Trailer monitoring system and method
A vehicle trailer backup assist system and method includes a hitch angle detection apparatus and a target monitor controller. The target monitor controller processes images acquired of the trailer towed by a towing vehicle to assist with placement of a target on the trailer. The target monitor controller also monitors the target and provides feedback to the user as to proper positioning of the target on the trailer. A target move detection routine detects movement of a target by processing the pixels of the image to determine if a new trailer has been connected. Further, a trailer connection monitoring routine monitors for a changed trailer based on loss of the hitch angle or target for a predetermined time period.
1. A method of monitoring a vehicle trailer connection comprising:
generating images of a trailer connected to a vehicle with a camera;
detecting a target in the generated images;
applying selected trailer features if the target is continuously detected;
prompting a new selection of trailer features when the target is unavailable for a predetermined time period; and
applying the new selection of trailer features when a new target is detected.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is a minimum time period required to change out the trailer.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the time period comprises at least 30 seconds.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is mounted on a rear side of the vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is employed in a trailer backup assist application.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting a trailer hitch angle based on the monitored target.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of determining whether the trailer hitch angle is detected, wherein the step of prompting a new selection of trailer features comprises prompting a new selection of trailer features when the trailer hitch angle is not detected for a predetermined time period.
8. A method of monitoring a vehicle trailer connection comprising:
detecting a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer;
applying selected trailer features if the hitch angle is continuously detected;
prompting a new selection of trailer features when the hitch angle is unavailable for a predetermined time period; and
applying the new selection of trailer features when a new hitch angle is detected.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:
generating images of the trailer connected to the vehicle with a camera; and
detecting a target in the generated images, wherein the detection of the hitch angle is determined based on the detected target.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the camera is mounted on a rear side of a vehicle.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined time period is in a minimum time period required to change out the trailer.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the time period comprises at least thirty seconds.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is employed in a trailer backup assist application.
14. A trailer monitoring system comprising:
a hitch connection identifier indicative of a connection of a trailer to a vehicle; and
a controller applying selected trailer features if the hitch connection is continuously identified, prompting a new selection of trailer features when the hitch connection is unavailable for a predetermined time period, and applying the new selection of trailer features when a new hitch connection is identified.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hitch connection identifier comprises a hitch angle detector.
16. The system of claim 14 further comprising:
a camera mounted on the towing vehicle and arranged to generate an image of the trailer; and
an image processor for processing the image to determine a target on the trailer, wherein the target is used to detect the trailer connection identifier.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined time period is a minimum time period required to change out the trailer.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the time period comprises at least thirty seconds.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system is employed in a trailer backup assist application.