Trailer Camera Communication System

Abstract

The camera surveillance system includes a trailer having trailer components responsive to at least one control signal, and a wiring harness having a connector in communication with the trailer components and in communication with the tractor. The wiring harness transmits the at least one control signal to the trailer components. A sensor is provided on the trailer and generates a sensor signal. A processor is interconnected between the sensor and the wiring harness. The processor converts the sensor signal into at least one control signal for transmission over the wiring harness using a common wire in the wiring harness. A filter is interconnected between the processor and at least one of the trailer components and filters noise from the at least one control signal.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a camera surveillance system (CMS) for use in commercial trucks, and more particularly to a system for providing communication between sensors, such as trailer-mounted cameras, and the CMS.

[0002] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 213938, filed June 23, 2021. [Background technology]

[0003] Mirror replacement systems, and camera systems that supplement the mirror view, are utilized in commercial vehicles to enhance the vehicle operator's ability to view the surrounding environment. Camera surveillance systems (CMS) utilize one or more cameras to provide an enhanced field of view to the vehicle operator. In some instances, mirror replacement systems cover a wider field of view than a traditional mirror or include views that are not fully available via a traditional mirror.

[0004] The area behind the trailer is a typical blind spot in conventional mirror systems. It is desirable to provide the operator with visibility behind the trailer. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one exemplary embodiment, a camera surveillance system for a vehicle including a tractor and trailer includes a trailer having trailer components responsive to at least one control signal, and a wiring harness in communication with the trailer components, the wiring harness having a connector configured to communicate with the tractor. The wiring harness is configured to transmit the at least one control signal to the trailer components. The system further includes a sensor disposed on the trailer and configured to generate a sensor signal. The system further includes a processor interconnected between the sensor and the wiring harness. The processor converts the sensor signal to the at least one control signal for transmission over the wiring harness using a common wire in the wiring harness. The system further includes a filter interconnected between the processor and at least one of the trailer components and configured to filter noise from the at least one control signal.

[0006] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the trailer components include at least one of marker lights, brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, and anti-lock braking system components, each of the trailer components configured to receive one of the at least one control signal.

[0007] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the noise is generated by a trailer component.

[0008] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the common electrical wire is provided by an unshielded electrical wire, the common electrical wire transmitting the at least one control signal and the sensor signal.

[0009] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the common wire includes a power wire and a ground wire for one of the trailer components in the wiring harness, and the at least one control signal and the sensor signal are configured to be transmitted over the common wire.

[0010] In a further embodiment of any of the above, a chipset includes the processor and an encoder, the encoder configured to embed the sensor signal into the at least one control signal.

[0011] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the system includes an additional electrical device, the sensor and the additional electrical device are connected to a plurality of inputs of the processor, and the chipset includes a multiplexer configured to combine a plurality of inputs to provide the sensor signal as an output of the electrical device and the sensor.

[0012] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the processor includes an input, and the sensor is connected to the input by an Ethernet cable.

[0013] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the sensor is at least one of a camera, a radar, a lidar, an infrared sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

[0014] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the sensor is a camera and the sensor signal is transmitted by the processor over the common wire at a rate of at least 15 Mb / s.

[0015] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the system includes a vehicle camera mirror system including a tractor having a vehicle cab, a camera system mounted to the tractor and having a field of view of at least one of a Class II and a Class IV view, at least one display disposed in the vehicle cab in communication with the camera system and configured to display the field of view, and a controller in communication with the camera system and the at least one display, wherein the sensor signal is configured to be transmitted to the controller.

[0016] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the sensor is a camera configured to provide the sensor signal to the at least one display.

[0017] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the sensor signal is an uncompressed signal having a latency of less than 200 ms.

[0018] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the processor is a second processor and the filter is a second filter. The tractor has a first processor connected to a first filter by an unshielded twisted pair of wires. The first filter is connected to the common wire. The first processor is configured to receive a sensor signal through the first filter and to transmit the sensor signal to a controller.

[0019] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first processor includes a demultiplexer and decoder configured to separate the sensor signal from the at least one control signal.

[0020] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the decoder is provided in at least one of hardware and software.

