Method and apparatus for controlling a trailer and an automotive vehicle with a yaw stability control system

• US 6,959,970 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tseng, Eric E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/708,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/123, 303/140, 303/146, 303/147, 303/148, 701/71, 701/72, 701/74, 701/75, 188/112.A, 188/112.R
• US Class Current: 303/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/02 Side slip angle, attitude angle, floating angle, drift angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17552 responsive to the tire sideslip angle or the vehicle body slip angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1837 characterised by the load-detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1887 especially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle with a yaw stability control system and a trailer comprises determining a presence of a trailer, changing a side slip angle parameter threshold of the vehicle to a modified side slip parameter in response to the trailer signal, and controlling the yaw stability control system in response to the modified side slip parameter.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle with a yaw stability control system and a trailer comprising:

determining a presence of a trailer and generating a trailer signal;

changing a side slip angle parameter threshold of the vehicle to a modified side slip angle parameter threshold in response to the trailer signal; and

controlling the yaw stability control system in response to the modified side slip angle parameter threshold.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein changing a side slip angle parameter threshold comprises reducing a side slip parameter threshold.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a presence of a trailer comprises determining a presence of a trailer in response to a manually activated switch.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a presence of a trailer comprises determining a presence of a trailer in response to a trailer sensor.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the trailer sensor comprises a hitch sensor.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the trailer sensor comprises a reverse aid sensor.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the trailer sensor comprises a harness current detector.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the side slip angle parameter threshold comprises a side slip angle.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the side slip angle parameter threshold comprises a side slip angle derivative threshold.

10. A control system for a vehicle configured for towing a trailer comprising:

a yaw control system having a side slip angle threshold;

means to generate a trailer signal in response to a presence of the trailer;

a controller changing the side slip angle parameter threshold of the vehicle to a modified side slip parameter threshold in response to the trailer signal, said yaw stability control system operating in response to the modified side slip angle parameter threshold.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means to generate a trailer signal in response to a presence of a trailer comprises a hitch sensor.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means to generate a trailer signal, in response to a presence of a trailer comprises a reverse aid sensor.

13. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means to generate a trailer signal in response to a presence of a trailer comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

14. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means to generate a trailer signal in response to a presence of a trailer comprises a camera.