System for a towing vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for a vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto, the system comprising a processor configured to:
- determine an actual trailer travel direction based on one or more sensor signals;
receive a demanded trailer travel direction;
estimate a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction;
output a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled; and
output a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a trailer (5) coupled to a vehicle (3) during a reversing operation. The vehicle control system includes a processor (29) configured to determine an actual trailer travel direction (TACT) based on one or more sensor signals. The processor (29) receives a demanded trailer travel direction (TDEM), for example from a user. A maximum permissible hitch angle (ΦMAX) is calculated by the processor (29) and the demanded trailer travel direction (TDEM) is limited to an angle less than or equal to the calculated maximum permissible hitch angle (ΦMAX). The present invention also relates to a vehicle (3) incorporating the vehicle control system (1); and a method of controlling the reversing of the trailer (5).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for a vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto, the system comprising a processor configured to:
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determine an actual trailer travel direction based on one or more sensor signals; receive a demanded trailer travel direction; estimate a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction; output a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled; and output a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto, the vehicle comprising:
a system comprising a processor configured to; determine an actual trailer travel direction based on one or more sensor signals; receive a demanded trailer travel direction; estimate a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction; output a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled; and output a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle.
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16. A method of operating a vehicle coupled to a trailer during a reversing operation, the method comprising:
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determining, via a processor, an actual trailer travel direction based on one or more sensor signals; receiving, via the processor, a demanded trailer travel direction; estimating, via the processor, a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction; and outputting, via the processor, a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled and a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A processor for a vehicle having a trailer coupled thereto, the processor programmed to:
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receive one or more sensor signals to determine an actual trailer travel direction; receive a demanded trailer travel direction; estimate a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction; output a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled; and output a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle.
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19. A computer program product for operating a vehicle coupled to a trailer during a reversing operation, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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determining an actual trailer travel direction based on one or more sensor signals; receiving a demanded trailer travel direction; estimating a distance to be travelled by the vehicle at least substantially to match the actual trailer travel direction with the demanded trailer travel direction; outputting a distance signal based on the estimated distance to be travelled; and outputting a steering control signal to control a steering angle of the vehicle.
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Specification