# US 10,118,451 B1 · Automatic trailering mirror > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,451 B1 - Document ID: US10118451B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/698,921 - Filed: 2017-09-08 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart C. Salter; Paul Kenneth Dellock; Pietro Buttolo; Erick Michael Lavoie; Keith Hoelscher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118451B1 ## CPC - B60D 1/36: for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers - B60R 1/062: with remote control for adjusting position {(B60R1/0607 takes precedence)} - B60R 1/07: by electrically powered actuators - B60R 1/078: easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A disclosed system and method for adjusting vehicle mirrors automatically moves mirror assemblies to an extended trailering position in response to initiation of a hitching operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for adjusting vehicle mirrors comprising: a vehicle mirror movable to one of a plurality of trailering positions; a detection device identifying a trailer proximate to but not hitched to the vehicle; a memory device including at least one saved mirror position corresponding with one of the plurality of trailering positions corresponding with an identified trailer; and a controller for communicating with a token on the trailer to determine if the detected trailer corresponds with an identified trailer and generating commands to automatically move the vehicle mirror to one of the plurality of trailering positions corresponding with the identified trailer responsive to initiation of a hitching operation and detection of the identified trailer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one saved mirror position further corresponds with a saved vehicle driver configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle mirror comprises a side mirror that is extendible to the trailering position and the saved mirror position comprises adjustment of the side mirror to correspond with the identified trailer once in the trailering position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiation of a hitching operation is indicated responsive to activation of an automatic hitching system that guides the vehicle along a path to align a vehicle hitch with the identified trailer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the detection device includes at least one of a camera and a radar device for detecting a trailer proximate the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, including a token on the trailer that communicates with the controller of the vehicle to determine if a detected trailer corresponds with an identified trailer with a previously saved mirror position. ### Claim 7 A method of automatically adjusting vehicle mirrors comprising: storing at least one saved mirror trailering position in a memory device on the vehicle, wherein the at least one saved mirror trailering position corresponds with a previously identified trailer; generating a signal from a token on a trailer to communicate identifying information of the trailer to the controller of the vehicle utilized to determining if the trailer is an identified trailer; and moving a vehicle mirror to the saved mirror trailering position according to commands generated by a controller responsive to initiation of a hitching operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, including identifying the trailer based on information in a token disposed on the trailer and reading the token with a detection device disposed on the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, including storing the at least one saved mirror trailering position to correspond with a saved vehicle driver configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, including detecting initiation of a hitching operation responsive to a detection device detecting that a trailer is proximate the vehicle and the vehicle being in a reverse gear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the detection device comprises one of a camera and a radar device of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, including detecting initiation of a hitching operation responsive to actuation of an automatic hitching system. ### Claim 13 A system for adjusting vehicle mirrors comprising: a vehicle mirror movable to a trailering position; a detection device detecting that a trailer is proximate the vehicle; a controller that indicates initiation of a hitching operation responsive to detection of the trailer and the vehicle being in a reverse gear and generates commands to automatically move the vehicle mirror to the trailering position; and a token on the trailer that communicates with the controller of the vehicle to determine if a detected trailer corresponds with an identified trailer with a previously saved mirror position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein initiation of the hitching operation is further indicated in response to activation of an automatic hitching system that guides the vehicle along a path to align a vehicle hitch with the identified trailer.