IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,926,008
Granted Patent B2
US 9,926,008 · App. 14/627,758 · Granted Mar 27, 2018

Trailer backup assist system with waypoint selection

Inventors: Michael Hafner (Ann Arbor, MI); Thomas Edward Pilutti (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D13/06B60D1/245B60D1/62B60W30/00B62D15/027G08G1/14G08G1/143H04N7/183
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,926,008
App. No.
14/627,758
Granted
Mar 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of backing a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided herein. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of waypoints on a display of the vehicle and selecting one of the plurality waypoints. The method also includes setting a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint and determining a backing path based on the selected waypoint and the set trailer orientation. The method further includes backing the trailer along the backing path.

Claims (40)

1. A trailer backup method comprising the steps of:

generating an aerial view on a display showing a vehicle attached to a trailer, and a plurality of parking locations positioned to the sides of the vehicle and the trailer, each parking location represented by a box;

selecting one of the parking locations, wherein the box associated with a selected parking location has an enlarged border so as to be visually distinguishable from the boxes associated with unselected parking locations;

displaying a trailer-shaped model inside the selected parking location;

setting a trailer orientation by manipulating the trailer-shaped model;

determining a backing path for achieving the set trailer orientation at the selected parking location; and

backing a trailer along the backing path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one of the parking locations is selected using one of a rotatable knob and a touch event registered on a touchscreen of the display.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of driving a vehicle in a forward direction until the backing path has been determined.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a backing path is based on backing parameters comprising a predetermined depth of the selected parking location, a width of the selected parking location, and a width of an initial path on which the trailer is currently located.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of autonomously steering the vehicle while backing the trailer along the backing path.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of modifying the backing path while backing the trailer along the backing path.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of modifying comprises providing a rotatable knob for adjusting a curvature of the backing path.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the box associated with the selected parking location is displayed in a different color than the boxes associated with unselected parking locations or made to blink.

9. A trailer backup method comprising the steps of:

displaying an aerial representation of a vehicle and a trailer;

generating a plurality of parking locations, each parking location represented by a box adjacent to one of the vehicle and the trailer;

selecting one of the parking locations, wherein the box associated with a selected parking location has an enlarged border so as to be visually distinguishable from the boxes associated with unselected parking locations;

displaying a trailer-shaped model inside the selected parking location, the trailer-shaped model having an indicator pointing to the front of the trailer-shaped model;

setting a trailer orientation by rotating the trailer-shaped model;

determining a backing path terminating at the selected parking location and resulting in the set trailer orientation; and

backing the trailer along the backing path.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one of the parking locations is selected using one of a rotatable knob and a touch event registered on a touchscreen.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of driving the vehicle in a forward direction until the backing path has been determined.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of determining a backing path is based on backing parameters comprising a predetermined depth of the selected parking location, a width of the selected parking location, and a width of an initial path on which the trailer is currently located.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of modifying the backing path while backing the trailer along the backing path.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of modifying comprises providing a rotatable knob for adjusting a curvature of the backing path.

15. A trailer backup method comprising the steps of:

displaying an aerial representation of a vehicle and a trailer;

generating a plurality of parking locations, each parking location represented by a box;

selecting one of the parking locations, wherein the box associated with a selected parking location has an enlarged border so as to be visually distinguishable from the boxes associated with unselected parking locations;

displaying a trailer-shaped model inside the selected parking location;

setting a trailer orientation by rotating the trailer-shaped model about a central point;

determining a backing path for achieving the set trailer orientation at the selected parking location; and

backing the trailer along the backing path.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one of the parking locations is selected using one of a rotatable knob and a touch event registered on a touchscreen.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of driving the vehicle in a forward direction until the backing path has been determined.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining a backing path is based on backing parameters comprising a predetermined depth of the selected parking location, a width of the selected parking location, and a width of an initial path on which the trailer is currently located.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of autonomously steering the vehicle while backing the trailer along the backing path.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of modifying for the backup path by using a rotatable knob to adjust a curvature of the backing path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2015
From: HAFNER, MICHAEL; PILUTTI, THOMAS EDWARD
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034997/0828 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation In Part 14257384 · Apr 21, 2014
Continuation In Part 14256427 · Apr 18, 2014
Continuation In Part 14249781 · Apr 10, 2014
Continuation In Part 14188213 · Feb 24, 2014
Continuation In Part 13847508 · Mar 20, 2013
Continuation In Part 14068387 · Oct 31, 2013
Continuation In Part 14059835 · Oct 22, 2013
Continuation In Part 13443743 · Apr 10, 2012
Continuation In Part 13336060 · Dec 23, 2011
Continuation In Part 14161832 · Jan 23, 2014
Continuation In Part 14059835 · Oct 22, 2013
Continuation In Part 14201130 · Mar 7, 2014
Continuation In Part 14068387 · Oct 31, 2013
Provisional Application 61477132 · Apr 19, 2011
Related Publication 20150158527A1 · Jun 11, 2015