Trailer backup assist system with off-shoot correction

• US 9,783,230 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hafner, Michael, Pilutti, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US14/677,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20150210317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a steering input device for controlling a desired curvature. A controller is in communication with the steering input device and is configured to generate steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path when a straight backup request is initiated via the steering input device.

Claims

1. A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising:

a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature; and

a controller in communication with the knob and configured to generate a steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path wherein the controller determines the straight path based on a heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released from a commanded position.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a torque sensor coupled to the knob and configured to sense if an external force is being applied to rotate the knob.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering command for the vehicle guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a button, which, if depressed, signals to the trailer backup assist system that a straight backup maneuver is desired at a current heading of the trailer.

6. A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising:

a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature; and

a controller in communication with the knob and configured to generate a steering command for the vehicle to correct for off-shoot when a straight backup request is initiated by releasing the knob from a commanded position, wherein the controller determines a straight path based on a heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a torque sensor coupled to the knob and configured to sense if an external force is being applied to rotate the knob.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the steering command for the vehicle guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a button, which, if depressed, signals to the trailer backup assist system that a straight backup maneuver is desired at a current heading of the trailer.

11. A method for steering a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising the steps of:

providing a rotatable knob for controlling a desired curvature;

sensing if an external force is applied to the knob;

generating a steering command for the vehicle to correct for off-shoot when a straight backup request is initiated by releasing the knob from a commanded position; and

determining a straight path based on the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob is released from the commanded position, wherein the steering command guides the vehicle and trailer along a corrective path that merges with the straight path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein an off-shoot angle between the corrective path and the straight path becomes zero at a waypoint at which the corrective path merges with the straight path, wherein the waypoint comprises a location coordinate and an angular orientation of the trailer that yields a trailer heading consistent with the heading of the trailer at the moment the knob was released.