IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,937,953
Granted Patent B2
US 9,937,953 · App. 14/886,668 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Trailer backup offset determination

Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie (Dearborn, MI); Joseph M. Raad (Farmington, MI); Donald Jacob Mattern (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D13/06B60D1/245B60D1/62B60Q9/005B60W50/0098B62D15/027B60W2050/0088B60W2520/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,937,953
App. No.
14/886,668
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided which includes a hitch sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle for determining an angle rate, a yaw sensor continuously sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a controller configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle when vehicle is driving forward and/or rearward.

Claims (16)

1. A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle, comprising:

a hitch angle sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle for determining a hitch angle rate;

and

a controller configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle when the vehicle is driving forward and rearward above a threshold speed and the hitch angle rate is substantially zero and prioritize the driving rearward offset over the driving forward offset.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the offset is determined between the measured hitch angle and an actual hitch angle when the actual hitch angle is substantially zero.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the hitch angle rate based on changes in the measured hitch angle over time, and wherein the hitch angle sensor includes a video imaging camera on the vehicle that continuously monitors a target on the trailer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the offset while the vehicle is moving rearward when a steering angle rate is substantially zero.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the offset while the vehicle is moving forward when a yaw rate of the vehicle is substantially constant.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to replace a forward offset when a reverse offset is determined.

7. A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle, comprising:

a hitch angle sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle for determining a hitch angle rate; and

a controller configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle when the vehicle is driving forward and rearward above a threshold speed and the hitch angle rate is substantially zero and prioritize the driving rearward offset over the driving forward offset, wherein the controller is configured to replace the driving forward offset when the driving rearward offset is determined.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the offset is determined between the measured hitch angle and an actual hitch angle when the actual hitch angle is substantially zero.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller determines the angle rate based on changes in the measured hitch angle over time, and wherein the hitch sensor includes a video imaging camera on the vehicle that continuously monitors a target on the trailer.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller determines the offset while the vehicle is moving rearward when a steering angle rate is substantially zero.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller determines the offset while the vehicle is moving forward when a yaw rate of the vehicle is substantially constant.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2016
From: LAVOIE, ERICK MICHAEL; RAAD, JOSEPH M.; MATTERN, DONALD JACOB
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 040757/0596 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 14201130 · Mar 7, 2014
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
Provisional Application 61477132 · Apr 19, 2011
Related Publication 20160039456A1 · Feb 11, 2016