US-12617246-B2 - Adaptive knob control based upon trailer maneuver types

Abstract

A method, system and software product for maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a trailer backing system is disclosed. The vehicle has a trailer hitch and a trailer is coupled to the trailer hitch thereby allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch. The trailer backing system includes an electronics control unit (ECU) and an input device communicatively coupled thereto. The method includes receiving, at the ECU, a selection of a trailer maneuver from a plurality of defined trailer maneuvers; and configuring the input device based upon the selected trailer maneuver, the input device being operable with the ECU to operate the vehicle for performing the trailer maneuver selected.

Inventors

• Brandon Herzog
• Daniel Diessner

Assignees

• AUMOVIO AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY US, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20220113

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a trailer backing system, wherein a vehicle has a trailer hitch and a trailer is coupled to the trailer hitch thereby allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch, and wherein the trailer backing system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and an input device communicatively coupled thereto, the method comprising: receiving, at the ECU, a selection of a trailer maneuver from a plurality of defined trailer maneuvers; and configuring the input device based upon the selected trailer maneuver, the input device being operable with the ECU to operate the vehicle for performing the trailer maneuver selected; wherein the selected trailer maneuver comprises a sequence of a plurality of trailer maneuver segments, and configuring the input device comprises configuring, for each trailer maneuver segment, the input device based on the trailer maneuver segment being performed, wherein each segment has an associated user-provided parameter.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a knob that is rotatable, and configuring the input device comprises adjusting a maximum rotation of the knob to correspond to a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of defined trailer maneuvers comprise a first trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a generally straight path, and a second trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a path that includes at least one turn in which a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the first trailer maneuver.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the defined trailer maneuvers include a third trailer maneuver in which the maximum trailer hitch angle requested by a driver of the vehicle exceeds the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the second trailer maneuver.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested at a faster rate the further the rotation of the knob is from a knob position corresponding to a zero degree trailer hitch angle.
6. 6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested by holding the knob at a maximum position for a period of time, the amount of the maximum trailer hitch angle increase requested being based upon the period of time.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising defining a new trailer maneuver by receiving, via a user interface of the vehicle, one or more user-provided selections defining the new trailer maneuver as a sequence of trailer maneuver segments; receiving, via the user interface, at least one additional user-provided parameter for each trailer maneuver segment of the new trailer maneuver; and storing the defined new trailer maneuver along with the at least one additional user-provided parameter for each trailer maneuver segment as one of the plurality of defined trailer maneuvers, for subsequent selection.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: sending, by the ECU to a user interface of the vehicle, at least one instruction to display existing and new trailer maneuvers on a display of the user interface; and receiving, by the ECU, a user selection of the new trailer maneuver to be performed, wherein configuring the input device comprises, for each trailer maneuver segment of the user-selected new trailer maneuver, configuring the input device based on the trailer maneuver segment being performed.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a knob that is rotatable, configuring the input device comprises adjusting a maximum rotation of the knob to correspond to a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer, an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for a second trailer maneuver is requested by holding the knob at a maximum position for a period of time, and an amount of the maximum trailer hitch angle increase requested is based upon the period of time.
10. 10 . A trailer backing software program product for controlling an operation of a vehicle and a connected trailer in a reverse direction, the trailer backing software program product including program instructions stored in non-transitory memory which when executed by a processor circuit of an electronic control unit (ECU), causes the ECU to perform operations comprising: receiving a selection of a trailer maneuver from a plurality of defined trailer maneuvers; and configuring an input device coupled to the ECU based upon the selected trailer maneuver, the input device being operable with the ECU to operate the vehicle for performing the trailer maneuver selected wherein the selected trailer maneuver comprises a sequence of a plurality of trailer maneuver segments, and configuring the input device comprises configuring, for each trailer maneuver segment, the input device based on the trailer maneuver segment being performed, wherein each segment has an associated user-provided parameter.
11. 11 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 10 , wherein the input device comprises a knob that is rotatable, and configuring the input device comprises adjusting a maximum rotation of the knob to correspond to a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer.
12. 12 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of defined trailer maneuvers comprise a first trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a generally straight path, and a second trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a path that includes at least one turn in which a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the first trailer maneuver.
