Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELECTRONIC PATH ENTERING FOR AUTONOMOUS OR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS
TRAILER BACKING
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The
present disclosure relates to automotive vehicles and more
particularly to advance driver assistance systems for automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Backing
of trailers attached to vehicles often requires multiple
persons to effectively control the vehicle and direct the path the vehicle and
trailer
are required to travel. Additionally, those unaccustomed to operating vehicle
and
trailer systems may have some difficulty in accurately controlling the path of
the
trailer, particularly when backing the vehicle and trailer.
[0003] The
background description provided herein is for the purpose of
generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently
named
inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well
as aspects
of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of
filing, are
neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present
disclosure.
SUMMARY
[0004] A method
of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer
assembly comprises initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device
associated with an electronic control unit for a trailer backing system. An
intended
backing path is input into the electronic input device by defining the
intended backing
path with an input control mechanism for the electronic input device. The path
input
mode on the electronic input device is ended.
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[0005] A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and
trailer
assembly comprises initiating a path input mode with a voice command to an
electronic input
device associated with an electronic control unit for a trailer backing
system. An intended
backing path is input into the electronic input device by voice command
instructions. The
path input mode on the electronic input device is ended with a voice command.
[0006] A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and
trailer
assembly comprises initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device
associated
with an electronic control unit for a trailer backing system. An intended
backing path is input
into a handheld electronic device by moving the handheld electronic device
over the intended
backing path. The intended backing path is input into the electronic input
device from the
handheld electronic device. The path input mode on the electronic input device
is ended.
[0006a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly
comprising:
initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device associated with an
electronic control
unit for a backing system; inputting an intended backing path by defining the
intended
backing path with an input control mechanism for the electronic input device,
wherein the
input control mechanism is independent of steering wheel input; ending the
path input mode
on the electronic input device; calculating with the electronic control unit
at least one
movement necessary for the vehicle and trailer assembly to follow the intended
backing path;
and instructing at least one vehicle system with the electronic control unit
to perform the
calculated at least one movement such that the vehicle and trailer assembly
move along the
intended backing path to a final trailer position.
[0006b] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly
comprising:
initiating a path input mode with a voice command to an electronic input
device associated
with a control unit for a backing system; inputting an intended backing path
for the trailer of
the vehicle and trailer assembly by voice command instructions input to the
electronic input
device; ending the path input mode with a voice command to the electronic
input device;
calculating with the electronic control unit at least one movement necessary
for the vehicle
and trailer assembly to follow the intended backing path; and instructing at
least one vehicle
system with the electronic control unit to perform the calculated at least one
movement such
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that the vehicle and trailer assembly move along the intended backing path to
a final trailer
position.
[0006c] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided
a method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly
comprising:
initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device associated with a
control unit for a
backing system; inputting an intended backing path for the trailer of the
vehicle and trailer
assembly into a handheld electronic device by moving the handheld electronic
device over
each leg of the intended backing path; inputting the intended backing path
into an electronic
input device from the handheld electronic device; ending the path input mode
on the
electronic input device; calculating with the electronic control unit at least
one movement
necessary for the vehicle and trailer assembly to follow the intended backing
path; and
instructing at least one vehicle system with the electronic control unit to
perform the
calculated at least one movement such that the vehicle and trailer assembly
move along the
intended backing path to a final trailer position.
[0006d] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided
a method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly
comprising:
initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device associated with a
control unit or a
backing system; inputting an intended backing path into a wireless handheld
electronic
device by moving the wireless handheld electronic device over each leg of the
intended
backing path; inputting the intended backing path into an electronic input
device from the
wireless handheld electronic device; ending the path input mode on the
electronic input
device; calculating with the electronic control unit at least one movement
necessary for the
vehicle and trailer assembly to follow the intended backing path; and
instructing at least one
vehicle system with the electronic control unit to perform the calculated at
least one
movement such that the vehicle and trailer assembly move along the intended
backing path
to a final trailer position.
