Rear steering hitch/docking mode

• US 6,801,125 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Klass, Jeffrey T., Richardson, Gordon D., McGregor, Brian D., Waghorn, Benjamin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/392,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/958, 340/435, 307/10.1, 280/477, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system

Abstract

A system for assisting a driver of a vehicle in precisely reaching a target destination while the vehicle is in reverse. The system comprises a control unit, an HD sensor, a rear wheel steering actuator, and a control positioned for operation by the driver. The HD sensor is in communication with the control unit and measures the relative position of a target location with respect to a location on the vehicle. The rear wheel steering actuator is in communication with the control unit and steers at least a rear wheel of the vehicle. The driver operated control is also in communication with the control unit. The control unit, upon receiving a signal from the control, enters an HD mode in which the control unit operates the rear wheel steering actuator to maneuver the vehicle to bring the target location and the location on the vehicle into alignment.

Claims

1. A system for assisting a driver of a vehicle in precisely reaching a target destination while said vehicle is in reverse, said system comprising:

a control unit;

an HD sensor, said HD sensor measuring the relative position of a target location with respect to a location on said vehicle, said HD sensor in communication with said control unit;

a rear wheel steering actuator for steering at least a rear wheel of said vehicle, said rear wheel steering actuator being in communication with said control unit;

a control positioned for operation by said driver, said control being in communication with said control unit;

said control unit, upon receiving a signal from said control, enters an HD mode in which said control operates said rear wheel steering actuator to maneuver said vehicle to bring said target location and said location on said vehicle into alignment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver feedback device in communication with said control unit, said control unit signaling said feedback device to instruct the driver to stop rearward motion of the vehicle when said target location and said location on said vehicle are aligned.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said feedback device comprises at least one of an audible feedback device and a visible feedback device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a brake piston actuator in communication with said control unit, said control unit signaling said brake piston actuator to stop rearward motion of the vehicle when said target location and said location on said vehicle are aligned.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said brake piston actuator also operates in response to an anti-lock brake system controller.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said HD sensor comprises at least one string potentiometer.

7. The system of claim 1, said control unit entering said HD mode only after determining that a speed of said vehicle is zero and a transmission of said vehicle is in REVERSE.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a button.

9. The system of claim 1, said control unit entering said HD mode only after determining that the target is obtainable from a current position and orientation of the vehicle.

10. A method for aligning a location on a vehicle with a target location comprising:

receiving a signal from a control actuated by a driver;

using an HD sensor to measure the relative position of said target location with respect to said location on said vehicle;

entering an HD mode in response to said signal and said HD sensor, wherein, in said HD mode, a control unit operates a rear wheel steering actuator to maneuver said vehicle to bring said target location and said location on said vehicle into alignment.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising

providing driver feedback instructing the driver to stop rearward motion of the vehicle when said target location and said location on said vehicle are aligned.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said driver feedback comprises at least one of audible feedback and visible feedback.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

actuating a brake piston actuator to stop rearward motion of the vehicle when said target location and said location on said vehicle are aligned.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said brake piston actuator also operates in response to an anti-lock brake system controller.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said HD sensor comprises at least one string potentiometer or other sensing method.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining that a speed of said vehicle is zero and a transmission of said vehicle is in REVERSE prior to entering said HD mode.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said control comprises a button.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining that a target is obtainable from a current position and orientation of the vehicle prior to said entering said HD mode.