Back warning buzzer system for vehicle having trailer mounted thereto

• US 7,612,657 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Curtis, III; Charles G
• Application Number:
  US11/637,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/435, 340/463, 340/436, 340/425.5, 340/903, 340/904, 340/456, 340/932.2, 367/909, 367/112, 367/96
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a back warning buzzer system for an automotive vehicle having a trailer mounted thereto, comprising: (a) a control unit; (b) a plurality of sensors equidistantly mounted to the back bumper of the vehicle; and (c) a buzzer operable by the control unit in response to signals from the sensors. Also disclosed is a back warning method therefrom.

Claims

1. A back warning method for an automotive vehicle having a trailer mounted thereto, comprising the steps of:

(a) starting vehicle'"'"'s engine;

(b) when at least two sensors selected from a plurality of sensors equidistantly mounted to the back bumper of the vehicle detect a rear object with the transmission in “

P”

or “

N”

position and a distance between the vehicle and the rear object is within a predetermined range, allowing a control unit to determine that the trailer is towed behind the vehicle so as to control the selected sensors to be turned on and a buzzer to be turned off after the lapse of three seconds;

(c) when the selected sensors detect the rear object with the transmission in “

P”

or “

N”

position and the distance between the vehicle and the rear object is beyond the predetermined range, allowing the control unit to determine that the rear object is a general obstacle so as to control all of the plurality of sensors to be turned on and the buzzer to be turned on;

(d) when the vehicle is stopped with the transmission in “

R”

position for a sufficient time period, allowing the control unit to control the selected sensors to be turned on and the buzzer to be turned off; and

(e) when the vehicle is operated during the stop of the vehicle with the transmission in “

R”

position for a sufficient time period, allowing the control unit to control all of the plurality of sensors to be turned on and the buzzer to be turned on.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors are supersonic sensors.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of allowing a control unit to determine that the trailer is towed behind the vehicle so as to control the selected two supersonic sensors to be turned on and a buzzer to be turned off after the lapse of three seconds, comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting the distance between the vehicle and the trailer by obtaining an average distance value between the trailer and the selected two supersonic sensors, which is sensed by the selected two supersonic sensors;

(b) allowing the control unit to determine whether or not the average distance value is within a predetermined range; and

(c) when the average distance value is within the predetermined range, allowing the control unit to control the selected two supersonic sensors to be turned on and a buzzer to be turned off.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the vehicle moves forward after the vehicle'"'"'s engine gets started, the control unit receives a signal from a vehicle speed sensor so as to control all of the plurality of supersonic sensors and the buzzer to be turned off.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein when the trailer is mounted to the rear portion of the vehicle after the vehicle'"'"'s engine gets started with the transmission in “

D”

or “

P/N”

position, the control unit receives a signal from a transmission position sensor so as to control all of the plurality of supersonic sensors to be turned off and the buzzer to be turned on.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is less than the distance between the vehicle and the trailer.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined range is less than 48 cm.