Trailer Hitch Alignment Systems and Methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for aligning a towing vehicle trailer hitch with the tongue of a trailer/towed vehicle are provided that enable a driver to know when the towing vehicle trailer hitch is close enough to the trailer tongue such that the two can be coupled. A trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a trailer tongue. An alignment system includes at least one energy emitter secured to the vehicle that emits energy in the direction of the trailer tongue, and at least two sensors secured to the vehicle in spaced-apart relationship. The energy emitter(s) and sensors may be secured to the trailer or trailer hitch.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, the alignment system comprising:
 an energy emitter secured to the trailer that emits energy in the direction of the vehicle;   at least two sensors secured to the trailer in spaced-apart relationship, each sensor configured to generate signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the vehicle; and   a processor in communication with the sensors that processes the signals generated by the sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end.   
     
     
         39 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar that is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, and wherein the target zone represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned. 
     
     
         40 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the processor that displays a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone. 
     
     
         41 . The alignment system of  claim 40 , wherein the user interface is located within the vehicle. 
     
     
         42 . The alignment system of  claim 41 , wherein the user interface is displayed on a windshield of the vehicle. 
     
     
         43 . The alignment system of  claim 41 , wherein the user interface is displayed via a navigation system display associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         44 . The alignment system of  claim 40 , wherein the user interface displays a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone in real time. 
     
     
         45 . The alignment system of  claim 40 , wherein the user interface displays directional information for moving the vehicle such that the trailer tongue can become positioned within the target zone. 
     
     
         46 . The alignment system of  claim 40 , wherein the user interface plays audio directional information for moving the vehicle such that the trailer tongue can become positioned within the target zone. 
     
     
         47 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , further comprising a hand held device in communication with the processor, wherein the hand held device comprises a user interface that displays a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone. 
     
     
         48 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is a hand held device processor. 
     
     
         49 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy emitter is an optical emitter, and wherein the sensors are optical sensors. 
     
     
         50 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy emitter is an infrared emitter, and wherein the sensors are infrared sensors. 
     
     
         51 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy emitter is an acoustic emitter, and wherein the sensors are acoustic sensors. 
     
     
         52 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy emitter is an ultrasound emitter, and wherein the sensors are ultrasound sensors. 
     
     
         53 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the vehicle comprises an automated parking/steering system that receives the directional data from the processor and wherein the automated parking/steering system is configured to automatically move the vehicle relative to the trailer tongue to position the trailer tongue within the target zone. 
     
     
         54 . The alignment system of  claim 38 , wherein the trailer hitch comprises a housing having spaced-apart first and second sections that define a cavity, and wherein the tow bar is movably disposed within the housing cavity. 
     
     
         55 . An alignment system for a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to a tongue of a trailer, the alignment system comprising:
 a pair of transducers secured to the trailer in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein each transducer emits energy in the direction of the vehicle and generates signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the vehicle; and   a processor in communication with the transducers that processes the signals generated by the transducers to provide directional data representative of a location of the trailer tongue relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end.   
     
     
         56 . The alignment system of  claim 55 , wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar that is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, and wherein the target zone represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned. 
     
     
         57 . The alignment system of  claim 57 , wherein the transducers are optical transducers or acoustic transducers. 
     
     
         58 . A method of aligning a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle with a coupler of a towed vehicle, wherein the trailer hitch includes a tow bar having a free end configured to be coupled to the coupler, the method comprising:
 emitting energy in the direction of the vehicle;   generating signals in response to detecting a reflection of the energy from the vehicle at first and second sensors secured to the towed vehicle in spaced-apart relationship; and   processing the signals generated by the first and second sensors to provide directional data representative of a location of the coupler relative to a target zone that represents a location of the tow bar free end.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the trailer hitch includes a movable tow bar that is extendable and pivotable relative to the vehicle, and wherein the target zone represents an area within which the free end of the tow bar can be positioned. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising displaying a representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone within a user interface. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the representation of a location of the trailer tongue relative to the target zone is displayed in real time. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising displaying directional information within the user interface for moving the vehicle such that the trailer tongue can become positioned within the target zone. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising playing audio directional information for moving the vehicle such that the trailer tongue can become positioned within the target zone. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the energy emitted is light and the first and second sensors are optical sensors, wherein the energy emitted is infrared light and the first and second sensors are infrared sensors, or wherein the energy emitted is sound and the first and second sensors are acoustic sensors.