Trailer Path Guide Imaging for Forward-Reverse Maneuver Clarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies struggle to provide clear and understandable guide images for vehicles towing trailers, especially when switching between backward and forward traveling directions, leading to user confusion.

Innovation Solution

A control device and method that displays distinct first and second guide images on a vehicle's peripheral image, showing separate paths for backward and forward traveling, respectively, with non-overlapping and differently styled guide lines to enhance clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a vehicle guide image and a trailer guide image are displayed simultaneously, then complete traveling path information is provided, but the guide images become complicated and difficult for users to understand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling path informationVSAvoidguide image complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide image is segmented into two distinct components: a vehicle guide image showing the traveling path of the vehicle, and a trailer guide image showing the traveling path of the trailer. These segmented guides are displayed separately rather than combined, preventing visual confusion while ensuring complete path information is conveyed to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If guide images are displayed for both backward and forward traveling directions, then complete directional guidance is provided, but the guide images become complicated and difficult to understand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional guidance coverageVSAvoiduser comprehension

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of displaying overlapping guide images for both backward and forward directions simultaneously, the system inverts the approach by displaying only the guide image relevant to the current traveling direction. When the vehicle travels backward, only the backward traveling path is shown; when forward, only the forward path is shown. This inversion eliminates confusion while maintaining adaptability to different traveling directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260062053A1Control device, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A control device has a processor which acquires external environment information of a moving object capable of first traveling and second traveling and towing a trailer, and controls to display a peripheral image of the moving object based on the external environment information. The processor controls to display a guide image superimposed on the peripheral image, in a state where the first traveling of the moving object is allowed. The guide image includes a first guide image showing a first traveling path of the moving object or the trailer when the moving object performs the first traveling from a current position, and a second guide image showing a second traveling path of the moving object or the trailer when the moving object performs the second traveling from a position on the first traveling path where a relative angle between the moving object and the trailer is a predetermined angle.