# US 10,119,812 B2 · Trailer parameter identification system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,812 B2 - Document ID: US10119812B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/900,778 - Filed: 2014-07-03 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-04 - Assignees: Jaguar Land Rover Limited - Applicants: Jaguar Land Rover Limited - Inventors: Harpreet Singh; Andrew Bradley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119812B2 ## CPC - G01B 21/08: for measuring thickness - B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically} - G01B 21/20: for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile - G01S 19/42: Determining position - G06T 7/60: Analysis of geometric attributes - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/30252: Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A trailer parameter identification system (1) for identifying at least one geometrical parameter relating to a trailer (5) comprises at least one sensor (9, 10, 11, 7A, 7B) and a processor (33A, 33B). The at least one sensor (9, 10, 11, 7A, 7B) is configured to acquire data. The processor (33A, 33B) is configured to process said data to generate a value representative of a geometrical parameter of the trailer (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer, the system being adapted to be installed on-board a vehicle, the system comprising: a processor; and at least one sensor for acquiring data relating to the trailer as the vehicle drives past the trailer and arranged to send the data to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to process the data to generate a value representative of the at least one geometrical parameter of the trailer, the at least one geometrical parameter comprising a hitch length of the trailer between the tow coupler and the wheel axle; wherein the processor is configured to generate the at least one geometrical parameter with reference to a distance traveled by the vehicle as it travels past the trailer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises one or more of the following: a tow bar position; a maximum length of the trailer; a rear overhang of the trailer; trailer shape; and number of wheels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises a number of axles of the trailer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to process the data to generate a descriptive result related to the trailer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the descriptive result is associated with a shape of the trailer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the descriptive result is associated with a type, class or category of the trailer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is: a camera, a radar, a vehicle parking sensor, an ultrasonic transceiver, or a laser scanner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the system of claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a GPS (global positioning system) configured to cooperate with the system in order to associate at least one GPS coordinate to the trailer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to acquire data from one or both sides of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 A method of identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer, the method comprising: acquiring data relating to the trailer via at least one sensor incorporated into a vehicle, the data being acquired as the vehicle drives past the trailer; and processing the data to generate a value representative of a geometrical parameter of the trailer comprising a hitch length of the trailer between the tow coupler and the wheel axle, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter is generated with reference to a distance travelled by the vehicle as it travels past the trailer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A computer program product for configuring or reconfiguring a vehicle system having at least one sensor and a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code, wherein the computer readable program code, when executed on the vehicle system, configures or reconfigures the vehicle system for performing the method of claim 11. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one geometrical parameter comprises one or more of the following: a tow bar position; a maximum length of the trailer; a hitch length of the trailer; a rear overhang of the trailer; trailer shape; number of wheels; trailer loading; and trailer tire pressures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A trailer parameter identification apparatus configured to carry out the method of identifying at least one geometrical parameter of a trailer according to claim 11.