Vehicle Backup Assistance System

• US 20180194346A1
• Filed: 01/11/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: GESCH, Matthew, KURUMISAWA, Jin, KIMURA, Takayuki, SATO, Miki, AKAMATSU, Katsuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,507,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18036 Reversing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A backup assistance system for a vehicle. The system includes a backup control module configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk when a field of view of one or more backup sensors is restricted.

Claims

1. A backup assistance system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor module including backup sensors that identify obstacles proximate to a backup path of the vehicle, the sensor module configured to determine when a field of view of the backup sensors is restricted;

a notification module configured to notify a driver of the vehicle that the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted; and

a backup control module configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk when the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

2. The backup assistance system of claim 1, wherein the backup control module is configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk until the field of view of the backup sensors is unrestricted.

3. The backup assistance system of claim 1, wherein the backup sensors include at least one of an ultrasonic sonar sensor, a LIDAR sensor, a radar sensor, and a rear view camera.

4. The backup assistance system of claim 1, wherein the notification module includes at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert.

5. The backup assistance system of claim 1, wherein the backup control module is configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk to predetermined limits.

6. The backup assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a shift position detection module configured to detect when a reverse gear of the vehicle has been engaged;

wherein the backup control module is activated when the shift position detection module is in the reverse gear.

7. The backup assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a wheel speed sensor module configured to measure wheel speed of wheels of the vehicle, the wheel speed sensor module is in cooperation with the backup control module to provide the wheel speed thereto.

8. The backup assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a display module configured to notify the driver of the vehicle that the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

9. The backup assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a brake module configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk;

wherein the brake module is controlled by the backup control module.

10. The backup assistance system of claim 1, further comprising an engine module configured to restrict at least one of vehicle backup speed and acceleration;

wherein the brake module is controlled by the backup control module.

11. A method for assisting a driver with operating a vehicle in reverse, the method comprising:

determining whether a field of view of backup sensors of the vehicle is restricted, the backup sensors configured to identify obstacles proximate to a backup path of the vehicle;

notifying the driver that the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted; and

restricting at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk when the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted and the vehicle is being operated in reverse.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the field of view of the sensors is restricted with a sensor module;

wherein the backup sensors include at least one of an ultrasonic sonar sensor, a LIDAR sensor, a radar sensor, and a rear view camera.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the driver with at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert that the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising restricting at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk to predetermined limits.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining when a reverse gear of the vehicle has been engaged with a shift position detection module; and

restricting at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk when the reverse gear of the vehicle has been engaged and the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining wheel speed of wheels of the vehicle with a wheel speed sensor module; and

limiting wheel speed of the wheels when the measured wheel speed exceeds a predetermined limit in reverse and the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a display module to notify the driver that the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising restricting at least one of vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk with a brake module controlled by a backup control module.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising restricting at least one of vehicle backup speed and acceleration with an engine module when the vehicle backup speed or acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the field of view of the backup sensors is restricted.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising unrestricting vehicle backup speed, acceleration, and jerk when the field of view of the backup sensors is restored.