Tow bar control system

• US 10,272,781 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polestar Performance AB (Polestar Automotive Holding UK Plc)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Olesen, Anna, Lohse, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US15/071,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/54 collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches B60D1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42

Abstract

A method performed by a vehicle tow bar control system for controlling position of a movable tow bar of a vehicle during parking is provided, wherein the tow bar is movable between an extended position and a retracted position in relation to the vehicle. The method comprises receiving parking activity input, sensing the position of the tow bar, and transmitting a notification signal for notifying a driver of the vehicle of the position of the tow bar.

Claims

1. A method performed by a vehicle tow bar control system for controlling a position of a tow bar of a vehicle during parking, the tow bar being movable between an extended position and a retracted position in relation to the vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving parking activity input;

after receipt of parking activity input, sensing a position of the tow bar during parking; and

transmitting a notification signal for notifying a driver of the vehicle during parking of the sensed position of the tow bar.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the notification signal comprises an alarm signal and/or a visual representation on a display and/or any other audial effects/sounds.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein transmitting the notification signal for notifying the driver of the vehicle is carried out if the tow bar is in the extended position.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein parking activity input comprises a notification that parking related driving behaviour has been initiated, or a notification that a semi- or full automatic parking assist system has been initiated.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

requesting parking spot information comprising parking spot length l_spot for a parking spot;

receiving parking spot information;

requesting an available parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow) between the parking spot length l_spot, and the vehicle, wherein l_v is the length of the vehicle and l_tow is the length of the tow bar extending from the vehicle in the extended position;

requesting a minimum parking space difference D_min for carrying out parking in the parking spot;

receiving an available parking space difference;

receiving a minimum parking space difference D_min for carrying out the parking in the parking spot;

transmitting a notification signal for notifying the driver of the vehicle of the position of the tow bar if the parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

minimum required parking space difference, D_min≤

(l_spot−

l_v), or parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

a buffer range above the minimum required parking space difference, x*D_min.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising:

determining an available parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow)) between the parking spot length l_spot and the vehicle, wherein l_v is the length of the vehicle and l_tow is the length of the tow bar extending from the vehicle in the extended position;

determining minimum required parking space difference D_min for carrying out the parking in the parking spot.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining an available parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow)) between a parking spot length l_spot of a parking spot and the vehicle, wherein l_v is a length of the vehicle and l_tow is a length of the tow bar extending from the vehicle in the extended position,

determining a minimum required parking space difference D_min for carrying out parking in the parking spot.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a tow bar retracting request; and

requesting a tow bar retraction.

9. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

automatically requesting a tow bar retraction if the tow bar is in the extended position.

10. A vehicle tow bar control system for controlling a position of a tow bar of a vehicle during parking, the tow bar being movable between an extended position and a retracted position in relation to the vehicle, the vehicle tow bar control system comprising:

a vehicle communication unit to receive parking activity input from a driver activity system or parking assist system;

a tow bar senor for sensing a position of the tow bar during parking after receipt by the vehicle communication unit of parking activity input;

wherein the vehicle tow bar control system is operable to transmit a notification signal for notifying a driver of the vehicle during parking of the sensed position of the tow bar.

11. The vehicle tow bar control system according to claim 10 wherein the vehicle tow bar control system is operable to notify the driver of the vehicle if the tow bar is in an extended position.

12. The vehicle tow bar control system according to claim 10 wherein parking activity input comprises input concerning a notification that parking related driving behaviour has been initiated or a notification that a semi- or full automatic parking assist system has been initiated.

13. The vehicle tow bar control system according to claim 10 further comprising a controller for requesting parking spot information comprising parking spot length l_spot of a parking spot from a parking assist system, wherein the vehicle tow bar control system is further operable to:

receive, by the vehicle communication unit, parking spot information from the parking assist system;

request, by the controller, an available parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow) between the parking spot length l_spot, and the vehicle, wherein l_v is a length of the vehicle and l_tow is a length of the tow bar extending from the vehicle in the extended position;

request, by the controller, a minimum parking space difference D_min for carrying out parking in the parking spot;

receive an available parking space difference by the vehicle communication unit;

receive, by the vehicle communication unit, the minimum parking space difference D_min for carrying out the parking in the parking spot; and

transmit a notification signal for notifying the driver of the vehicle of the position of the tow bar if the parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

minimum required parking space difference, D_min≤

(l_spot−

l_v), or parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

a buffer range above the minimum required parking space difference, x*D_min.

14. The vehicle tow bar control system according to claim 10 wherein the vehicle tow bar control system is further operable to:

receive, by the vehicle communication unit, an available parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow) between a parking spot length l_spot of a parking spot and the vehicle, wherein l_v is a length of the vehicle and l_tow is a length of the tow bar extending from the vehicle in the extended position;

receive, by the vehicle communication unit, a minimum parking space difference D_min for carrying out parking in the parking spot; and

transmit a notification signal for notifying the driver of the vehicle of the position of the tow bar if the parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

minimum required parking space difference, D_min≤

(l_spot−

l_v), or parking space difference (l_spot−

(l_v+l_tow))≤

a buffer range above the minimum required parking space difference, x*D_min.

15. A vehicle comprising the vehicle tow bar control system according to claim 10.

16. A non-transitory storage medium having stored computer executable code, which, when executed in a connected vehicle tow bar control system arranged for controlling a position of a tow bar of a vehicle during parking, causes the vehicle tow bar control system to:

receive parking activity input;

after receipt of parking activity input, sense a position of the tow bar during parking; and

transmit a notification signal for notifying a driver of the vehicle during parking of the sensed position of the tow bar.