Vehicle attitude modification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10252593-B2
Application number	US-201615367612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for modifying an attitude of a vehicle are disclosed. A user selects a trailer mode for a vehicle body. The selected trailer mode has a corresponding configuration. The vehicle determines one or more features about a trailer based on the selected trailer mode. The vehicle determines a location of a trailer hitch needed to achieve the configuration corresponding to the selected trailer mode. The location is based on the one or more features about the trailer. The vehicle actuates at least one active component in the vehicle's active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to cause the trailer hitch to be located in the determined location thereby causing the vehicle body to be in the selected trailer mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attitude modification system in a vehicle having a trailer attached thereto, the system comprising:
an active suspension system connected to a body of the vehicle, the active suspension system including at least one active component structured for controlling a distance between the vehicle body and a wheel of the vehicle so as to change an attitude of the vehicle body;
one or more processors operatively connected to the active suspension system; and
a memory operatively connected to the one or more processors for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
receive a selection of a trailer mode;
receive one or more commands in accordance with the selected trailer mode; and
actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system of the vehicle to control the distance between the vehicle body and the wheel of the vehicle so as to change the attitude of the vehicle body, so as to change the configuration of the attached trailer.

2. The attitude modification system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to, prior to actuation of the at least one active component, determine a current breakover angle of the attached trailer.

3. The attitude modification system of claim 2 , wherein the trailer mode has a target breakover angle associated therewith, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to change the breakover angle of the attached trailer from the current breakover angle to the target break over angle associated with the trailer mode.

4. The attitude modification system of claim 1 wherein:
at least one front wheel is coupled, via the active suspension system, to a front end of the vehicle body; and
at least one rear wheel is coupled, via the active suspension system, to a rear end of the vehicle body, wherein the active suspension system includes at least a first active component structured for controlling a distance between the vehicle body and the at least one front wheel and at least a second active component structured for controlling a distance between the vehicle body and the at least one rear wheel.

5. The attitude modification system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
actuate the at least a first active component in the active suspension system to change a distance between the at least one front wheel and the vehicle body; and
actuate the at least a second active component in the active suspension system to change a distance between the at least one rear wheel and the vehicle body.

6. The attitude modification system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one rear wheel coupled, via the active suspension system, to the vehicle proximate a rear end of the vehicle body, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to change the configuration of the attached trailer by actuating the at least one active component to change a distance between the at least one rear wheel and the vehicle body.

7. The attitude modification system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one front wheel connected, via the active suspension system, proximate a front end of the vehicle body, wherein the at least one active component is structured for controlling a distance between the vehicle body and the at least one front wheel, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to change the configuration of the attached trailer by actuating the at least one active component to change a distance between the at least one front wheel and the vehicle body.

8. The attitude modification system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a trailer hitch attached to an end of the vehicle body, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to change the configuration of the attached trailer by actuating the at least one active component to cause the trailer hitch to be positioned in a location which causes the configuration of the attached trailer to match the target configuration.

9. The attitude modification system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer is attached to a first end of the vehicle body, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to change the configuration of the attached trailer by actuating the at least one active component to change a pitch of the vehicle body.

10. An attitude modification system in a vehicle in an immobile state, comprising:
an active suspension system including at least one active component for controlling a distance between a vehicle body and a wheel, the active suspension system being configured to change an attitude of the vehicle body;
a trailer hitch structured to enable attachment of a trailer thereto; and
a processor operatively connected to the active suspension system, the processor configured to initiate executable instructions to receive a selection of a trailer mode; and
determine a target location of the trailer hitch needed to achieve a configuration associated with the selected trailer mode; and
actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system of the vehicle to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to cause the trailer hitch to have the target location.

11. The attitude modification system of claim 10 , wherein the trailer mode selection indicates a selection of a trailer leveling mode wherein the configuration of the trailer includes a support surface of the trailer being substantially level.

12. The attitude modification system of claim 10 , wherein the trailer mode selection indicates a selection of a trailer load/unload mode and wherein the configuration of the trailer includes an attachment end of the trailer being elevated with respect to a loading end of the trailer.

13. The attitude modification system of claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one sensor for detecting a breakover angle for an attached trailer, wherein
a corresponding a target breakover angle for the attached trailer is associated with the configuration associated with the selected trailer mode, further wherein the one or more processors are configured to actuate the at least one active component in the active suspension system of the vehicle to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to cause the trailer hitch to have a location such that the breakover angle of the attached trailer substantially matches the target breakover angle associated with the trailer mode selection.

14. The attitude modification system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions to receive, from at least one sensor, information describing a current trailer configuration of a trailer at

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Fida Andrew E

Classifications

• B60G17/017 Primary

  characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off · CPC title

• B60Y2400/92

  Driver displays · CPC title

• B60G2800/014

  Pitch; Nose dive · CPC title

• B60G2400/304

  neutral position · CPC title

• B60G2400/972

  Angle of articulation · CPC title