Trailer Camera Vision System Powerline Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle vision systems lack a comprehensive surround view capability, especially when towing a trailer, as they do not effectively integrate camera data from both the vehicle and the trailer to provide a unified display of the vehicle's exterior surroundings.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle vision system that utilizes multiple cameras, including a trailer-mounted camera, to capture and process image data, transmitting compressed video via wireless or powerline communication to an electronic control unit for a unified surround view display on the vehicle's head unit, integrating with existing systems to provide a comprehensive view of the vehicle and trailer's surroundings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle vision system integrates multiple cameras including trailer-mounted cameras to provide a comprehensive surround view, then the surround view capability and safety are improved, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vision coverage into multiple segments by deploying separate cameras at different locations (vehicle front, vehicle rear, trailer front, trailer rear). Each camera captures a specific field of view, and the ECU integrates these segmented views into a comprehensive surround view display, resolving the contradiction by achieving complete coverage through modular camera placement rather than a single complex camera system
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control unit (ECU) serves multiple functions: it processes images from vehicle-mounted cameras, receives and processes images from trailer-mounted cameras via wireless communication, performs image stitching, and generates the surround view display. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single processing unit while achieving comprehensive vision coverage
2Ease of operation
If the system uses wireless communication for camera data transmission from trailer to vehicle, then the ease of installation and flexibility are improved, but the potential communication interference and reliability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an ECU as an intermediary device that receives wireless communication signals from trailer-mounted cameras, processes the image data, and integrates it with vehicle camera data. The ECU acts as a mediator that handles potential communication issues by buffering, error-checking, and retransmitting data as needed, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving the wireless installation flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing wireless communication protocols and data transmission channels before actual operation. The ECU pre-configures reception parameters and error correction mechanisms, ensuring that when trailer camera data is transmitted wirelessly, potential interference and reliability issues are already mitigated through pre-established communication safeguards
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular vision system includes a rear backup vehicle camera, a trailer camera disposed at a rear of a trailer, a display device disposed in the vehicle, and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the vehicle. With the trailer not hitched to the vehicle and during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the ECU generates video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the rear backup vehicle camera and the display device displays the video images. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle, image data captured by the trailer camera is provided to the vehicle via data communication over powerline using a DC powerline, and the display device displays the video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the trailer camera for viewing by the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver of the vehicle with the trailer hitched thereto.