Guided tow hitch control system and method
US9731568B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2300/808
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and system provide guided control of a hitching operation between a tow vehicle and a trailer. Dynamic pixel images are collected of the first and second hitch devices using a camera. The position of the second hitch device is determined using the controller. A first graphical overlay to the dynamic pixel images is displayed, with the first graphical overlay, e.g., guidelines, depicting a path of the tow vehicle. A distance between a calibrated position of the first hitch device and the determined position of the second hitch device is calculated and a second graphical overlay is displayed on zoomed-in images when the calculated distance is less than a calibrated distance. The second graphical overlay provides indicia of the positions of the first and second hitch devices. A control action executes when the second graphical overlay indicates substantial overlap or concentric alignment of the indicia of the respective positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.