[0006e] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a
method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly
comprising:
initiating a path input mode on an electronic input device associated with a
control unit or a
backing system; inputting an intended backing path, the intended backing path
including a
suggested backing route and a final position, into a wireless handheld
electronic device by
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moving the wireless handheld electronic device over the suggested backing
route of the
intended backing path; inputting the intended backing path into an electronic
input device
from the wireless handheld electronic device; ending the path input mode on
the electronic
input device; calculating with the electronic control unit at least one
movement necessary for
the vehicle and trailer assembly to follow the intended backing path; and
instructing at least
one vehicle system with the electronic control unit to perform the calculated
at least one
movement such that the vehicle and trailer assembly move along the intended
backing path
to the final position.
[0007] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure
will become
apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be
understood that the
detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred
embodiment of the
disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not
intended to limit the
scope of the disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the
detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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[0009] FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a vehicle
and trailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2
is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailer
backing system of Figure 1;
[0011] FIG. 3
is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a vehicle
and trailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4
is a schematic diagram of an input device for the second
embodiment of the trailer backing system of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5
is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailer
backing system of Figure 3;
[0014] FIG. 6 a
schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a vehicle and
trailer assembly having a trailer backing system of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 7
is a schematic illustration of a method of utilizing the trailer
backing system of Figure 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The
following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no
way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes
of clarity,
the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar
elements. Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 and a trailer 11. The trailer 11
is
controllably secured to the vehicle 10 to form a vehicle and trailer assembly
12. The
vehicle and trailer assembly 12 utilizes a trailer backing program 14 of the
present
invention. Throughout the application the relative directions of forward and
rear are
in reference to the direction which an operator for the vehicle 10 would be
facing
when operating the vehicle 10 in a drive gear. Therefore, in operation of the
trailer
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backing program 14 the vehicle 10 would be in a reverse gear and the operator
may
be facing backward. The trailer backing program 14 provides the vehicle
operator
with a method of electronically defining an intended backing path 18 of the
vehicle
and trailer assembly 12. The trailer backing program 14 utilizes the intended
backing path 18 to control movement of vehicle and trailer assembly 12.
[0017]
Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment for utilizing the trailer
backing program 14 is described. An electronic input device 16 is
electronically
connected to the vehicle 10 and the trailer backing program 14. The trailing
backing
program 14 includes a control unit 22 within the vehicle 10. The control unit
22 may
be connected to at least one vehicle system 24 such as a powertrain system, a
steering system and/or a brake system to control and direct movement of the
vehicle
and trailer assembly 12. The control unit 22 sends instructions to the vehicle
systems 24 to move the vehicle and trailer assembly 12 along the intended
backing
path 18 to a final location 20. The steering, braking, and other controls are
calculated by the control unit 22 based upon the intended backing path 18
input by
the vehicle operator.
[0018] The
electronic input device 16 includes an input control mechanism
26 and a display screen 28. The electronic input device 16 may be incorporated
into
the vehicle 10. For example, the electronic input device 16 may include a
control
panel and display screen 28 already within the vehicle 10, e.g. part of a
navigation
system or entertainment unit, or may be a separate device, such as a hand-held
navigation system, that is electrically connected to the vehicle 10. The
electronic
input device 16 may also be partially incorporated into the vehicle 10 such as
the
display screen 28, but have a separate input control mechanism 26. The input
control mechanism 26 may be a joystick, knob, slider device, physical buttons,
virtual
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"touch screen" buttons, handheld electronic device such as a "smart phone" or
voice
control inputs. The electronic input device 16 may be connected through a
wired
connection, such as a USB connector, or may be wirelessly linked with the
vehicle
10. The input control mechanism 26 may control an on-screen locator 40 on the
display screen 28.
[0019] The
display screen 28 may illustrate a schematic or image of an
area located behind the vehicle and trailer assembly 12. The on-screen locator
40
may be initially positioned at an initial location, e.g. at a rear position of
the vehicle
and trailer assembly 12. The input control mechanism 26 can be used to define
and/or control the vehicle and trailer assembly's intended backing path 18 by
pressing physical buttons, "touch screen" buttons, or by detecting movement of
the
input control mechanism 26 and measurement of internal accelerometers and/or
gyroscope. This could also be completed by using voice controls or a joystick
type
device to move the on-screen locator 40 on the display screen 28 to outline
the
intended backing path 18. Therefore, the input control mechanism 26 can be
manipulated to move the on-screen locator 40 on the display screen 28 to
outline the
intended backing path 18. The trailer backing system 14 would determine from
the
input the actual distances and movements required to direct the vehicle and
trailer
assembly 12 to follow the intended backing path 18.
