Apparatus and method for discerning a driver's intent and for aiding the driver

• US 20050137784A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Grougan, Paul A., Zebehazy, Thomas C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,239,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the intent of a driver of a motor vehicle in moving a trailer towed by the motor vehicle along a desired path. The method comprises the step of positioning a first reference point at a first location spaced apart from the motor vehicle and sequentially positioning a second reference point at a plurality of way points along the desired point. A signal relative to the motor vehicle, the first reference point, and the plurality of way points is transmitted as the second reference point is positioned at each of the way points. The transmitted signals corresponding to each of the way points are received and are used to determine the position of the plurality of way points relative to the motor vehicle by a process of triangulation. The position of the plurality of way points indicate positions along the desired path.

Claims

1. A method for discerning a driver'"'"'s intent relative to a desired path that a trailer coupled to a motor vehicle will travel, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter located at a first position a spaced apart distance from the motor vehicle;

transmitting a plurality of second signals from a second transmitter, one of the plurality of second signals transmitted from each of a plurality of way points along the desired path;

receiving at the motor vehicle the first signal and the plurality of second signals; and

triangulating from the received first signal and the plurality of second signals to locate the plurality of way points relative to the motor vehicle and the first position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a third signal from the second transmitter with the second transmitter positioned proximate a first rear corner of the trailer; and

transmitting a fourth signal from the second transmitter with the second transmitter positioned proximate a second rear corner of the trailer.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of triangulating from the received first signal and the third and fourth signals to calculate a location of the first and second rear corners, respectively, relative to the motor vehicle and the first position.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of calculating the location of one of the first and second rear corners relative to the location of the way points as the motor vehicle is moved along the desired path.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of transmitting a plurality of second signals comprises the step of transmitting a plurality of second signals, one of the plurality of second signals transmitted from each of a plurality of way points located relative to an intended path of one of the first and second rear corners.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

positioning the second transmitter at a second position spaced apart from the first transmitter and from the motor vehicle after the step of transmitting a plurality of second signals; and

transmitting third signals from the second transmitter while the motor vehicle is moving along the desired path.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the trailer as the motor vehicle travels along the desired path by triangulation from the first signals and the third signals; and

calculating the position of the trailer relative to the position of the plurality of way points.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing feedback to a driver of the motor vehicle indicating position of the trailer relative to the position of the plurality of way points.

9. A method for discerning a driver'"'"'s intent relative to a desired path that a trailer coupled to a motor vehicle will travel, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first reference point at a first location spaced apart from the motor vehicle;

sequentially positioning a second reference point at a plurality of way points along the desired point;

transmitting a signal relative to the motor vehicle, the first reference point, and the plurality of way points;

receiving the transmitted signal, and

triangulating to determine position of the plurality of way points relative to the motor vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of fixing a third reference point at a second location spaced apart from the first location and from the motor vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of using triangulation to determine the position of the trailer relative to the first location and the second location as the motor vehicle is moved along the desired path.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of calculating the position of the trailer relative to the plurality of way points.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing feedback information in response to calculating the position of the trailer relative to the plurality of way points to direct a driver of the motor vehicle.

14. A method for assisting a driver in moving a trailer coupled to a motor vehicle along a desired path comprising the steps of:

positioning a first beacon at a first fixed location spaced apart from the motor vehicle;

moving a second beacon along the desired path and transmitting a signal from the second beacon at each of a plurality of way points along the desired path;

receiving the signals transmitted from the second beacon and using triangulation to determine the coordinates of the plurality of way points relative to the first beacon and the motor vehicle;

determining the location of predetermined elements of the trailer relative to the motor vehicle;

positioning the second beacon at a second fixed location spaced apart from the first fixed location and from the motor vehicle;

continuously determining location of the predetermined elements as the motor vehicle moves along the desired path by triangulation from the first beacon and the second beacon;

calculating the position of the predetermined elements relative to the plurality of way points as the motor vehicle moves along the desired path; and

providing feedback information to a driver of the motor vehicle in response to the step of calculating.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing feedback information comprises the step of providing visual feedback information.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing feedback information comprises the step of providing audible feedback information.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining the location of predetermined elements comprises the steps of:

determining the location of a right rear corner of the trailer and of a left rear corner of the trailer by positioning the second beacon proximate the right rear corner and transmitting a first signal and positioning the second beacon proximate the left rear corner and transmitting a second signal; and

receiving the first and second signals and using triangulation to determine the coordinates of the right rear corner and the left rear corner, respectively, relative to the motor vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of constructing a model of the trailer relative to the motor vehicle in response to determining the location of the right rear corner of the trailer and the left rear corner of the trailer.

19. Apparatus for discerning a driver'"'"'s intent relative to a desired path that a trailer coupled to a motor vehicle will travel comprising:

a first transmitter positioned at a fixed location spaced apart from the motor vehicle and configured to transmit a first signal;

a second transmitter configured to transmit a second signal at each of a plurality of way points along the desired path;

a receiver located in the motor vehicle and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal;

a calculating device configured to calculate the location of the plurality of way points relative to the fixed location by a process of triangulation in response to the receiver receiving the first signal and the second signal, the calculating device further configured to calculate the location of the trailer relative to the plurality of calculated locations of the way points as the motor vehicle and the trailer move along the desired path; and

a feedback display configured to provide information to a driver of the motor vehicle relating to the location of the trailer relative to the plurality of calculated locations of the way points.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the calculating device comprises an engine control unit integral with the motor vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the feedback device comprises a visual display visible to a driver of the motor vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the feedback device comprises an audible device configured to emit an audible signal discernable by a driver of the motor vehicle if the trailer is not moving along the desired path.