Process for coupling a trailer with the use of a vehicle level regulation system

• US 7,429,051 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Bauer, Werner, Augst, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/507,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6.15, 280/6.153, 280/6.157, 280/5.514, 280/763.1, 340/431, 340/435
• US Class Current: 280/6.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/465 comprising a lifting mechanism, e.g. for coupling while lifting
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/66 Props
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/324 only rear part
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/203 lowering the floor for loading/unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/204 adjusting floor height to the loading ramp level

Abstract

A driver assistance system is provided for coupling a trailer coupling mounted on a vehicle to a counterpiece mounted on a trailer. A control unit is provided in the vehicle, where, when a predefined first condition holds, the control unit controls at least one actuator of a vehicle level regulation system such that at least the back part of the vehicle is lowered and/or, when a predefined second condition holds, the control unit controls at least one actuator of a vehicle level regulation system such that at least the back part of the vehicle is raised.

Claims

1. A driver assistance system for coupling a trailer coupling mounted on a vehicle to a counterpiece mounted on a trailer, the driver assistance system comprising:

a control unit provided in the vehicle;

a vehicle level regulation system coupled with the control unit, the vehicle level regulation system including at least one actuator for raising or lowering a back part of the vehicle; and

a sensor unit for sensing at least the counterpiece,

the driver assistance system being operatively configured such that when a predefined first condition holds, the control unit controls the at least one actuator such that at least the back part of the vehicle is lowered and/or when a predefined second condition holds, the control unit controls the at least one actuator such that at least the back part of the vehicle is raised,

wherein the predefined first condition holds if, as detected by the sensor unit, at least one of;

a distance between the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle and the counterpiece mounted on the trailer falls below a predefined distance value,

the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle is drivable together with the counterpiece mounted on the trailer without alignment, and

an operating element of the vehicle level regulation system is actuated.

2. The driver assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of an optical, ultrasonic, capacitive, inductive, radar, and lidar sensor for detecting the distance between the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle and the counterpiece mounted on the trailer.

3. The driver assistance system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit is formed as an extension of an assistance system for perceiving the surroundings or reproducing images.

4. The driver assistance system according to claim 3, wherein the assistance system covering the surroundings is at least one of a rear view camera system and a park distance control system.

5. The driver assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is connected to a display device which is mounted at a location visible from a driver'"'"'s seat and which displays, as a geometrically transformed video image or in symbolic form, a position of the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle relative to the position of the counterpiece mounted on the trailer.

6. The driver assistance system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of guide symbols and a Soft Key, as the vehicle level regulation system operating element, are represented on the display device.

7. The driver assistance system according to claim 1, wherein, when the predefined first condition holds, the control unit controls, as a function of the position of the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle relative to the counterpiece mounted on the trailer, said position being detected by the sensor unit, at least one of a steering system, a drive unit, and a brake unit, of the vehicle such that the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle is placed under the counterpiece mounted on the trailer.

8. The driver assistance system according to claim 1, wherein, the second condition holds when, by use of the sensor unit, the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle is placed under the counterpiece mounted on the trailer and/or when an operating element is actuated.

9. The driver assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the back part of the vehicle is raised in such a manner that the counterpiece mounted on the trailer is raised with it in such a manner that a device supporting the trailer in a parked state is folded in automatically.

10. A method of assisting a driver and coupling a trailer coupling mounted on a vehicle to a counterpiece mounted on a trailer, the method comprising the acts of:

determining whether a predefined first condition exists;

upon the existence of the predefined first condition, controlling at least one actuator of a vehicle level regulation system such that a back part of the vehicle is lowered;

determining whether a predefined second condition exists; and

when the predefined second condition exists, controlling at least one actuator of the vehicle level regulation system such that at least the back part of the vehicle is raised, wherein

the act of determining whether the predefined first condition exists, further comprises at least one of;

detecting via a sensor unit whether a distance between the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle and the counterpiece mounted on the trailer falls below a predefined distance value;

determining with the sensor unit if the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle is drivable together with the counterpiece mounted on the trailer without alignment; and

determining an actuation of an operating element of the vehicle level regulation system provided in accordance with an output of the sensor unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when the predefined first condition exists, further comprising the act of controlling, as a function of the position of the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle relative to the counterpiece mounted on the trailer, at least one of a steering system, a drive unit, and a brake unit, of the vehicle such that the trailer coupling mounted on the vehicle is placed under the counterpiece mounted on the trailer.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the steering system, drive unit, and brake unit are controlled by a control unit provided in the vehicle.