System and Method for Warning of an Imminent Collision Between a Towing Vehicle and Trailer When Reversing a Towing Vehicle With Trailer

• US 20170232893A1
• Filed: 09/07/2015
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: EBNER, Christian, HASLSTEINER, Holger, LECHNER, Martin, RAPPL, Christian, REICHL, Karlheinz, STOLL, Thomas, HAMMER, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 10,106,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/305 Sway alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• 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: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A system and method for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing a towing vehicle with a trailer.

The invention relates to a system for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (3) when reversing a towing vehicle (2) with a trailer (3), with a monitoring facility (5) for continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle (2) and a longitudinal axis of the trailer (3) when reversing the towing vehicle (2), in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), and to generate a warning signal if there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3).

Claims

1. A system for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (3) when reversing a towing vehicle (2) with a trailer (3), with a monitoring facility (5) for continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle (2) and a longitudinal axis of the trailer (3) when reversing the towing vehicle (2), in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), and to generate a warning signal if there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring facility (5) comprises at least two environment sensors (8) arranged on the rear (12) of the towing vehicle (2) and/or on a front side (21) of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, for continuously capturing distance values between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), an evaluation unit (9) for determining the angle between the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle (2) and the longitudinal axis of the trailer (3), based on the distance values captured by the environment sensors (8), a comparator (10) for comparing the determined angle with a limit value for the angle, in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), and a warning signal emitter (11) for issuing a warning signal if there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3).

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the warning signal emitter (10) features an acoustic warning signal emitter (13).

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the warning signal emitter (11) features an optical warning signal emitter (14).

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the warning signal emitter (11) is arranged on the trailer (3).

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the warning signal emitter is integrated in the towing vehicle (2).

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring facility (5) features at least two reflectors (22) arranged on the front side (21) of the trailer (3) facing the towing vehicle (2), wherein the at least two reflectors (22) are arranged on the trailer (3) such that when there is an imminent collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), they reflect light emitted from at least one signal source (23) of the towing vehicle (2) into at least one interior and/or exterior mirror (24) of the towing vehicle (2).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one signal source (23) of the towing vehicle (2) is a reversing lamp (25) of the towing vehicle (2).

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring facility (5) features a signal lamp (31) arranged on the front side (21) of the trailer (3) facing the towing vehicle (2), wherein the signal lamp (31) is arranged on the trailer (3) such that warning light signals emitted from the signal lamp (31) hit an exterior mirror (24) of the towing vehicle (2) as soon as there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3).

10. A method for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing a towing vehicle with a trailer, wherein the method (40) features the following steps:

Continuous monitoring of an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle (41);

Detecting whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer (42);

Generating a warning signal if there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer (43).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps of continuous monitoring of an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle (41) and detecting whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer (42) feature the following steps:

Continuous capturing of at least two distance values between the towing vehicle and the trailer by means of at least two environment sensors arranged on the rear of the towing vehicle and/or on a front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle;

Determining the angle between the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and the longitudinal axis of the trailer on the basis of the captured distance values;

Comparing the determined angle with a limit value for the angle in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the warning signal is an acoustic warning signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the warning signal is an optical warning signal.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps of continuous monitoring of an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle (41) and detecting whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer (42) feature the following steps:

Providing at least two reflectors on the front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the at least two reflectors are arranged on the trailer such that when there is an imminent collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer, they reflect light emitted from at least one signal source of the towing vehicle into at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle;

When reversing the towing vehicle, emitting light signals via the at least one signal source;

Determining whether the emitted light signals are reflected in the at least one interior and/or exterior mirror of the towing vehicle, in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps of continuous monitoring of an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer when reversing the towing vehicle (41) and detecting whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer (42) feature the following steps:

Providing a signal lamp on the front side of the trailer facing the towing vehicle, wherein the signal lamp is arranged on the trailer in such a manner that warning light signals issued by the signal lamp hit an exterior mirror of the towing vehicle as soon as there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

When reversing, emission of light signals via the signal lamp, wherein the emitted light signals comprise at least the warning light signal;

Determining whether the emitted warning light signals hit the at least one exterior mirror of the towing vehicle, in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle and the trailer.