Topographical integration for trailer backup assist system
First Claim
1. A method of utilizing surface slope data to alert an operator and/or to control a vehicle having a trailer backup assist system for use in backing up the vehicle when a trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle defines a plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and wherein the vehicle and trailer together encounter at least one predefined problematic operating condition that is to be avoided when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is backing up, and wherein, when backing up, a response of the trailer to changes in the vehicle operating parameters changes due to changes in surface slope encountered by the vehicle and/or the trailer;
- the method comprising;
providing a trailer backup assist system; and
configuring the trailer backup assist system to utilize surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; and
/or utilize surface slope data to control at least one vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer backup assist system for vehicles utilizes surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto. The trailer backup assist system may also be configured to utilize surface slope data to control steering, braking, or other vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto. The trailer backup assist system may also be configured to generate a warning and/or control the vehicle if a jackknife condition is imminent. The surface slope data may be obtained utilizing sensors on the vehicle, or the surface slope data may be obtained utilizing a database that includes topographical data.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of utilizing surface slope data to alert an operator and/or to control a vehicle having a trailer backup assist system for use in backing up the vehicle when a trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle defines a plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and wherein the vehicle and trailer together encounter at least one predefined problematic operating condition that is to be avoided when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is backing up, and wherein, when backing up, a response of the trailer to changes in the vehicle operating parameters changes due to changes in surface slope encountered by the vehicle and/or the trailer;
- the method comprising;
providing a trailer backup assist system; and configuring the trailer backup assist system to utilize surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; and
/or utilize surface slope data to control at least one vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23)
- the method comprising;
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14. A method of utilizing surface slope data to alert an operator and/or to control a vehicle having a trailer backup assist system for use in backing up the vehicle when a trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle defines a plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and wherein the vehicle and trailer together encounter at least one predefined problematic operating condition that is to be avoided when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is backing up, and wherein, when backing up, a response of the trailer to changes in the vehicle operating parameters changes due to changes in surface slope encountered by the vehicle and/or the trailer;
- the method comprising;
providing a trailer backup assist system; configuring the trailer backup assist system to utilize surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; and
/or utilize surface slope data to control at least one vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto;the vehicle includes a steering wheel and a power steering system that changes a steering angle in response to steering command signals; the trailer backup assist system includes an auxiliary steering input feature that can be operated by a user without turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto to input user curvature requests corresponding to a desired curvature for a path of travel of a vehicle and trailer during backing of the vehicle and trailer; the trailer backup assist system generates steering command signals based on user curvature requests and surface slope data while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; the trailer backup assist system adjusts the steering command signals based on the surface slope data such that the vehicle and trailer have substantially consistent trailer curvature response across varying surface topography for a given user curvature request; the trailer backup assist system is configured to determine a location of at least one problematic topographical feature having a surface slope that exceeds a predefined maximum value; and adjusting the steering command signals to adjust a path of the trailer to avoid any such problematic topographical features while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto.
- the method comprising;
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15. A method of utilizing surface slope data to alert an operator and/or to control a vehicle having a trailer backup assist system for use in backing up the vehicle when a trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle defines a plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and wherein the vehicle and trailer together encounter at least one predefined problematic operating condition that is to be avoided when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is backing up, and wherein, when backing up, a response of the trailer to changes in the vehicle operating parameters changes due to changes in surface slope encountered by the vehicle and/or the trailer;
- the method comprising;
providing a trailer backup assist system; configuring the trailer backup assist system to utilize surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; and
/or utilize surface slope data to control at least one vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto;defining a jackknife condition; and
wherein;the trailer backup assist system utilizes the surface slope data to determine if a jackknife condition is imminent and generates a user warning if a jackknife condition is imminent. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- the method comprising;
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21. A method of utilizing surface slope data to alert an operator and/or to control a vehicle having a trailer backup assist system for use in backing up the vehicle when a trailer is connected to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle defines a plurality of vehicle operating parameters, and wherein the vehicle and trailer together encounter at least one predefined problematic operating condition that is to be avoided when the trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle is backing up, and wherein, when backing up, a response of the trailer to changes in the vehicle operating parameters changes due to changes in surface slope encountered by the vehicle and/or the trailer;
- the method comprising;
providing a trailer backup assist system; configuring the trailer backup assist system to utilize surface slope data to provide an alert to an operator if a problematic operating condition is present and/or imminent while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto; and
/or utilize surface slope data to control at least one vehicle operating parameter while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto;the trailer backup assist system is configured to alert an operator and/or to control the speed of the vehicle while backing up with a trailer attached to the vehicle based, at least in part, on surface slope data; and
wherein;the trailer backup assist system is configured to determine if the vehicle is accelerating at a rate that is approaching a predefined maximum allowable acceleration rate and to control the vehicle speed whereby the vehicle does not exceed the maximum allowable acceleration rate.
- the method comprising;
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24. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
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providing topographical data to a trailer backup assist system; identifying an obstacle utilizing the topographical data; and controlling at least one of a vehicle brake and steering system utilizing the trailer backup assist system to avoid the obstacle identified utilizing the topographical data. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification