Jackknife Condition for Backing up of a Vehicle Attached to a Long Wheelbase Dual Axle Trailers
First Claim
1. A method for assisting a driver in a reverse drive maneuver of a trailer, the trailer coupled to a vehicle at a hitch, the vehicle having a front axle with steerable front wheels and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels, and the trailer having a rear axle with steerable rear wheels and a front axle with non-steerable front wheels, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller device, an operator-controlled vehicle steering angle for steering the vehicle during the reverse drive maneuver;
receiving, by the controller device, a hitch angle representing an angle between the vehicle and the trailer at the hitch;
determining a directional jackknife warning condition based on the received vehicle steering angle, the directional jackknife warning condition representing a condition of the hitch angle at which, if the vehicle steering angle is maintained, no allowable trailer steering angle can be determined that will reduce the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer if the vehicle drives in reverse; and
responsive to the hitch angle satisfying the directional jackknife warning condition, notifying the driver.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A jackknife warning condition controller and control method notifies a driver of a potential jackknife situation while backing up a vehicle with an attached trailer. The vehicle has a front axle with steerable front wheels controlled by the driver and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels. The trailer has a front axle with non-steerable front wheels and a rear axle with steerable rear wheels controlled by a trailer steering controller. The jackknife controller receives an operator-controlled vehicle steering angle and a measured hitch angle. The jackknife warning condition controller determines a directional jackknife warning condition and compares the measured hitch angle with the determined directional jackknife warning condition. If the measured hitch angle satisfies the directional jackknife warning condition then a notification is sent to the driver.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for assisting a driver in a reverse drive maneuver of a trailer, the trailer coupled to a vehicle at a hitch, the vehicle having a front axle with steerable front wheels and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels, and the trailer having a rear axle with steerable rear wheels and a front axle with non-steerable front wheels, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a controller device, an operator-controlled vehicle steering angle for steering the vehicle during the reverse drive maneuver; receiving, by the controller device, a hitch angle representing an angle between the vehicle and the trailer at the hitch; determining a directional jackknife warning condition based on the received vehicle steering angle, the directional jackknife warning condition representing a condition of the hitch angle at which, if the vehicle steering angle is maintained, no allowable trailer steering angle can be determined that will reduce the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer if the vehicle drives in reverse; and responsive to the hitch angle satisfying the directional jackknife warning condition, notifying the driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions for assisting a driver in a reverse drive maneuver of a trailer, the trailer coupled to a vehicle at a hitch, the vehicle having a front axle with steerable front wheels and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels, and the trailer having a rear axle with steerable rear wheels and a front axle with non-steerable front wheels, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
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receive an operator-controlled vehicle steering able for steering the vehicle during the reverse drive maneuver; receive a hitch angle representing an angle between the vehicle and a trailer at the hitch angle; determine a directional jackknife warning condition based on the received vehicle steering angle, the directional jackknife warning condition representing a condition of the hitch angle at which, if the vehicle steering angle is maintained, no allowable steering angle can be determined that will reduce the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer if the vehicle drives in reverse; and responsive to the hitch angle satisfying the directional jackknife warning condition, notify the driver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A controller configured for assisting a driver in a reverse drive maneuver of a trailer, the trailer coupled to a vehicle at a hitch, the vehicle having a front axle with steerable front wheels and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels, and the trailer having a rear axle with steerable rear wheels and a front axle with non-steerable front wheels, the controller comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to; receive an operator-controlled vehicle steering able for steering the vehicle during the reverse drive maneuver; receive a hitch angle representing an angle between the vehicle and a trailer at the hitch angle; determine a directional jackknife warning condition based on the received vehicle steering angle, the directional jackknife warning condition representing a condition of the hitch angle at which, if the vehicle steering angle is maintained, no allowable steering angle can be determined that will reduce the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer if the vehicle drives in reverse; and responsive to the hitch angle satisfying the directional jackknife warning condition, notify the driver. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification