Hitch assistance system with interface presenting simplified path image
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsLi Xu, Kyle Simmons, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Katherine Rouen, Roger Arnold Trombley, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and deriving a vehicle path to align a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle with a centerline of a trailer coupler within the image data. The controller also outputs a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler and outputs a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.
Claims20
A vehicle hitching assistance system, comprising:
- a human-machine interface including a dedicated video screen mounted within the vehicle;
- and
- a controller:
- acquiring image data from the vehicle;
- deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with a trailer coupler within the image data;
- outputting a video image, including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler, to the video screen for display thereon;
- and
- outputting a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a steering system;
- a dedicated human-machine interface including a video screen mounted within the vehicle;
- and
- a controller:
- acquiring image data from the vehicle;
- deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with a trailer coupler within the image data;
- outputting a video image, including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler, to the video screen for display thereon;
- and
- outputting a steering signal to the steering system to steer along the vehicle path.
A method for assisting a vehicle in hitching with a trailer, comprising:
- acquiring image data from the vehicle;
- deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with a trailer coupler within the image data;
- presenting a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler on a dedicated human-machine interface, including a video screen, mounted within the vehicle;
- and
- causing the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.