DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL USER INTERFACE FOR REVERSING VEHICLE AND TRAILER SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a backing system, wherein the trailer has a front with a trailer tongue and the vehicle has a rear with a trailer hitch, the trailer tongue being connected to the trailer hitch allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch the method comprising:
- determining that the vehicle-trailer unit is backing up with an electronic control unit for the backing system;
determining a current hitch angle, which represents the relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer with the electronic control unit;
calculating a requested hitch angle rate of change versus distance traveled with the electronic control unit, wherein the requested hitch angle rate of change is based upon a input from a joystick control which provides a requested hitch angle rate of change signal value in proportion to the joystick positioncalculating a steering angle with the electronic control unit based upon the requested hitch angle rate of change, wherein the steering angle will allow movement of the vehicle-trailer unit in the reverse direction to obtain the requested hitch angle rate of change; and
sending a request to a steering system to provide the steering angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a backing system includes, among other things, determining that the vehicle-trailer unit is backing up with an electronic control unit for the backing system. A current hitch angle is determined, which represents the relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer with the electronic control unit. A requested hitch angle rate of change versus distance traveled is calculated with the electronic control unit, wherein the requested hitch angle rate of change is based upon a input from a joystick control which provides a requested hitch angle rate of change signal value in proportion to the joystick position. A steering angle is calculated with the electronic control unit based upon the requested hitch angle rate of change, wherein the steering angle will allow movement of the vehicle-trailer unit in the reverse direction to obtain the requested hitch angle rate of change; and a request is sent to a steering system to provide the steering angle.
66 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a backing system, wherein the trailer has a front with a trailer tongue and the vehicle has a rear with a trailer hitch, the trailer tongue being connected to the trailer hitch allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch the method comprising:
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determining that the vehicle-trailer unit is backing up with an electronic control unit for the backing system; determining a current hitch angle, which represents the relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer with the electronic control unit; calculating a requested hitch angle rate of change versus distance traveled with the electronic control unit, wherein the requested hitch angle rate of change is based upon a input from a joystick control which provides a requested hitch angle rate of change signal value in proportion to the joystick position calculating a steering angle with the electronic control unit based upon the requested hitch angle rate of change, wherein the steering angle will allow movement of the vehicle-trailer unit in the reverse direction to obtain the requested hitch angle rate of change; and sending a request to a steering system to provide the steering angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A backing system for a vehicle-trailer unit, wherein the trailer has a front with a trailer tongue and the vehicle has a rear with a trailer hitch, the trailer tongue being connected to the trailer hitch allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch the system comprising:
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a sensor for sensing a current hitch angle, which represents the relative angle between the vehicle and the trailer; a joystick control for providing a differential input used to determine a requested hitch angle rate of change; and an electronic control unit for the backing system, wherein the electronic control device includes instructions for; determining that the vehicle-trailer unit is backing up; determining the current hitch angle, based upon information from the sensor; calculating the requested hitch angle rate of change based upon the differential input from the joystick control; calculating a steering angle based upon the requested hitch angle rate of change, wherein the steering angle will allow movement of the vehicle-trailer unit in the reverse direction to obtain the requested hitch angle rate of change; and sending a request to a steering system to provide the steering angle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification