Process for coupling a trailer to a motor vehicle

US7204504B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Ottmar Gehring · Stuttgart, DE
• Harro Heilmann · Esslingen am Neckar, DE
• Frederic Holzmann · Stuttgart, DE
• Andreas Schwarzhaupt · Oberrot, DE
• Gernot Spiegelberg · Heimsheim, DE
• Armin Sulzmann · Oftersheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2005
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2007
• Expiry date: Aug 8, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D53/12
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In the case of a method for hitching a trailer (2) to a motor vehicle (1), in particular a semitrailer to a semitrailer towing machine, an image sensor (5) is provided which is arranged in a hitching region (6) in such a manner that image data of the hitching region (6) are recorded. During the approach of the motor vehicle (1) to the trailer (2), stored model data of the hitching region (6) of the trailer (2) are segmented in the image data recorded by the image sensor (5) and are in each case placed in the correct position in the image data. A target zone (9) for the hitching is determined therefrom. The arrangement of the target zone (9) in the image data is used as a measurement for a steering operation of the motor vehicle (1) during hitching.