[0021] In a further embodiment of any of the above, at least one of the first and second processors is configured to perform pulse amplitude modulation to reduce noise in the control signals on the common wire.

[0022] In a further embodiment of any of the above, one of the trailer components is a light housing including at least one of a marker light, a tail light, a brake light, and a turn signal, and the sensor is disposed within the light housing.

[0023] In a further embodiment of any of the above, one of the trailer components is a light housing and includes at least one of a marker light, a tail light, a brake light, and a turn signal, an array of infrared LEDs is provided within the light housing, and the sensor is a camera.

[0024] In a further embodiment of any of the above, the camera is provided within the light housing.

[0025] The present disclosure can be further understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a commercial truck equipped with a camera surveillance system (CMS) used to provide at least Class II and Class IV views.

[0027] [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a commercial truck equipped with a camera mirror system providing Class II, Class IV, Class V and Class VI views.

[0028] [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a trailer camera communication system.

[0029] [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an end view of the trailer wiring harness connector.

[0030] [Figure 4] 1 shows an unshielded twisted pair of wires used to connect the filter with the processor in the trailer wiring harness.

[0031] [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example implementation of a trailer camera communication system.

[0032] [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are examples of sensors integrated into the trailer light housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or their respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in relation to one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, except where such features are incompatible.

[0034] A schematic diagram of a commercial vehicle 10 is shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The vehicle 10 includes a vehicle cab or tractor 12 for towing a trailer 14. Although a commercial truck is discussed in this disclosure, the system of the disclosure may be applied to other types of vehicles. The vehicle 10 incorporates a camera surveillance system (CMS) 15 (Figure 2) that includes driver and passenger side camera arms 16a, 16b mounted on the outside of the vehicle cab 12. If desired, the camera arms 16a, 16b may also include conventional mirrors integrated therewith, although the CMS 15 may be used to completely replace the mirrors. In additional examples, each side may include multiple camera arms 16, with each arm 16 housing one or more cameras and / or mirrors.

[0035] Each camera arm 16a, 16b includes a base, e.g., fixed to the cab 12. A pivot arm is supported by the base and may be articulated relative thereto. At least one rear-facing camera 20a, 20b is disposed within the camera arm 16a, 16b, e.g., within the pivot arm, respectively. Each of the exterior cameras 20a, 20b has an exterior field of view (FOV) that includes at least one of a Class II view and a Class IV view (FIG. 11B) or similar views, which are legally defined views in the commercial trucking industry. EX1 , FOV EX2A Class II view of a given side of the vehicle 10 is a subset of a Class IV view of the same side of the vehicle 10. If desired, multiple cameras may be used in each camera arm 16a, 16b to provide these views. Each arm 16a, 16b may also provide a housing that encloses electronics configured to provide various features of the CMS 15.

[0036] First and second video displays 18a, 18b are positioned on the driver's side and passenger's side, respectively, within the vehicle cab 12 on or near the A-pillars 19a, 19b and display Class II and Class IV views on each side of the vehicle 10, which provide rearward views along the vehicle 10 captured by exterior cameras 20a, 20b.

[0037] If Class V and Class VI view video is also required, a camera housing 16c and camera 20c may be located at or near the front of the vehicle 10 to provide these views (FIG. 1b). A third display 18c located in the cab 12 near the top center of the windshield may be used to display to the driver the Class V and Class VI views toward the front of the vehicle 10.

[0038] If Class VIII view video is required, camera housings may be positioned on the sides and rear of the vehicle 10 to provide a field of view that includes some or all of the Class VIII zone of the vehicle 10. In such an example, the third display 18c may include one or more frames that display the Class VIII view. Alternatively, additional displays may be added near the first, second and third displays 18a, 18b, 18c to provide a dedicated display that provides the Class VIII view.

[0039] It should be understood that more or fewer displays than those generally described may be used, display images from multiple cameras may be combined into one display, or images from particular fields of view may be provided on separate displays separate from other images.

[0040] The area 14 behind the trailer is a common blind spot for any vehicle, but particularly for commercial trucks. As such, it is desirable to use a sensor, such as a camera 20d, as shown in FIG. 1B, to provide the operator with some awareness of unseen objects at the rear of the trailer. A challenge with using a camera at the rear of the trailer are the long wires that may be used to transmit the video signal to a display in the cab. Dedicated wiring would add significant cost to the system. Additionally, the images must be transmitted with minimal or no delay so that the objects can be displayed in real time.

