The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2023
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2019
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Luke Niewiadomski, Dearborn, MI (US);
Douglas J. Rogan, Mountain View, CA (US);
Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Vidya Nariyambut Murali, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Bruno Sielly Jales Costa, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A hitch assist system for a vehicle comprises an imaging system that receives image data of a hitch ball and trailer coupler, and a controller. The controller estimates a distance between a point on each of the hitch ball and trailer coupler. The points are parallel to a plane defined by a surface beneath the hitch ball and trailer coupler. The controller tracks the distance with a pixel-domain comparison between each of the points responsive to the distance being less than a first threshold, and maneuvers, via steering and braking systems, the vehicle along a path such that the distance is indicative of the points being coaxial.