Control of a backing vehicle

• US 8,649,952 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nedorezov, Felix, Jiang, Hong, Thomas, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US13/495,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 701/42, 701/45, 701/51, 701 60- 62, 701 87- 90, 701/95, 701300-302, 180/6.66, 180/204, 180404-405, 903909-919, 903/945, 903/947
• US Class Current: 701/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0485 during range shift from neutral (N) to reverse (R)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/165 Preventing reverse gear shifts if vehicle speed is too high for safe shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A method for controlling a backing vehicle includes if a back-up sensor indicates that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle and a gear selector is moved to a reverse position, delaying reverse gear engagement and producing a warning signal, and producing a transmission tie-up if brakes are applied insufficiently to stop the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle whose gear selector is in reverse position, comprising:

(a) after a back-up sensor indicates that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle, delaying reverse gear engagement and producing a warning signal;

(b) producing a transmission tie-up, provided brakes are applied insufficiently to stop the vehicle;

(c) completing reverse gear engagement, provided brakes are applied sufficiently to stop the vehicle;

(d) when the back-up sensor indicates that no obstacle is present behind the vehicle, removing the tie-up and the warning signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises determining from a signal produced by the back-up sensor that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises determining from a signal produced by a sensor that the gear selector is moving to or has been moved to the reverse position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a warning signal further comprises producing a signal audible within and without the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a warning signal further comprises producing a first signal audible within the vehicle and a second signal audible without the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) further comprise determining from a magnitude of pressure applied to wheel brakes of the vehicle that said pressure will not produce sufficient wheel brake torque to stop the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein completing reverse gear engagement further comprises causing the transmission to operate in a reverse gear without a tie-up.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing a system override that temporarily permits vehicle motion despite detection of the obstacle.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle whose gear selector is in reverse position, comprising:

after a back-up sensor indicates that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle, delaying reverse gear engagement and producing a warning signal; and

producing a transmission tie-up, provided if brakes are applied insufficiently to stop the vehicle;

completing reverse gear engagement, provided brakes are applied sufficiently to stop the vehicle.

10. A system for controlling a backing vehicle, comprising:

a back-up sensor that produces a first signal indicating whether an obstacle is present behind the vehicle;

a gear selector moveable among selected gear positions, including a sensor that produces a second signal indicating a current position of the gear selector;

a displaceable brake pedal;

wheel brakes supplied with brake pressure in response to displacement of the brake pedal;

a controller supplied with the first and second signals and configured (i) to delay reverse gear engagement and produce a warning signal after the first signal indicates that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle and the second signal indicates that the gear selector is moved to a reverse position, (ii) to produce a transmission tie-up if the wheel brakes are applied insufficiently to stop the vehicle, and to (iii) complete the reverse gear engagement, if the wheel brakes are applied sufficiently to stop the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to remove the tie-up and the warning signal if the back-up sensor indicates that no obstacle is present behind the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to producing a system override that temporarily permits vehicle motion despite detection of the obstacle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein producing a warning signal further comprises producing a signal audible within and without the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein producing a warning signal further comprises producing a first signal audible within the vehicle and a second signal audible without the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller determines from a magnitude of pressure applied to wheel brakes that said pressure will not produce sufficient wheel brake torque to stop the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein completing reverse gear engagement further comprises causing the transmission to operate in a reverse gear without a tie-up.