[0041] 2, the trailer 14 includes trailer components 32, such as marker lights 32a, anti-lock braking system components 32b, turn signals (right 32c, left 32d), tail lights 32e, and brake lights 32f. Each of the trailer components 32a-32f (collectively trailer components 32) responds to control signals from one or more vehicle controllers 30, such as switches 30a-30d. The trailer components 32 on the trailer 14 are connected to the tractor 12 by a typical wiring harness 34. As an example, a standard 7-pin jumper cable 35 interconnects the tractor 12 and trailer 14 with connectors 34a, 34b in a typical configuration (e.g., FIG. 3). As a result, the disclosed system can be used with existing ubiquitous trailer wiring harnesses and electrical connectors in the industry.

[0042] There are various ground wires 44 in the system, only some of which are shown. The wires in the common wiring harness 34 are unshielded copper wires, typically multiple stranded copper wires covered with polymer insulation. For the standard 7-pin configuration shown in Figure 3, a common ground 44 is provided and control signals for the marker lights 32a, antilock braking system components 32b, turn signals (right 32c, left 32d), tail lights 32e, and brake lights 32f are sent over power wires 46a-46f, respectively.

[0043] The camera 20d has an image capture unit that generates a sensor signal that needs to be sent at a high transmission rate. The disclosed system achieves this transmission without the need for dedicated wiring running from the rear of the trailer 14 to the tractor 12, thereby greatly simplifying installation and reducing costs. The desired sensor signal transmission is achieved over the very same power lines on the trailer 14 that are used to send control signals to the trailer components 32.

[0044] The tractor 12 has a first processor 36 that transmits the received sensor signals to the CMS 15 for display to the operator. A second processor 38 is disposed on the trailer 14 and is interconnected between the sensor 20d and the wiring harness 34. The second processor 38 is configured to convert the sensor signals to control signals for transmission over the wiring harness 34, using a common wire with the wiring harness wires used to transmit the control signals to the trailer components 32. In other words, some of the existing wires, e.g., power and ground wires, have a dual purpose; i.e., to transmit control signals and sensor signals. An example of a chipset that can be used is available as VA6000 from Valens Semiconductor, although it should be understood that other processors can be used and are within the scope of the disclosed system. Another example of a chipset is DCB1M available from Yamar Electronics.

[0045] Noise may be generated by the trailer components 32 such that a usable image signal is not provided to the first and second processors 36, 38. Therefore, first and second filters 40a, 40b are used, for example, at signal tap locations in the tractor and trailer wiring harnesses, respectively, to filter out noise before transmission to the processors. Each of the filters 40a, 40b is connected to the respective first and second processors 36, 38 by an unshielded twisted pair wire 42a, 42b (labeled "42" in FIG. 4). The twisted pair wire is unshielded copper wire, typically multiple copper strands 48 covered with a polymer insulation 50, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] The second processor 38 includes an input, and the camera 20d is connected to the input by a high speed transmission cable 39, such as an Ethernet cable. The second processor 38 may be provided by a chipset including a processor and an encoder, which is configured to embed the sensor signal into a control signal for transmission along the power line(s) to the first processor 36. Additional electrical devices, if provided on the processor, may be connected to the multiple inputs. Another input may, for example, accommodate an infrared LED associated with the camera 20d. The chipset may include a multiplexer configured to combine the inputs to provide the sensor signal as an output of the sensor along with an output from the electrical device.

[0047] The first processor 36 includes a decoder and a demultiplexer configured to separate the sensor signals from the control signals, which may be provided on the same chipset or separately. The decoder is provided in hardware and / or software.

[0048] At least one of the first and second processors 36, 38 is configured to perform pulse amplitude modulation to reduce noise in the control signals on the common power line.