[0020] Figure 2
illustrates a first embodiment of a method of using the
trailer backing system 14, shown at 29. The path input mode for the trailer
backing
system 14 is initiated, step 30. A vehicle operator would use the input
control
mechanism 26 to input an intended backing path 18 for the vehicle and trailer
assembly 12 into the electronic input device 16, step 32. The intended backing
path
18 would include the suggested backing route and a final parking position 20.
The
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input control mechanism 26 may be utilized to input the intended backing path
18 by
successively inputting each leg of a suggested route. For example, the input
control
mechanism 26 may be a joystick or knob that is part of the vehicle navigation
and
entertainment unit. The input control mechanism 26, e.g. joystick, knob, etc,
can be
manipulated to move the on-screen locator 40 over each successive leg of the
intended backing path 18. The intended backing path 18 would include the
suggested backing route and a final parking position 20. The vehicle operator
would
indicate once the complete backing path is entered by ending the path input
mode,
step 34. Once the intended backing path 18 is entered into the trailer backing
program 14 the vehicle operator would instruct the trailer backing system 14
to follow
the intended backing path 18, step 36. The trailer backing system 14 would
send
instructions to the vehicle systems 24 to direct the vehicle and trailer
assembly 12
along the intended backing path 18 to the final position 20, step 38.
[0021]
Alternately, the trailer backing system 14 could be designed to work
real-time in which the vehicle and trailer assembly 12 follows the intended
backing
path as the operator manipulates the input control mechanism 26. Each leg of
the
intended backing path 18 may be entered and the trailer backing system 14 may
move the vehicle and trailer assembly 12 to that location prior to entering
the next
leg of the intended backing path 18. This may be accomplished by repeating
steps
30-38 for each leg of the backing path 18.
[0022] Figures
3-5 illustrate a second embodiment of a trailer backing
system 114 for a vehicle 110 and trailer 111 which are connected together to
form a
vehicle and trailer assembly 112. The trailer backing program 114 provides the
vehicle operator a method of defining the intended backing path 118 of the
vehicle
and trailer assembly 112. An electronic input device 116 is electronically
connected
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to the vehicle 110 and the trailer backing program 114. The trailing backing
program
114 includes a control unit 122 within the vehicle 110 connected to at least
one
vehicle system 124 such as a powertrain system, a steering system and/or a
braking
system to control and direct movement of the vehicle and trailer assembly 112.
[0023] The electronic input device 116 includes an input control
mechanism 126 and may include a display screen 128. The electronic input
device
116 may be incorporated into the vehicle 110. For example, the electronic
input
device 116 may include a control panel and display screen 128 already within
the
vehicle 110, e.g. part of a navigation system or entertainment unit, or may be
a
separate device. The electronic input device 116 may also be partially
incorporated
into the vehicle 110 such as the display screen 128, but have a separate input
control mechanism 126. The input control mechanism 126 is preferably a voice
control system, shown in Figure 4. The input control mechanism 126 may control
an
on-screen locator 140 on the display screen 128.
[0024] Figure 4
illustrates an embodiment of an input control mechanism
126 that is a voice control system. The voice control system 126 may be
connected
to or partially incorporated with other vehicle 110 devices for performing
various
vehicle 110 functions. The other devices 142a-e that may be electronically
connected include, for example, a telephone 142a, a navigation system 142b, an
audio system 142c, a CD changer, 144d, or an HVAC system 144e. The voice
control system 126 includes an interface 141, the audio input 146 and an audio
output 144 for the vehicle 110. The interface 141 converts the audio input 146
from
the vehicle operator into an electrical signal that can be used by the trailer
backing
system 114 and/or other devices 142a-e. Additionally, the interface 141
converts the
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electrical signals from the trailer backing system 114 and other devices 142a-
e to an
audio output 144 for the vehicle operator.
[0025]
Referring to Figures 3-5, a second embodiment of a method of
using the trailer backing system 114 is shown at 129. A vehicle operator would
use
the voice controlled input control mechanism 126 to input an intended backing
path
118 for the vehicle and trailer assembly 112. The path input mode for the
trailer
backing system 114 is initiated, step 130. From within the passenger
compartment a
vehicle operator would use the voice controlled input control mechanism 126 to
input
an intended backing bath 118 for the vehicle and trailer assembly 112, step
132.
Simple directions and distances may be used for voice input of the intended
path
118, e.g. "back 10 feet", "stop", "turn right 90 degrees", "final position".
The "on-
screen" locator 140 may move to illustrate the position of the vehicle and
trailer
assembly 112 while also following the voice instruction from the vehicle
operator in
real time.
[0026] The
vehicle and trailer assembly 112 would follow each instruction
as spoken and recorded by the input device 142. After the instruction from the
vehicle operator is complete the path input mode is ended, step 134. After
each step
is entered into the trailer backing program 114 the trailer backing system 114
follows
the instructions along the intended backing path 118, step 136. The trailer
backing
system 114 would send instructions to the vehicle system 124 to direct the
vehicle
and trailer assembly 112 along the intended backing path 118, step 138. By
repeating the steps 130-138 the vehicle and trailer assembly 112 may be moved
to a
desired final parking position 120.
[0027] Figures
6 and 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a trailer backing
system 214 for a vehicle 210 and trailer 212 which are connected together to
form a
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vehicle and trailer assembly 214. The trailer backing program 214 provides the
vehicle operator a method of defining an intended backing path 218 of the
vehicle
and trailer assembly 212.
[0028] An
electronic input device 216 is connected to the vehicle 210 and
the trailer backing program 214. The trailing backing program 214 includes a
control
unit 222 within the vehicle 210 connected to at least one vehicle system 224
such as
a powertrain system, a steering system and/or a braking system to control and
direct
movement of the vehicle and trailer assembly 212.
[0029] The electronic input device 216 includes an input control
mechanism 226 and a display screen 228. The electronic input device 216 may be
incorporated into the vehicle 210. The electronic input device 216 may be
partially
incorporated into the vehicle 210 such as the display screen 228, but has a
separate
input control mechanism 226. For example, the electronic input device 216 may
include a control panel and display screen 228 already within the vehicle 210,
e.g.
part of a navigation system or entertainment unit. The input control mechanism
226
is a handheld electronic device and may alternatively include the display
screen 228.
The handheld electronic device 226 may be a smart phone, a FDA, a handheld
GPS, a key-fob, etc.
[0030] The
handheld electronic device 226 may control an on-screen
locator 240 on the display screen 228. The handheld electronic device 226 may
be
connected through a wired connection, such as a USB connector, or may be
wirelessly linked with the electronic input device 216.
[0031] A
control unit 222 within the vehicle 210 may be connected to at
least one vehicle system 224 such as a powertrain system, a steering system
and/or
a braking system to control and direct movement of the vehicle and trailer
assembly
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212. The trailer backing system 214 could be designed to work real-time in
which
the vehicle and trailer assembly 212 follows the handheld electronic device
226 while
the operator is walking the path 218. Alternatively, the trailer backing
system 214
could be designed to work only after the path 218 has been mapped completely;
allowing the person to first return to the vehicle 210.
[0032] Figure 7
illustrates a third embodiment of a method of utilizing the
trailer backing system 214 of Figure 6. A vehicle operator or passenger exits
the
vehicle 210 with the handheld electronic device 226 in hand. When arriving at
the
back of the trailer 212, the operator initiates the path input mode on the
handheld
electronic device 226, step 230 and proceeds to walk the intended backing path
218,
step 232. When the operator arrives at the desired final parking position 220
for the
back of the trailer, the path input mode is ended, step 234.
[0033] Once the
intended backing path 218 is entered into the trailer
backing program 214 the vehicle operator would instruct the trailer backing
system
214 to follow the intended backing path 218, step 236. The trailer backing
system
214 sends instructions to the vehicle system 224 to direct the vehicle and
trailer
assembly 212 along the intended backing path 218 to the final parking position
220,
step 238. The trailer backing system 214 autonomously (driver not behind the
wheel) or semi-autonomously (driver behind the wheel) controls the lateral and
longitudinal motion of the vehicle and trailer assembly 212 to follow the path
218
which was mapped out by the handheld electronic device 226.
[0034] While
the best modes for carrying out the invention have been
described in detail the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited,
since
those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize
various
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alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the
scope of
the appended claims.
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