IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,491,902
Granted Patent B2
US 12,491,902 · App. 18/490,938 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Trailer sway detection and control

Inventors: Christopher J. Smalley (Canton, MI); Steven W. Marion (Canton, MI); Brian J. Haugen (Saline, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
B60W50/14B60W30/02B60W30/18163B60W2050/143B60W2520/125B60W2520/14B62D53/00B62D53/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,491,902
App. No.
18/490,938
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments are described with respect to implementing trailer sway detection strategies. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a lateral motion signal, determining if a number of peaks in the lateral motion signal satisfies a first criterion, determining if a cross-correlation of yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration satisfies a second criterion, disabling lane keeping assistance if the first criterion is satisfied, and determining if a trailer sway event is in progress if the first criterion and second criterion are satisfied.

Claims (45)

1 . A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicably coupled to the processor and storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a lateral motion signal;

determine if a number of peaks in the lateral motion signal satisfies a first criterion;

determine if a cross-correlation of yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration satisfies a second criterion;

disable lane keeping assistance if the first criterion is satisfied; and

determine if a trailer sway event is in progress if the first criterion and second criterion are satisfied.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first criterion is that the number of peaks within a time period is above a first threshold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second criterion is that the cross-correlation is below a second threshold.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further includes an instruction to:

generate an alert that the lane keeping assistance has been disabled.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further includes an instruction to:

generate an alert of a trailer sway event if it is determined that the trailer sway event is in progress.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the machine-readable instruction to generate the alert of a trailer sway event further includes instructions to flash vehicle lights, honk a horn, or send a warning message to another vehicle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further includes instructions to:

Disallow the lane keeping assistance to be enabled for a time period after the first criterion is no longer satisfied.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

receive a lateral motion signal;

determine if a number of peaks in the lateral motion signal satisfies a first criterion;

determine if a cross-correlation of yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration satisfies a second criterion;

disable lane keeping assistance if the first criterion is satisfied; and

determine if a trailer sway event is in progress if the first criterion and second criterion are satisfied.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first criterion is that the number of peaks within a time period is above a first threshold.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the second criterion is that the cross-correlation is below a second threshold.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further includes an instruction to:

generate an alert that the lane keeping assistance has been disabled.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further includes an instruction to:

generate an alert of a trailer sway event if it is determined that the trailer sway event is in progress.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to generate the alert of a trailer sway event further includes instructions to flash vehicle lights, honk a horn, or send a warning message to another vehicle.

14 . A method, comprising:

receiving a lateral motion signal;

determining if a number of peaks in the lateral motion signal satisfies a first criterion;

determining if a cross-correlation of yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration satisfies a second criterion;

disabling lane keeping assistance if the first criterion is satisfied; and

determining if a trailer sway event is in progress if the first criterion and second criterion are satisfied.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first criterion is that the number of peaks within a time period is above a first threshold.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second criterion is that the cross-correlation is below a second threshold.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

generating an alert that the lane keeping assistance has been disabled.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

generating an alert of a trailer sway event if it is determined that the trailer sway event is in progress.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein generating the alert of a trailer sway event further includes at least one of flashing vehicle lights, honking a horn, or sending a warning message to another vehicle.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

disallowing the lane keeping assistance to be enabled for a time period after the first criterion is no longer satisfied.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 073300/0127 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2023
From: SMALLEY, CHRISTOPHER J.; MARION, STEVEN W.; HAUGEN, BRIAN J.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 065309/0374 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250128723A1 · Apr 24, 2025
References Cited (11)
US 8700282B2 · Nishio et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8740317B2 · Wu et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 10384501B2 · Rothschild · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10994709B2 · Nemeth et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11498536B2 · VanAntwerp et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20190001944A1 · Ying et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20220084212A1 · Dahal · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220126917A1 · Helfrich et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230137098A1 · Miao · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240132054A1 · Weston · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20250050849A1 · Hayes · 2025 [cited by examiner]