A vehicular trailer assist system includes a control that includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera representative of at least a portion of a trailer hitched to the vehicle. The control determines whether the trailer has been previously hitched to the vehicle. Responsive to the trailer not being previously hitched, the control operates in a trailer initial calibration mode. Responsive to the control recognizing the trailer, the control operates in a recognized trailer calibration mode. The control obtains calibration data unique to the hitched trailer. The control, responsive to obtaining the calibration data, processes image data captured by the camera using the calibration data to locate the current position of the trailer relative to the vehicle. The control, responsive to locating the current position of the trailer relative to the vehicle, determines a trailer angle based on the located current position.

A vehicular trailering assist system includes a vehicle rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. A trailer hitched to the vehicle includes a trailer rear camera disposed at a rear portion of the trailer and viewing at least rearward of the trailer. The control displays at a display device in the vehicle a surround view image using an avatar of the vehicle and an avatar of the trailer. The control stitches images derived from image data captured by the vehicle rear backup camera and images derived from the trailer rear camera to provide a transparent trailer view, and the display device displays transparent trailer view video images. Responsive to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear, the display device automatically displays rear backup images derived from image data captured by the trailer rear camera.

A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and deriving a vehicle path to align a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle with a centerline of a trailer coupler within the image data. The controller also outputs a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler and outputs a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for determining a location of a tow hitch (280) mounted to a vehicle (250), comprising imaging means (260) disposed in relation to the vehicle to output image data corresponding to an image (105), and processing means (200, 210) arranged to receive the image data (270), wherein the processing means is arranged to select image data corresponding to a region (310) of the image and to search within the selected data for image data corresponding to the tow hitch (280) to determine the location of the tow hitch within the image.

The present invention relates to display means for systems for guiding a trailer while backing, and in particular to graphical display means to provide information to an operator who is steering, and controlling the accelerator and brakes by suggesting the amount of steering to apply to the towing vehicle to cause the trailer to be directed to where the operator wants the trailer to go.

Systems and methods for determining an alignment of a trailer relative to a docking bay or a vehicle bay door using dynamic depth filtering. Image data and position data is captured by a 3D camera system with an at least partially downward-facing field of view. When a trailer is approaching the docking bay or door, the captured image data includes a top surface of the trailer. A dynamic height range is determined based on an estimated height of the top surface of the trailer in the image data and a dynamic depth filter is applied to filter out image data corresponding to heights outside of the dynamic height range. An angular position and/or lateral offset of the trailer is determined based on the depth-filtered image data.

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, 133a) 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, 133a) and the speed data (135), and sending instructions to a display (122) to display the visualization of the area underneath the trailer.

A camera system for a vehicle provides for the generation of different perspectives with a single camera to improve location accuracy. The camera system includes a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle and a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera. The mirror provides a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera that is included as part of a single image.

A vehicle and trailer display system is disclosed. The display system includes a plurality of imaging devices disposed on the vehicle, each having a field of view. The display system further includes a screen disposed in the vehicle operable to display images from the imaging devices. A controller is in communication with the imaging devices and the screen and is operable to receive a hitch angle corresponding to the angle between the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the hitch angle, the controller is operable to select a field of view of an imaging device to display on the screen.

An image generating apparatus generates an image to be displayed on a display and includes at least one memory and a control circuit. The control circuit acquires a plurality of camera images captured by a plurality of cameras installed in a vehicle, calculates a distance between one of the cameras and a target to be projected in in the camera images, detects a position of a light-transmissive object or a reflective object in the camera images, and generates an image from a point of view that is different from points of view of the plurality of camera images by using the plurality of camera images and the distance, the generated image including a predetermined image that is displayed at the position of the light-transmissive object or the reflective object.