Device for determining a distance of a motor vehicle from an object
First Claim
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1. A device for determining a distance between a rear part of a motor vehicle and an object located behind the motor vehicle, comprising:
- a sensor arrangement detecting a distance between at least one location at the rear part of the motor vehicle and a location at a side of the object facing the motor vehicle, the sensor arrangement providing sensor signals as a function of the detected distance; and
an evaluation unit determining distance values as a function of the sensor signals, the evaluation unit including an arrangement ascertaining a periodic nature of the determined distance values.
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Abstract
A device for determining a distance between the back of a motor vehicle and an object located behind the motor vehicle, including a sensor arrangement for detecting a distance between at least one location on the back of the motor vehicle and a location at the side of the object facing the vehicle, and an evaluation unit for determining distance values on the basis of the detected sensor signals, the evaluation unit including an arrangement for ascertaining a periodic nature of the determined distance values.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for determining a distance between a rear part of a motor vehicle and an object located behind the motor vehicle, comprising:
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a sensor arrangement detecting a distance between at least one location at the rear part of the motor vehicle and a location at a side of the object facing the motor vehicle, the sensor arrangement providing sensor signals as a function of the detected distance; and
an evaluation unit determining distance values as a function of the sensor signals, the evaluation unit including an arrangement ascertaining a periodic nature of the determined distance values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
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8. A device for stabilizing a motor vehicle-trailer combination, comprising:
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a sensor arrangement detecting a distance between a rear part of the motor vehicle and a side of the trailer facing the motor vehicle, the sensor arrangement providing sensor signals as a function of the detected distance;
an evaluation unit determining distance values as a function of the sensor signals, the evaluation unit including an arrangement ascertaining a periodic nature of the determined distance values; and
at least one of;
i) an arrangement for indicating that a critical pendulum motion of the trailer is present as a function of the determined distance values; and
ii) an arrangement for reducing a velocity of the motor vehicle below a critical velocity as a function of the determined distance values. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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9. A device for stabilizing a vehicle-trailer combination, the vehicle-trailer combination including a towing vehicle and a trailer, the device comprising:
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at least one measurement device mounted on a rear part of the towing vehicle; and
a determining arrangement coupled to the at least one measurement device determining at least one distance quantity which describes a distance between a location of the towing vehicle and an object located behind the towing vehicle, the at least one distance quantity being evaluated to support a parking operation when the trailer is not coupled to the towing device, and the at least one distance quantity being evaluated to determine trailer instability when the trailer is coupled to the towing device the determination of trailer instability including determining a pendulum motion of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, at least one of braking interventions, engine interventions and an activation of a signaling device are carried out in response to a determination of trailer instability. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
i) a first frequency quantity describing a frequency of the at least one distance quantity, ii) a first amplitude quantity describing an amplitude of the at least one distance quantity, iii) a second frequency quantity describing a frequency of an angular quantity, and iv) a second amplitude quantity describing an amplitude of the angular quantity.
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13. The device according to claim 9, wherein a velocity quantity describing a velocity of the towing vehicle is evaluated to determine the trailer instability.
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14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the determination of trailer instability is made when a velocity quantity is greater than a first threshold value, and at least one of the following occurs:
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i) the first amplitude quantity is greater than a second threshold value, ii) the first frequency quantity is greater than a third threshold value, iii) the second amplitude quantity is greater than a fourth threshold value, and iv) the second frequency quantity is greater than a fifth threshold value.
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15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the determining arrangement determines whether the trailer instability is subsiding, wherein when trailer instability is subsiding, at least one of:
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i) no braking intervention is performed, ii) no engine intervention is performed, and iii) the at least one of braking interventions and engine interventions is terminated.
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16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the determination arrangement determines that the trailer instability is subsiding when a velocity quantity is greater than a first threshold value, and at least one of the following exists:
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i) the first amplitude quantity decreases, ii) the first frequency quantity decreases, iii) the second amplitude quantity decreases, and iv) the second quantity decreases.
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17. The device according to claim 9, wherein the determining arrangement determines whether the trailer is coupled, the determining arrangement determining that the trailer is coupled when at least one of the following occurs:
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i) a brake light cable of the trailer is connected to the towing vehicle, and ii) at least one distance quantity exhibits a predetermined quality in predetermined driving situations.
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18. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one distance quantity is evaluated to determine the trailer instability when a quantity describing a vehicle velocity is greater than a corresponding threshold value.
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19. A method for stabilizing a vehicle-trailer combination, the vehicle trailer combination including a towing vehicle and a trailer, comprising:
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determining at least one distance quantity which describes a distance between a location of the towing vehicle and an object located behind the towing vehicle;
if the trailer is not coupled to the towing vehicle, evaluating the at least one distance quantity to support a parking operation;
if the trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle, evaluating the at least one distance quantity to determine instability of the trailer;
if instability of the trailer exists, performing at least one of;
i) braking interventions;
ii) engine interventions; and
iii) actuation of a signal transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification