公开(公告)号：US20210114422A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-22

申请号：US16658566

申请日：2019-10-21

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Avesta Goodarzi ,  Ralph D. Schlottke ,  Grant L. Meade ,  Norman J. Weigert

IPC: B60D1/24 ,  B62D53/08 ,  B60D1/56 ,  B60D1/62 ,  B60D1/06 ,  B60R16/033

Abstract: Systems are provided for assisting in towing a trailer by a lead vehicle. A wheeled tow assist unit couples between the lead vehicle and the trailer. A drive unit onboard the tow assist unit drives the wheels in response to a force between the trailer and the tow assist unit. The tow assist unit bears at least a portion of the force required to tow the trailer.

公开(公告)号：US10596967B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US15936838

申请日：2018-03-27

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Norman J. Weigert ,  Grant L. Meade ,  Ralph D. Schlottke ,  Fred W. Huntzicker

IPC: B60Q1/30 ,  B60R1/00 ,  B60Q1/26 ,  B60D1/36 ,  B60R16/02 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/235

Abstract: An imaging connection device is provided for use with a vehicle and a trailer. The vehicle includes a hitch assembly, a wired vehicle interface, and a vehicle communications unit, and the trailer includes a tow assembly and a wire harness. The imaging connection device includes a housing defining a first connector configured to mate with the wired vehicle interface and a second connector configured to mate with the wire harness; a connector interface at least partially arranged within the housing and extending between the first connector and the second connector; a camera unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to capture image data representing a side view of the hitch assembly; and a wireless communications unit at least partially arranged within the housing and configured to transmit the image data captured by the camera unit to the vehicle communications unit for display on a display device.

公开(公告)号：US20190100064A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US15724564

申请日：2017-10-04

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Anil Bika ,  Thomas R. Brown ,  Daniel Demitrish ,  Anthony L. Smith ,  Michelle H. Wiebenga ,  Grant L. Meade ,  Norman J. Weigert

IPC: B60D1/64 ,  B60D1/06

CPC classification number: B60D1/06 ,  B60D1/28 ,  B60D1/62

Abstract: A smart trailer coupler system includes a ball mount connectable to a vehicle, a hitch ball mechanically connected to the ball mount, a coupler selectively connectable to the hitch ball, and at least one sensor mounted to one of the ball mount, the hitch ball and the coupler. The at least one sensor detects a size compatibility between the coupler and the hitch ball. A signal system is operatively connected to the at least one sensor. The signal system provides at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert of the size compatibility between the hitch ball and the coupler.

公开(公告)号：US10185329B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-22

申请号：US15332053

申请日：2016-10-24

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Peter J. Giles ,  Upali P. Mudalige ,  Shuqing Zeng ,  Michael A. Losh ,  Grant L. Meade

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  B60W30/16 ,  B60W10/18 ,  B60W10/04 ,  B60W10/20

Abstract: A method for vehicle-to-vehicle communication is disclosed. The method includes establishing a communication connection between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, receiving one or more communications from the second vehicle, determining, by the first vehicle, vehicle parameter targets based on the one or more communications, communicating the vehicle parameter targets and one or more vehicle device commands to the second vehicle, and determining at least one vehicle control signal for the second vehicle based on the vehicle parameter targets and the one or more vehicle device commands.

公开(公告)号：US20170240125A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-24

申请号：US15048167

申请日：2016-02-19

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Norman J. Weigert ,  Grant L. Meade ,  Vyacheslav Berezin

IPC: B60R16/023 ,  B60Q1/34 ,  B60Q1/44 ,  H04B3/56 ,  H04L27/00

CPC classification number: B60R16/023 ,  B60Q1/305 ,  B60Q1/34 ,  B60Q1/44 ,  B60Q2900/30 ,  H04B3/56 ,  H04L27/0002

Abstract: A method and system for communication between a vehicle and trailer over existing power lines, such as by using a power line communication (PLC) arrangement. A PLC modem may convey data over electrical power that is supplied on the power lines and/or may elicit data from electrical power supplied on the power lines. This enables one or more electronic control units (ECUs) on the vehicle to communicate with input/output devices on the trailer, such as rearward-facing cameras or braking devices, without having to provide separate, dedicated communication lines therebetween.