[0049] In operation, referring to FIG. 5, the second processor 38 is configured to receive the sensor signal from the camera 20d and transmit the sensor signal to the CMS controller 15. The second processor 38 embeds the sensor signal into a control signal on the power lines of the trailer components 32, such as via the ABS and marker light power lines 46a, 48b. This combined sensor / control signal is transmitted along the trailer wiring harness 34 to the second filter 40b to filter noise from the trailer components. Ideally, the second filter 40b is located in a location and on a power line where noise can be more easily filtered and where the length of wire between the second filter 40b and the second processor 38 can be shortened.

[0050] The combined sensor / control signals are sent to the tractor 14 from the vehicle component switches 54a, 54b to a point "downstream" to the first processor 36 where the sensor signals are decoded and sent to the CMS controller 15 for display. Each or both of the sensor signals and / or control signals may be sent bidirectionally as needed. The vehicle component switches 54a, 54b (e.g., trailer marker light switches and brake pedal) are connected to a power source 52, such as the vehicle battery, to selectively supply voltage, i.e., control signals, to the trailer components. The first filter 40a must be located on the same pair of power lines as the second filter 40b. The first filter 40 filters noise from the power lines to isolate the image signal sent from the second processor 38.

[0051] Although the sensor is described above as a camera 20d, it should be understood that other sensors, such as radar, lidar, infrared and ultrasonic sensors, may be used in addition to or instead of a camera. In the case of a camera, it is desirable to transmit the sensor signal between the first processor 36 and the second processor 38 over a common wire to the CMS 15 at a rate of at least 15 Mb / s. Compressing the sensor signal may result in undesirable latency. The disclosed system is capable of achieving the desired uncompressed transmission rate with the minimum latency required for a CMS system, i.e., less than 200 ms.

[0052] For further efficiency, the sensors may be incorporated into the light housing on the trailer 14, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. Referring to Figure 6B, a light housing 60 (e.g., marker lights, tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals) has a sensor 64, such as a camera 20d, mounted within the housing 60. The light 62 may be provided by LEDs 62 that emit visible light or incandescent bulbs. Also, if night vision is desired for the camera, an array of infrared LEDs 66 powered by wires 146e may be provided within the housing 66. The light housing 60 is enclosed by a lens 68 that may also cover the sensor. If desired, a separate lens 70 may be used over the sensor 64 and integrated with the lens 68, depending on the application. The light housing 160 of Figure 6A uses a lens 168 and does not include infrared LEDs.

[0053] By incorporating infrared LEDs, and optionally a camera, into the ubiquitous tail light assembly, no special mounting brackets or hardware are required when adding night vision or other views to the rear of a trailer.

[0054] The controller in the CMS may be used to implement the various functions disclosed herein. The controller may include one or more separate units. The first processor 36 may be integrated into the CMS controller or may be separate, while the second processor 38 is separate from the first processor 36, since the second processor is on the trailer 14. Furthermore, a portion of the controller may be provided within the vehicle, and another portion of the controller may be located elsewhere. In terms of hardware architecture, such a computing device may include a processor, memory, and one or more input / output (I / O) device interfaces communicatively coupled via a local interface. The local interface may include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more buses and / or other wired or wireless connections. The local interface may include additional elements, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers to enable communication, which are omitted for simplicity. Furthermore, the local interface may include address, control, and / or data connections to enable appropriate communication between the aforementioned components.

[0055] The controller may be a hardware device for executing software, particularly software stored in a memory. The controller may be a custom-made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the controller, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chipset), or any device for general-purpose execution of software instructions.

[0056] The memory may include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, VRAM, etc.)) and / or non-volatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drives, tape, CD-ROM, etc.). Additionally, the memory may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and / or other types of storage media. The memory may have a distributed architecture where various components are located remotely from each other but accessible by the processor.

[0057] Software in memory may include one or more separate programs, each containing an ordered list of executable instructions for implementing a logical function. A system component embodied as software may be constructed as a source program, an executable program (object code), a script, or any other entity that contains a set of instructions to be executed. If constructed as a source program, the program is translated via a compiler, assembler, interpreter, etc., which may or may not be contained within memory.

[0058] Input / output devices of the present disclosure that may be coupled to the system I / O interface(s) may include input devices, such as, but not limited to, keyboards, mice, scanners, microphones, cameras, mobile devices, proximity devices, etc. Additionally, output devices may include, but are not limited to, displays, macroclimate devices, microclimate devices, etc. Finally, input / output devices may further include devices that communicate as both inputs and outputs, such as, but not limited to, modulators / demodulators (i.e., modems, for accessing another device, system, or network), radio frequency (RF) or other transceivers, telephone interfaces, bridges, routers, etc.

