US 12,447,908 B2
Vehicular trailer hitching assist system
Harold E. Joseph, Brampton (CA); and Jyothi P. Gali, Rochester Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/444,834.
Application 18/444,834 is a continuation of application No. 15/929,646, filed on May 14, 2020, granted, now 11,904,778.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/847,532, filed on May 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0190359 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60D 1/28 (2006.01); B60D 1/06 (2006.01); B60D 1/64 (2006.01); B60R 1/00 (2022.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [B60D 1/28 (2013.01); B60D 1/64 (2013.01); B60R 1/003 (2013.01); B60D 1/06 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular trailer hitching assist system, the vehicular trailer hitching assist system comprising:
a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular trailer hitching assist system, the rear backup camera viewing at least rearward of the vehicle, wherein at least a hitching portion of a trailer hitched to a hitch of the vehicle is viewed by the rear backup camera;
wherein the rear backup camera comprises an imaging array having at least one million photosensor elements arranged in rows and columns;
wherein the rear backup camera is operable to capture image data;
an image processor operable to process the image data captured by the rear backup camera;
wherein the image data captured by the rear backup camera is processed at the image processor;
wherein the vehicular trailer hitching assist system, via processing at the image processor of the image data captured by the rear backup camera, determines an incorrect connection of the hitching portion of the trailer to the hitch of the vehicle, and wherein the incorrect connection comprises a gap between the hitching portion of the trailer and a hitch ball of the hitch of the vehicle; and
wherein the vehicular trailer hitching assist system, responsive to determination of the incorrect connection of the hitching portion of the trailer to the hitch of the vehicle, alerts a driver of the vehicle of the determined incorrect connection of the hitching portion of the trailer to the hitch of the vehicle.