IP Library Granted Patent US 12,252,073
Granted Patent B2
US 12,252,073 · App. 17/753,355 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Trailer underneath and side visualization

Inventors: Ravikanth Uppara (Seaford, GB); Aranza Hinojosa Castro (Ferndale, MI)
Assignee: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
B60R1/105B60R1/003B60R1/26G08G1/167B60R2300/303
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,252,073
App. No.
17/753,355
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of providing a visualization ( 152 ) of one or more areas obscured by a trailer ( 200 ) attached to a vehicle ( 100 ) is provided. The method includes receiving first image data ( 133, 133 a ) from a first camera ( 132 ) positioned on a front portion of the vehicle ( 100 ) when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a forward direction or a rear portion of the trailer when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a rearward direction. The method also includes storing the received first image data. The method includes receiving speed data ( 135 ) of the vehicle from a speed sensor ( 134 ). The method also includes determining a visualization ( 152 ) of an area (Area 2) underneath the trailer ( 200 ) based on the stored first image data ( 133, 133 a ) and the speed data ( 135 ), and sending instructions to a display ( 122 ) to display the visualization of the area underneath the trailer.

Claims (44)

1. A method of providing a visualization of one or more areas obscured by a trailer attached to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at data processing hardware, first image data from a first camera positioned on a front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a forward direction or a rear portion of the trailer when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a rearward direction, the first camera in communication with the data processing hardware;

storing, at memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the received first image data;

receiving, at the data processing hardware, speed data of the vehicle from a speed sensor;

determining, at the data processing hardware, a visualization including an area underneath the trailer based on the stored first image data and the speed data; and

sending, from the data processing hardware to a display in communication with the data processing hardware, instructions to display the visualization including the area underneath the trailer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving second image data from a second camera positioned on a rear portion of the vehicle;

receiving third image data from a third camera positioned on a rear portion of the trailer; and

overlaying the third image data over the second image data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the visualization is displayed within a boundary of a representation of the trailer of the second image.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

stitching the first image data with the third image data as part of the visualization.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving fourth image data from a fourth camera positioned on a left-side and/or a right-side portion of the trailer; and

stitching the fourth image data with the third image data.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising stitching the fourth image data with the first image data.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the visualization includes the first image data, the third image data, and the fourth image data.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining a trailer angle between a vehicle fore-aft axis and a trailer fore-aft axis based on sensor system data received from a sensor system supported by a rear portion of the vehicle; and

adjusting the visualization of the third image overlaid on the second image data based on the trailer angle.

9. A system for providing a visualization of one or more areas obscured by a trailer attached to a vehicle, the system comprising:

data processing hardware;

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 first image data from a first camera positioned on a front portion of the vehicle when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a forward direction or a rear portion of the trailer when the vehicle and the trailer are moving in a rearward direction, the first camera in communication with the data processing hardware;

storing the received first image data at the memory hardware;

receiving speed data of the vehicle from a speed sensor;

determining a visualization including an area underneath the trailer based on the stored first image data and the speed data; and

sending instructions to a display to display the visualization including the area underneath the trailer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving second image data from a second camera positioned on a rear portion of the vehicle;

receiving third image data from a third camera positioned on a rear portion of the trailer; and

overlaying the third image data over the second image data.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the visualization is displayed within a boundary of a representation of the trailer of the second image.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

stitching the first image data with the third image data as part of the visualization.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving fourth image data from a fourth camera positioned on a left-side and/or a right-side portion of the trailer; and

stitching the fourth image data with the third image data.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise stitching the fourth image data with the first image data.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the visualization includes the first image data, the third image data, and the fourth image data.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a trailer angle between a vehicle fore-aft axis and a trailer fore-aft axis based on sensor system data received from a sensor system supported by a rear portion of the vehicle; and

adjusting the visualization of the third image overlaid on the second image data based on the trailer angle.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 15, 2024
From: CONTINENTAL ADVANCED LIDAR SOLUTIONS US, LLC
To: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY US, LLC
Reel/Frame 067412/0467 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2024
From: UPPARA, RAVIKANTH; HINOJOSA CASTRO, ARANZA
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067092/0349 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62893007 · Aug 28, 2019
Related Publication 20220314884A1 · Oct 6, 2022
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