Trailer backup assist system with hitch assist

• US 9,895,945 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US14/962,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20170158007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/065 characterised by the hitch mechanism
• 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 1/363 Hitch guiding or catching elements, e.g. V-shaped plates partially surrounding a coupling member for guiding the other coupling member
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/66 Props
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/08 Driving in reverse
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 related to particular drive situations

Abstract

A hitch assist system is provided herein. An imaging device captures images of a scene rearward of a vehicle. A controller processes captured images and is configured to control a vehicle suspension system to adjust a height of the vehicle and control the deployment of a power tongue jack of a trailer.

Claims

1. A hitch assist system comprising:

an imaging device for capturing images of a scene rearward of a vehicle;

a controller for processing captured images, the controller further configured to;

control a vehicle suspension system to adjust a height of the vehicle; and

control the deployment of a power tongue jack of a trailer.

2. The hitch assist system of claim 1, further comprising ultrasonic sensors for distance measurement of objects located behind the vehicle.

3. The hitch assist system of claim 1, wherein the controller processes captured images to determine the location of a coupler ball socket of the trailer.

4. The hitch assist system of claim 1, wherein the controller issues commands for autonomously backing the vehicle toward the trailer.

5. The hitch assist system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the location of a coupler ball socket of the trailer based on information received from a portable electronic device located on a tongue of the trailer.

6. The hitch assist system of claim 1, further comprising a positioning device and an inertial system for measuring vehicle-related information including at least one of a vehicle position and a vehicle orientation, wherein when the vehicle-related information is stored to a memory of the controller.

7. The hitch assist system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle-related information is used to guide the vehicle in a backing maneuver toward the trailer such that a hitch ball of the vehicle is aligned with a coupler ball socket of the trailer.

8. A method of hitching a vehicle to a trailer, comprising the steps of:

providing a controller configured to;

autonomously back the vehicle toward the trailer;

control a vehicle suspension system to adjust a height of the vehicle such that a hitch connection can be made between a hitch ball and a coupler ball socket; and

control a power tongue jack of the trailer to move between a deployed position and a retracted position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to process images captured by an imaging device to determine the location of the coupler ball socket.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of using ultrasonic sensors to determine a distance of the coupler ball socket relative to the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is backed toward the trailer until the hitch ball is positioned below the coupler ball socket.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller issues a command to the suspension system to raise the vehicle such that the hitch ball is seated in the coupler ball socket.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the controller issues a command to the power tongue jack to retract from the deployed position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein controller issues a command to the suspension system to lower the vehicle to a ride height.