System and method for hitch angle detection
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristos Kyrtsos, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hitch angle detection system is provided herein. Ultrasonic transducers are disposed on a rear vehicle structure and are configured to transmit ultrasonic waves in a rearward vehicle direction. An ultrasonic reflector is disposed on a trailer and is configured to reflect incident ultrasonic waves back toward the corresponding ultrasonic transducers. A processor is configured to derive distance measurements between the ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic reflector and determine a hitch angle based on the derived distance measurements.
Claims19
A hitch angle detection system comprising:
- ultrasonic transducers disposed on a rear vehicle structure and configured to transmit ultrasonic waves in a rearward vehicle direction;
- an ultrasonic reflector disposed on a trailer and configured to reflect incident ultrasonic waves back toward the corresponding ultrasonic transducers, the ultrasonic reflector comprising a trihedral reflector having a resonating cavity configured to amplify each reflected ultrasonic wave;
- and
- a processor configured to derive distance measurements between the ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic reflector and determine a hitch angle based on the derived distance measurements.
A hitch angle detection system comprising:
- ultrasonic transducers disposed on a rear vehicle structure and configured to transmit ultrasonic waves in a rearward vehicle direction;
- an ultrasonic reflector disposed on a trailer and configured to amplify and reflect incident ultrasonic waves back toward the corresponding ultrasonic transducers;
- and
- a processor configured to derive distance measurements between the ultrasonic reflector and at least two of the ultrasonic transducers and determine a hitch angle based on the derived distance measurements.
A hitch angle detection method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting ultrasonic waves in a rearward vehicle direction with ultrasonic transducers disposed on a rear vehicle structure;
- using an ultrasonic reflector on a trailer to amplify and reflect incident ultrasonic waves back toward the corresponding ultrasonic transducers;
- using a processor to derive distance measurements between the ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic reflector;
- and
- determining a hitch angle based on the derived distance measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.