Trailer backup assist system with off-shoot correction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783230-B2
Application number	US-201514677201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 19, 2011
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a steering input device for controlling a desired curvature. A controller is in communication with the steering input device and is configured to generate steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path when a straight backup request is initiated via the steering input device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising:
a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature; and
a controller in communication with the knob and configured to generate a steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path wherein the controller determines the straight path based on a heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released from a commanded position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a torque sensor coupled to the knob and configured to sense if an external force is being applied to rotate the knob.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering command for the vehicle guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a button, which, if depressed, signals to the trailer backup assist system that a straight backup maneuver is desired at a current heading of the trailer.

6. A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising:
a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature; and
a controller in communication with the knob and configured to generate a steering command for the vehicle to correct for off-shoot when a straight backup request is initiated by releasing the knob from a commanded position, wherein the controller determines a straight path based on a heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a torque sensor coupled to the knob and configured to sense if an external force is being applied to rotate the knob.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the steering command for the vehicle guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.

10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a button, which, if depressed, signals to the trailer backup assist system that a straight backup maneuver is desired at a current heading of the trailer.

11. A method for steering a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising the steps of:
providing a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature;
sensing if an external force is applied to the knob;
generating a steering command for the vehicle to correct for off-shoot when a straight backup request is initiated by releasing the knob from a commanded position; and
determining a straight path based on the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released from the commanded position, wherein the steering command guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hafner Michael
• Pilutti Thomas Edward

Classifications

• B62D15/0275

  by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image · CPC title

• B62D13/06 Primary

  for backing a normally drawn trailer · CPC title

• B62D15/0285

  Parking performed automatically · CPC title