Trailer curvature control with adaptive trailer length estimation
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining jackknife conditions of a vehicle comprising:
- a hitch sensor configured to identify a hitch angle;
a processor operable to;
set an operating range of the hitch angle to a minimum range;
monitor the hitch angle while the vehicle is operated in a forward direction;
increase the operating range to an increased range according to the hitch angle detected during the monitoring;
set a maximum hitch angle to the increased range; and
output a control signal indicating a jackknife condition in response to the hitch angle exceeding the maximum hitch angle during a guided reverse operation of the vehicle.
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining a jackknife condition of a vehicle and trailer is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor operable to set an operating range of a hitch angle to a minimum range. The processor monitors the hitch angle while the vehicle is operated in a forward direction and increases the operating range based on the hitch angle observed during the monitoring. The processor is further operable to utilize the increased operating range to prevent a jackknife condition during a guided reverse operation of the vehicle.
187 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining jackknife conditions of a vehicle comprising:
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a hitch sensor configured to identify a hitch angle; a processor operable to; set an operating range of the hitch angle to a minimum range; monitor the hitch angle while the vehicle is operated in a forward direction; increase the operating range to an increased range according to the hitch angle detected during the monitoring; set a maximum hitch angle to the increased range; and output a control signal indicating a jackknife condition in response to the hitch angle exceeding the maximum hitch angle during a guided reverse operation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling an operating range of a hitch angle comprising:
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receiving an input identifying a selected trailer length; comparing the selected trailer length to a minimum trailer length, wherein the minimum trailer length corresponds to a predetermined value; setting the operating range to a minimum range for a trailer in response to the selected trailer length being less than the minimum trailer length; detecting the hitch angle with a hitch sensor; and limiting the hitch angle to the minimum range thereby controlling a reverse operation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for determining jackknife conditions of a vehicle and trailer comprising:
a processor in communication with; a steering angle detection apparatus operable to measure a steering angle of the vehicle; and a hitch angle detection apparatus operable to measure a hitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle, wherein, the processor is operable to; set an operating range of the hitch angle to a minimum range for a trailer; monitor the hitch angle; increase the operating range to an increased range based on the hitch angle observed during the monitoring; set a maximum hitch angle to the increased range, and output a control signal indicating the hitch angle exceeding the increased range to prevent a jackknife condition during a guided reverse operation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
Specification