[0059] When the controller is in operation, the processor may be configured to execute software stored in the memory, to communicate data to and from the memory, and to generally control the operation of the computing device in accordance with the software. The software in the memory may be read, in whole or in part, by the processor and often buffered within the processor before being executed.

[0060] Also, while particular component arrangements are disclosed in the illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that other arrangements would benefit from the present disclosure. Although a particular sequence of steps has been shown, described and claimed, it should be understood that, unless otherwise indicated, the steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined and still benefit from the present invention.

[0061] Although the different examples have specific components shown, embodiments of the invention are not limited to those specific combinations, and some components or features of one example may be used in combination with features or components of another example.

[0062] Although exemplary embodiments have been disclosed, a person of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of the claims, and for that reason the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.

Claims

1. In a vehicle communication system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, a first processor connected to a first filter and configured to be provided on the tractor, wherein the first filter is configured to receive at least one control signal from at least one vehicle control device and communicate the at least one control signal to at least one trailer component, the first processor; a second processor connected to a second filter and configured to be provided on the trailer, wherein the second filter is interconnected between the second processor and the at least one trailer component, the second processor; a sensor connected to the second processor and provided on the trailer and configured to generate a sensor signal; a wiring harness configured to communicate with the first filter and the at least one vehicle control device in the tractor and communicate with the second filter and the at least one trailer component in the trailer, the wiring harness having a common wire configured to transmit the at least one control signal from the first filter to the at least one trailer component via the second filter, the common wire being configured to transmit the sensor signal converted by the second processor from the second filter to the first processor via the first filter, the wiring harness comprising a system.

2. The at least one vehicle control device includes a plurality of switches configured to be connected to a plurality of trailer components among the at least one trailer component, wherein the at least one trailer component includes at least one of a marker light, a brake light, a tail light, a direction indicator, and an anti-lock brake system component, and each of the at least one trailer component is configured to receive one of the at least one control signal. The system according to claim 1.

3. The wiring harness includes a 7-pin cable that interconnects the tractor and the trailer, and the at least one control signal and the sensor signal are configured to be communicated via the 7-pin cable, and the 7-pin cable includes the common wire corresponding to a pair of power transmission lines connected to one of the at least one trailer component, the system according to claim 2.

4. The second processor includes a chipset including at least one processor and an encoder, and the encoder is configured to embed the sensor signal into the at least one control signal, the system according to claim 1.

5. Comprising an additional electrical device, The sensor and the additional electrical device are connected to a plurality of inputs of the second processor, The chipset includes a multiplexer configured to couple the plurality of inputs so as to provide the sensor signal as an output of the sensor and the electrical device, the system according to claim 4.

6. The second processor and the sensor are connected by an Ethernet cable, the system according to claim 1.

7. The sensor is at least one of a camera, a radar, a lidar, an infrared sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor, the system according to claim 1.

8. The sensor is a camera, and the sensor signal is a video signal transmitted at a speed of at least 15 Mb / s via the common wire by the second processor, the system according to claim 7.

9. Comprising a vehicle camera mirror system, the vehicle camera mirror system includes A camera system having a plurality of rearward fields of view, A plurality of displays communicating with the camera system, the plurality of displays configured to display the plurality of rearward fields of view, A controller communicating with the camera system and the plurality of displays, the sensor signal being configured to be transmitted to the controller, a controller Including, The sensor is a camera configured to provide the sensor signal to at least one of the plurality of displays, The sensor signal is a signal having a delay time of less than 200 ms, the system according to claim 1.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first processor includes a demultiplexer and a decoder configured to separate the sensor signal from the at least one control signal.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the decoder is provided by at least one of hardware and software.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second processors is configured to perform pulse amplitude modulation to reduce noise of the at least one control signal on the common wire.

13. One of the at least one trailer component is a light housing including at least one of a marker light, a tail light, a brake light, and a turn indicator, The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided within the light housing.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is a camera.

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