response to determining the hitch load change occurred within the threshold time, calculate a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on a property of the vehicle.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the payload determiner is further to, in response to determining the hitch load change did not occur within the threshold time, determine no payload has been disposed within the bed of the vehicle.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the property of the vehicle includes at least one of a vehicle configuration or a suspension property.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer is within a pin of the hitch.

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 calculates the weight associated with the payload disposed within the bed of the vehicle without input from a sensor associated with a suspension system of the vehicle.

8 . A method, comprising:
detecting, via an accelerometer of a hitch, a pitch angle change of a vehicle; determining if a hitch load change occurred within a threshold time after the pitch angle change; and in response to determining the hitch load change occurred within the threshold time, calculating a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on a property of the vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further including in response to determining the hitch load change did not occur within the threshold time, determining no payload has been disposed within the bed of the vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the property of the vehicle includes at least one of a vehicle configuration or a suspension property.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the accelerometer is within a pin of the hitch.

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 a sensor associated with 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, via an accelerometer of a hitch, a pitch angle change of a vehicle; determine if a hitch load change occurred within a threshold time after the pitch angle change; and in response to determining the hitch load change occurred within the threshold time, calculate a weight associated with a payload within a bed of the vehicle based on a property of the vehicle.

16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, in response to determining the hitch load change did not occur within 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 property of the vehicle includes at least one of a vehicle configuration or a suspension property.

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 is performed without input from a sensor associated with a suspension system of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60D1/248 Primary

  for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight · CPC title

• B60D1/24

  characterised by arrangements for particular functions · 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