# US 11,298,993 B2 · Detection of trailer detachment from a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,993 B2 - Document ID: US11298993B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/441,906 - Filed: 2019-06-14 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-14 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Akram M. Abdel-Rahman; Shiv G. Patel; Ephraim C. Yuen; Kibrom Yohannes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298993B2 ## CPC - B60D 1/065: {characterised by the hitch mechanism} - B60D 1/62: involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like - B60D 1/28: for preventing unwanted disengagement, e.g. safety appliances - B60D 1/58: Auxiliary devices - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 10/20: including control of steering systems - B62D 13/00: Steering specially adapted for trailers (combined traction and steering hitches B60D) - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - B60R 2300/30: characterised by the type of image processing - B60R 2300/808: for facilitating docking to a trailer - B60W 2300/14: Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - 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) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system for monitoring a trailer includes a detection device configured to monitor a connection between a coupler attached to the trailer and a trailer hitch attached to a vehicle and generate data related to the connection, and a processing device configured to receive the data from the detection device, and analyze the data to detect whether a partial detachment condition is present. Based on detecting the partial detachment condition, the processing device is configured to generate a notification to a driver to alert the driver of the partial detachment condition and/or control operation of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring a trailer, comprising: a detection device configured to monitor a connection between a coupler attached to the trailer and a trailer hitch attached to a vehicle when the vehicle is in operation and the trailer is connected to the vehicle, and generate data related to the connection; and a processing device configured to receive the data from the detection device, analyze the data to detect whether a partial detachment condition is present, and based on detecting the partial detachment condition, perform at least one of: generating a notification to a driver to alert the driver of the partial detachment condition; and controlling operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the detection device includes a camera and the data includes an image of at least a part of the coupler and at least a part of the trailer hitch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the trailer hitch includes a ball, and the processing device is configured to detect the partial detachment condition based on the ball being visible in the image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is configured to compare a location of the coupler to a reference location, and to detect the partial detachment condition based on the location of the coupler being a distance from the reference location exceeding a selected threshold distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein controlling the operation of the vehicle includes controlling vehicle braking. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the processing device is configured to compare a location of the coupler to a reference location, and to adjust a braking force based on a distance between the location of the coupler and the reference location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle includes controlling vehicle steering. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein controlling vehicle steering includes limiting an angular range of steering to avoid oversteering by the driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein controlling vehicle steering includes autonomously steering the vehicle to remove the vehicle and the trailer from a road. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the partial detachment condition is detected based on the coupler and the trailer hitch being separated and the vehicle being connected to the trailer by a safety device. ### Claim 11 A method of monitoring a trailer, comprising: monitoring, by a detection device, a connection between a coupler attached to the trailer and a trailer hitch attached to a vehicle when the vehicle is in operation and the trailer is connected to the vehicle, and generating data related to the connection; and receiving the data from the detection device by a processing device, analyzing the data to detect a partial detachment condition, and based on detecting the partial detachment condition, performing at least one of: generating a notification to a driver to alert the driver of the partial detachment condition; and controlling operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the detection device includes a camera, and receiving the data includes receiving an image of at least a part of the coupler and at least a part of the trailer hitch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the trailer hitch includes a ball, and detecting the partial detachment condition is based on the ball being visible in the image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing the data includes comparing a location of the coupler to a reference location, and the partial detachment condition is detected based on the location of the coupler being a distance from the reference location exceeding a selected threshold distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle includes controlling vehicle braking. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein controlling vehicle braking includes comparing a location of the coupler to a reference location, and adjusting a braking force based on a distance between the location of the coupler and the reference location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle includes controlling vehicle steering. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein controlling vehicle steering includes limiting an angular range of steering to avoid oversteering by the driver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein controlling vehicle steering includes autonomously steering the vehicle to remove the vehicle and the trailer from a road. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the partial detachment condition is detected based on the coupler and the trailer hitch being separated and the vehicle being connected to the trailer by a safety device.