Hitch angle monitoring system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9290204-B2
Application number	US-201414313218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2014
Priority date	Apr 19, 2011
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A hitch angle monitoring system and method are provided. A display shows an imaged scene of a hitch connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer. A processor is configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene, wherein the overlay indicates a hitch angle position limit. A hitch angle position indicator is shown on the display and visually relates a current hitch angle position to the hitch angle position limit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hitch angle monitoring system comprising:
a display for showing an imaged scene of a hitch connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer;
a processor configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene, wherein the overlay indicates a hitch angle position limit; and
a hitch angle position indicator that is shown on the display and visually relates a hitch angle position to the hitch angle position limit.

2. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

3. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the hitch angle position indicator is one of an imaged object visible in the imaged scene and a virtual object that is overlaid on the imaged scene.

4. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the hitch angle position indicator coincides with the centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer and is positioned closer towards the hitch angle position limit when a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer increases.

5. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

6. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a warning signal when the current hitch angle position nears, reaches, and/or exceeds the hitch angle position limit.

7. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to superimpose a virtual steering input apparatus on the imaged scene that mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.

8. A hitch angle monitoring system comprising:
a display for showing an imaged scene;
a processor configured to superimpose an overlay on the imaged scene that indicates a hitch angle position limit between a tow vehicle and a trailer; and
a hitch angle position indicator that is shown on the display and moves in relation to the hitch angle position limit based on a change in hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

9. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 8 , wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

10. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the hitch angle position indicator moves within the overlay based on changes in a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

11. The system of 10 , wherein the hitch angle position indicator moves by way of angular displacement and coincides in position with a centerline axis of the trailer while being displaced.

12. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

13. The hitch angle monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a virtual steering input apparatus that is superimposed on the imaged scene and mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.

15. A hitch angle monitoring method comprising the steps of:
imaging a rear vehicle scene;
displaying the imaged scene;
superimposing an overlay on the imaged scene that identifies a hitch angle position limit between a tow vehicle and a trailer; and
displaying a hitch angle position indicator that identifies a current hitch angle position in relation to the hitch angle limit position.

16. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 15 , wherein the hitch angle position corresponds to an angular position of a centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle.

17. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 16 , wherein the hitch angle position indicator coincides with the centerline longitudinal axis of the trailer and is positioned closer towards the hitch angle position limit when a hitch angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer increases.

18. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 17 , wherein the overlay includes a plurality of regions, each encompassing at least one hitch angle position and each visibly distinguished by an associated color.

19. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of generating a warning signal when the current hitch angle position nears, reaches, and/or exceeds the hitch angle position limit.

20. The hitch angle monitoring method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of generating a virtual steering input apparatus that is overlaid on the imaged scene and mimics the physical characteristics and behavior of an actual steering input apparatus of a trailer backup assist system.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lavoie Erick Michael

Classifications

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• B60W2300/14

  Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains · CPC title

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60R1/003

  for viewing trailer hitches · CPC title

• B60W2050/146

  Display means · CPC title