Trailer backup assist system having remote control and user sight management

• US 9,829,883 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael, Hu, Zheng, Mattern, Donald Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US15/295,019
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0223 involving speed control of the vehicle vehicle fittings for automatically controlling, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931

Abstract

A system for backing a trailer with a vehicle is provided herein and includes a mobile electronic device with which a user inputs an intended backing path for the trailer. A controller autonomously controls the vehicle to back the trailer according to the intended backing path. The controller communicates with a sensing system to determine if the user has lost sight of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A system for backing a trailer with a vehicle, comprising:

a mobile electronic device remotely located from the vehicle and with which a user inputs an intended backing path for the trailer; and

a controller for autonomously controlling the vehicle to back the trailer according to the intended backing path, wherein the controller communicates with a sensing system to determine if the user has lost sight of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device is one of a smartphone, a tablet, and a dedicated remote.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a countermeasure if it determines that the user has lost sight of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller determines that the user has lost sight if the sensing system detects an object exceeding a predetermined height and located between the user and at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensing system comprises an imaging device, and wherein the controller determines that the user has lost sight if the imaging device is unable to detect the user.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the countermeasure comprises slowing or stopping the vehicle and trailer.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the countermeasure comprises generating at least one of an audio warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.

8. A system for hitching a vehicle to a trailer, comprising:

a mobile electronic device remotely located from the vehicle and with which a user inputs an intended backing path of the vehicle towards the trailer; and

a controller for autonomously controlling the vehicle according to the intended backing path, wherein the controller communicates with a sensing system to determine if the user or other object crosses into the intended backing path, and if so, generates a countermeasure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile electronic device is one of a smartphone, a tablet, and a dedicated remote.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensing system comprises at least one of ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, LIDAR sensors, infrared sensors, and vision-based sensors.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller generates the countermeasure if the sensing system detects at least one of the mobile electronic device and the user located between the vehicle and the trailer are within a predetermined distance from a rear of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the countermeasure comprises slowing or stopping the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the countermeasure comprises generating at least one of an audio warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.

14. A method of backing a trailer with a vehicle, comprising:

using a mobile electronic device remotely located from the vehicle to input an intended backing path for the trailer; and

providing a controller for autonomously controlling the vehicle to back the trailer according to the intended backing path, wherein the controller communicates with a sensing system to determine if the user has lost sight of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile electronic device is one of a smartphone, a tablet, and a dedicated remote.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to generate a countermeasure if it determines that the user has lost sight of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller determines that the user has lost sight if the sensing system detects an object exceeding a predetermined height and located between the user and at least one of the vehicle and the trailer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller determines that the user has lost sight if the sensing system is unable to detect the user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the countermeasure comprises slowing or stopping the vehicle and trailer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the countermeasure comprises generating at least one of an audio warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.