IP Library Granted Patent US 10,864,848
Granted Patent B2
US 10,864,848 · App. 16/721,270 · Granted Dec 15, 2020

Reverse lights trailer hitch assist

Inventor: Noah Joseph Gedrimas (Dryden, MI)
Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
B60Q1/50B60Q1/22B60Q1/30B60Q1/44B60D1/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,864,848
App. No.
16/721,270
Granted
Dec 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling one or more lights of a light system supported by a vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system supported by the vehicle and determining a current status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system. The method includes determining an updated status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system based on the sensor system data. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the light system. The instructions cause the one or more lights to adjust their current status based on the updated status.

Claims (37)

1. A method for controlling one or more lights of a light system supported by a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at data processing hardware, driver data indicative of a status of a driver in the vehicle;

receiving, at data processing hardware, sensor system data from a sensor system supported by the vehicle, the sensor system data including a movement status indicative of the driver moving from a driver side of the vehicle to a back side of the vehicle;

determining, at the data processing hardware, a current status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system;

when the driver status indicates that the driver is not in the vehicle and the movement status indicates that the driver moved to the back side of the vehicle:

determining, at the data processing hardware, an updated status of the one or more lights of the vehicle light system; and

transmitting, from the data processing hardware to the light system in communication with the data processing hardware, instructions causing the one or more lights to adjust their current status based on the updated status.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights are facing a rearward direction with respect to the vehicle and are configured to illuminate a rearward environment of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights include at least one of a tail light, a brake light, a reverse light, and a stop light.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system data includes images captured by one or more cameras positioned to face a rearward environment of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system data includes sensor data captured by one or more sensors positioned to face a rearward environment of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system data includes data from a door sensor indicative of a driver door status being open or closed.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including:

receiving steering wheel data during a rearward maneuver of the vehicle; and

determining a vehicle behavior indicative of the vehicle approaching a trailer based on the sensor system data and the steering wheel data,

wherein the updated status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system is based on the vehicle behavior.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated status extends for a predetermined period of time.

9. A system for controlling one or more lights of a light system supported by a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle light system including one or more lights;

data processing hardware in communication with the vehicle light system; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

receiving driver data indicative of a status of a driver in the vehicle;

receiving sensor system data from a sensor system supported by the vehicle, the sensor system data including a movement status indicative of the driver moving from a driver side of the vehicle to a back side of the vehicle;

determining a current status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system;

when the driver status indicates that the driver is not in the vehicle and the movement status indicates that the driver moved to the back side of the vehicle:

determining an updated status of the one or more lights of the vehicle light; and

transmitting instructions to the vehicle light system, the instructions causing the one or more lights to adjust their current status based on the updated status.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more lights are facing a rearward direction with respect to the vehicle and are configured to illuminate a rearward environment of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more lights include at least one of a tail light, a brake light, a reverse light, and a stop light.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor system data includes images captured by one or more cameras positioned to face a rearward environment of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor system data includes sensor data captured by one or more sensors positioned to face a rearward environment of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor system data includes data from a door sensor indicative of a driver door status being open or closed.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

receiving steering wheel data during a rearward maneuver of the vehicle; and

determining a vehicle behavior indicative of the vehicle approaching a trailer based on the sensor system data and the steering wheel data,

wherein the updated status associated with the one or more lights of the vehicle light system is based on the vehicle behavior.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the updated status extends for a predetermined period of time.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2022
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY US, LLC.
Reel/Frame 061100/0217 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2020
From: GEDRIMAS, NOAH JOSEPH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054336/0689 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62783874 · Dec 21, 2018
Related Publication 20200198533A1 · Jun 25, 2020