Detection of Trailer Sway Utilizing Park Assist Sensors

• US 20110087402A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Banks, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US12/578,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087402A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/30 Wheel torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles

Abstract

An electronic stability control system includes a plurality of sensors that generate respective signals based on respective distances between a vehicle and a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle. A backup assistance module determines respective distances based on the signals. An electronic stability control (ESC) module controls a wheel torque of at least one of the vehicle and trailer based on the respective distances.

Claims

1. An electronic stability control system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors that generate respective signals based on respective distances between a vehicle and a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle;

a backup assistance module that determines respective distances based on the signals; and

an electronic stability control (ESC) module that controls a wheel torque of at least one of the vehicle and trailer based on the respective distances.

2. The electronic stability control system of claim 1 wherein the ESC module controls at least one of driveline torque and brake torque when controlling the wheel torque.

3. The electronic stability control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors sense the distances at least one of acoustically, optically, and electromagnetically.

4. The electronic stability control system of claim 1 wherein the ESC module controls the wheel torque of the at least one of the vehicle and trailer further based on at least one of amplitudes, slopes, and periods of the respective distances.

5. A stability control method, comprising:

generating signals based on respective distances between a vehicle and a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle;

determining respective distances based on the signals; and

controlling a wheel torque of at least one of the vehicle and trailer based on the respective distances.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein controlling the wheel torque further comprises controlling at least one of driveline torque and brake torque.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein sensing the distances is performed at least one of acoustically, optically, and electromagnetically.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein controlling the wheel torque of the at least one of the vehicle and trailer is further based on at least one of amplitudes, slopes, and periods of the respective distances over a period of time.

9. An electronic stability control system, comprising:

sensor means for generating signals based on respective distances between a vehicle and a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle;

backup assistance means for determining respective distances based on the signals; and

stability control means for controlling a wheel torque of at least one of the vehicle and trailer based on the respective distances.

10. The electronic stability control system of claim 9 wherein the stability control means controls at least one of driveline torque and brake torque when controlling the wheel torque.

11. The electronic stability control system of claim 9 wherein the sensor means sense the distances at least one of acoustically, optically, and electromagnetically.

12. The electronic stability control system of claim 9 wherein the stability control means controls the wheel torque of the at least one of the vehicle and trailer further based on at least one of amplitudes, slopes, and periods of the respective distances.

13. A computer readable memory that includes instructions for a processor wherein the instructions implement a stability control method, comprising:

generating signals based on respective distances between a vehicle and a trailer that is being towed by the vehicle;

determining respective distances based on the signals; and

controlling a wheel torque of at least one of the vehicle and trailer based on the respective distances.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein controlling the wheel torque further comprises controlling at least one of driveline torque and brake torque.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein sensing the distances is performed at least one of acoustically, optically, and electromagnetically.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein controlling the wheel torque of the at least one of the vehicle and trailer is further based on at least one of amplitudes, slopes, and periods of the respective distances over a period of time.