Vehicle reverse assistant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017334413-A1
Application number	US-201715483878-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Nov 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle reverse assistant includes a rear side sensor, a towed object detector, and a stop determination threshold distance setter. The rear side sensor is provided at a rear portion of an own vehicle. The rear side sensor senses a rear side sensing region. The towed object detector detects whether a towed object is connected to the rear portion of the own vehicle. The stop determination threshold distance setter sets one end of a stop determination threshold distance at a position spaced apart at a constant distance from a rear end of the towed object on a basis of a sensing signal supplied from the rear side sensor when the towed object detector detects connection of the towed object.

First claim

1 . A vehicle reverse assistant comprising:
a rear side sensor provided at a rear portion of an own vehicle, the rear side sensor sensing a rear side sensing region; a towed object detector that detects whether a towed object is connected to the rear portion of the own vehicle; and a stop determination threshold distance setter that sets one end of a stop determination threshold distance at a position spaced apart at a constant distance from a rear end of the towed object on a basis of a sensing signal supplied from the rear side sensor when the towed object detector detects connection of the towed object.

2 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 1 , wherein
the towed object detector detects, on the basis of the sensing signal supplied from the rear side sensor, whether there is an object that follows the own vehicle while keeping a constant distance in traveling of the own vehicle during a period from start of the own vehicle until a speed of the own vehicle reaches a set vehicle speed or during a period when a time from the start of the own vehicle reaches a set time, and the towed object detector determines, when the object that follows the own vehicle is detected, that the towed object is connected to the rear portion of the own vehicle.

3 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a select position detector that detects a set position of a select lever; an obstacle distance detector that detects a distance from a rear end of the own vehicle to an obstacle behind the towed object on a basis of a reflected wave that is propagated from behind the towed object and is received by the rear side sensor, by setting the rear side sensor at a towing mode when the select position detector determines that the select lever is set at a reverse range; and an automatic brake controller that compares the distance from the rear end of the own vehicle to the obstacle detected by the obstacle distance detector with the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter, and stops the own vehicle from reversing when the distance from the rear end of the own vehicle to the obstacle reaches the stop determination threshold distance.

4 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a select position detector that detects a set position of a select lever; an obstacle distance detector that detects a distance from a rear end of the own vehicle to an obstacle behind the towed object on a basis of a reflected wave that is propagated from behind the towed object and is received by the rear side sensor, by setting the rear side sensor at a towing mode when the select position detector determines that the select lever is set at a reverse range; and an automatic brake controller that compares the distance from the rear end of the own vehicle to the obstacle detected by the obstacle distance detector with the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter, and stops the own vehicle from reversing when the distance from the rear end of the own vehicle to the obstacle reaches the stop determination threshold distance.

5 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a bending angle detector that detects a bending angle of a connector between the own vehicle and the towed object; and a stop determination threshold distance corrector that corrects the one end of the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter to a position behind the towed object on a basis of the bending angle detected by the bending angle detector.

6 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a bending angle detector that detects a bending angle of a connector between the own vehicle and the towed object; and a stop determination threshold distance corrector that corrects the one end of the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter to a position behind the towed object on a basis of the bending angle detected by the bending angle detector.

7 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a bending angle detector that detects a bending angle of a connector between the own vehicle and the towed object; and a stop determination threshold distance corrector that corrects the one end of the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter to a position behind the towed object on a basis of the bending angle detected by the bending angle detector.

8 . The vehicle reverse assistant according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a bending angle detector that detects a bending angle of a connector between the own vehicle and the towed object; and a stop determination threshold distance corrector that corrects the one end of the stop determination threshold distance set by the stop determination threshold distance setter to a position behind the towed object on a basis of the bending angle detected by the bending angle detector.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Murakoshi Masayuki
• Kabe Keiko
• Itabashi Kanto

Classifications

• B60R2300/8093

  for obstacle warning · CPC title

• B60R2300/80

  characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement · CPC title

• B60T2230/08

  Driving in reverse · CPC title

• B60T7/22 Primary

  initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle {, or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle} · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title