Hitch angle warning system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9517668-B2
Application number	US-201514668424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Jul 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A hitch angle warning system includes a camera-based hitch angle sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The hitch angle warning system also includes a controller that estimates an amount of time for the hitch angle to reach a threshold angle based on a rate of change of the hitch angle. The threshold angle may be set to a maximum hitch angle controllable by the vehicle based on a length of the trailer. The controller thereby generates a warning signal when the amount of time is less than a threshold time, which is configured to be greater or equal to than a response time of a driver of the vehicle to make a corrective action. The warning signal may be deactivated when the amount of time is greater than a second time that is greater than the threshold time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hitch angle warning system, comprising:
a hitch angle sensor sensing a current hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer; and
a controller determining a future position of the trailer at a set time based on the current hitch angle and a speed of the vehicle and generating a warning signal when the future position exceeds a hitch angle threshold, wherein the future position is determined based on a length of the trailer, such that shorter length trailers will cause the warning signal to be generated before longer length trailers.

2. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display for showing a visible warning when the warning signal is generated.

3. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a speaker for generating an audible warning when the warning signal is generated.

4. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , wherein the future position is determined based on the speed of the vehicle.

5. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , wherein the future position is determined based on the speed and a steering angle of the vehicle.

6. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , wherein the future position includes a future hitch angle corresponding with a longitudinal centerline of the trailer in the future position.

7. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines a maximum hitch angle controllable by the vehicle based on a length of the trailer, and wherein the hitch angle threshold is equal to the maximum hitch angle.

8. The hitch angle warning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller generates a steering command for the vehicle to guide the trailer on a desired curvature based on a kinematic relationship between the vehicle and the trailer, wherein the desired curvature is defined with a steering input device.

9. A hitch angle warning system, comprising:
a hitch angle sensor sensing a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer; and
a controller estimating an amount of time for the hitch angle to reach a threshold angle based on a rate of change of the hitch angle and generating a warning signal when the amount of time is less than a threshold time.

10. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , wherein the rate of change of the hitch angle is determined based on repetitively sensing the hitch angle over time.

11. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold time is configured to be greater than a response time of a driver of the vehicle.

12. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , wherein the warning signal is deactivated when the amount of time is greater than a second time that is greater than the threshold time.

13. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a display for showing a visible warning when the warning signal is generated.

14. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a speaker for generating an audible warning when the warning signal is generated.

15. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , wherein the amount of time for the hitch angle to reach the threshold angle is determined based on at least one of a speed of the vehicle, a steering angle of the vehicle, and a length of the trailer.

16. The hitch angle warning system of claim 9 , wherein the controller determines a maximum hitch angle controllable by the vehicle based on a length of the trailer, and wherein the threshold angle is substantially equal to the maximum hitch angle.

17. A method for providing a hitch angle warning, comprising:
reversing a vehicle with a trailer attached;
sensing a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer;
determining an amount of time for the hitch angle to reach a threshold angle; and
generating a warning signal when the amount of time is less than a threshold time.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the amount of time for the hitch angle to reach the threshold angle is determined based on a rate of change of the hitch angle.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining a maximum hitch angle controllable by the vehicle based on a length of the trailer, and wherein the threshold angle is substantially equal to the maximum hitch angle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lavoie Erick Michael

Classifications

• B60R2300/80

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

• B60D1/245

  for facilitating push back or parking of trailers · CPC title

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B62D15/0285

  Parking performed automatically · CPC title

• B62D15/027

  Parking aids, e.g. instruction means · CPC title