Trailer hitching aid system for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352623-B2
Application number	US-201414181778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2014
Priority date	Jan 23, 2001
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle includes a camera, at least one ultrasonic sensor, a display screen and a control. The camera has a rearward field of view that encompasses a vehicle hitching element. The control receives input from the camera and input from the at least one ultrasonic sensor. When the vehicle is reversing towards a trailer hitching element of a trailer to establish a hitch connection, the control determines at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the vehicle relative to the trailer, and during the reversing maneuver, the control (a) provides video images for display by the display screen and (b) provides, for display by the display screen, at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the vehicle driver at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the vehicle relative to the trailer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
a camera having a field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system, the equipped vehicle having a vehicle hitching element at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a trailer hitching element of a trailer;
wherein said field of view of said camera encompasses the vehicle hitching element;
at least one ultrasonic sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle;
a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;
a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said at least one ultrasonic sensor;
wherein, responsive to inputs from said camera and from said at least one ultrasonic sensor and during a tow hitching maneuver when the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer hitching element of the trailer to establish a hitch connection, said control determines at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer; and
wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said control (a) provides video images captured by said camera for display by said display screen and (b) provides, for display by said display screen, at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the driver of the equipped vehicle at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer.

2. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle hitching element comprises a hitching ball and said trailer hitching element comprises a hitching receiver of the trailer.

3. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imager having a two dimensional imaging array of photosensing pixels.

4. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen that is backlit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes.

5. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said display screen is operable to display navigation information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the equipped vehicle is not undergoing a tow hitching maneuver.

6. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said display screen is located in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle at an instrument panel or fascia portion.

7. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the vehicle hitching element of the equipped vehicle approaching the trailer hitching element of the trailer.

8. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said control provides for display by said display screen of at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the driver of the equipped vehicle distance to the trailer.

9. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one graphic overlay comprises indicia to assist the driver in aligning the vehicle hitching element with the trailer hitching element during a tow hitching maneuver.

10. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said control provides for display by said display screen of at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the driver of the equipped vehicle orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer.

11. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said control provides for display by said display screen of at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the driver of the equipped vehicle (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer.

12. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , comprising auxiliary lighting at the rear of the equipped vehicle, wherein said auxiliary lighting, when operated, illuminates at least a portion of the field of view of said camera.

13. The tow hitching aid system of claim 12 , wherein said auxiliary lighting comprises a unitary light module, said unitary light module comprising a housing having an inner surface forming a reflector and an outer surface having a plurality of heat dissipating fins, and wherein a single high-intensity power light emitting diode is located inside said housing, and wherein said reflector at least one of directs and shapes light from said single high-intensity power light emitting diode toward a light output area of said housing, and wherein a lens covers said light output area of said housing, and wherein said lens at least one of directs and shapes light from said single high-intensity power light emitting diode, and wherein a voltage conversion element is provided, and wherein said voltage conversion element includes a DC step-down converter.

14. The tow hitching aid system of claim 1 , wherein said display screen comprises at least one of (i) a touch sensitive display screen and (ii) a voice activatable display screen.

15. A tow hitching aid system for a vehicle, said tow hitching aid system comprising:
a camera having a field of view rearward of a vehicle equipped with said tow hitching aid system, the equipped vehicle having a vehicle hitching element at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle for connecting to a trailer hitching element of a trailer;
wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imager having a two dimensional imaging array of photosensing pixels;
wherein said vehicle hitching element comprises a hitching ball and said trailer hitching element comprises a hitching receiver of the trailer;
wherein said field of view of said camera encompasses the vehicle hitching element;
at least one ultrasonic sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle;
a display screen disposed in the equipped vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;
a control, wherein said control receives input from said camera and input from said at least one ultrasonic sensor;
wherein, responsive to inputs from said camera and from said at least one ultrasonic sensor and during a tow hitching maneuver when the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer hitching element of the trailer to establish a hitch connection, said control determines at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer;
wherein; during a tow hitching maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said control (a) provides video images captured by said camera for display by said display screen and (b) provides, for display by said display screen, at least one graphic overlay that indicates to the driver of the equipped vehicle at least one of (i) distance to the trailer and (ii) orientation of the equipped vehicle relative to the trailer; and
wherein, during a tow hitching maneuver, said display screen displays video images as the equipped vehicle is reversing towards the trailer so the driver can view the vehicle hitching element of the equipped vehicle approaching the trailer hitching element of the trailer.

16. The tow hitching aid system of claim 15 , wherein said display screen is operable to display navigation information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the equipped vehicle is not undergoing a tow hitching maneuver.

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lynam Niall R
• Lindahl John O

Classifications

• H04N23/11

  for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/661

  Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title