13. 13 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 12 , wherein the defined trailer maneuvers include a third trailer maneuver in which the maximum trailer hitch angle requested by a driver of the vehicle exceeds the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the second trailer maneuver.
14. 14 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 13 , wherein an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested at a faster rate the further the rotation of the knob is from a knob position corresponding to a zero degree trailer hitch angle.
15. 15 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 13 , wherein an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested by holding the knob at a maximum position for a period of time, the amount of the maximum trailer hitch angle increase requested being based upon the period of time.
16. 16 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise defining a new trailer maneuver by receiving, via a user interface of the vehicle, one or more user-provided selections defining the new trailer maneuver as a sequence of trailer maneuver segments; receiving, via the user interface, at least one additional user-provided parameter for each trailer maneuver segment of the new trailer maneuver; and storing the defined new trailer maneuver along with the at least one additional user-provided parameter for each trailer maneuver segment as one of the plurality of defined trailer maneuvers, for subsequent selection.
17. 17 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise: sending, to a user interface of the vehicle, at least one instruction to display existing and new trailer maneuvers on a display of the user interface; and receiving a user selection of the new trailer maneuver to be performed, wherein configuring the input device comprises, for each trailer maneuver segment of the user-selected new trailer maneuver, configuring the input device based on the trailer maneuver segment being performed.
18. 18 . The trailer backing software program product of claim 10 , wherein the input device comprises a knob that is rotatable, configuring the input device comprises adjusting a maximum rotation of the knob to correspond to a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer, an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for a second trailer maneuver is requested by holding the knob at a maximum position for a period of time, and an amount of the maximum trailer hitch angle increase requested being based upon the period of time.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/070172 filed on Jan. 13, 2022, and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/199,632 filed on Jan. 13, 2021, in the United States Patent Office, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is related to a method, system and electronic processing device for maneuvering a vehicle and a connected trailer when the vehicle-trailer unit is in the process of backing up. BACKGROUND A trailer is typically connected to a towing vehicle through a trailer hitch. The trailer hitch allows the trailer to swivel around the hitch horizontally so that the vehicle-trailer unit is able to move around corners. This, however, can pose difficulties when the vehicle is traveling in the reverse. When the vehicle backs up, it pushes the trailer. In certain situations, it is important that the trailer moves straight ahead or along an intended path, for example when taking a boat to water and the trailer needs to roll down into the water. Drivers are often confused as to which way to turn the vehicle steering wheel to get the desired change of direction of the trailer. Applying an incorrect steering angle in the vehicle may also cause the trailer to jack-knife and lose its course. Therefore, 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 while backing the vehicle and trailer. Input devices, such as a knob, have been used to address the difficulties in performing a backing operation in a vehicle having a connected trailer. The manual manipulation of the input devices typically replace the use of the vehicle's steering wheel for controlling the steering angle of the vehicle's front wheels. However, use of such input devices often have limitations in controlling the steering angle of the front wheels. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. SUMMARY Example embodiments described herein include a method of maneuvering a vehicle-trailer unit in reverse travel with a trailer backing system. The vehicle has a trailer hitch and a trailer is coupled to the trailer hitch thereby allowing a horizontal swivel movement of the trailer around the hitch. The trailer backing system includes an electronics control unit (ECU) and an input device communicatively coupled thereto. The method includes receiving, at the ECU, a selection of a trailer maneuver from a plurality of defined trailer maneuvers. The input device is configured based upon the selected trailer maneuver. The input device is operable with the ECU to operate the vehicle for performing the trailer maneuver selected. The input device includes a knob that is rotatable, and configuring the input device includes adjusting a maximum rotation of the knob to correspond to a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. The plurality of defined trailer maneuvers include a first trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a generally straight path, and a second trailer maneuver in which the vehicle is operated in a path that includes at least one turn in which a maximum trailer hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer is greater than the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the first trailer maneuver. The defined trailer maneuvers may further include a third trailer maneuver in which the maximum trailer hitch angle requested by a driver of the vehicle exceeds the maximum trailer hitch angle corresponding to the second trailer maneuver. In one implementation, an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested at a faster rate the further the rotation of the knob is from a knob position corresponding to a zero degree trailer hitch angle. In another implementation, an increase of the maximum trailer hitch angle for the third trailer maneuver is requested by holding the knob at a maximum position for a period of time, and the amount of the maximum trailer hitch angle increase requested is based upon the period of time. The method may further include defining a new trailer maneuver by receiving, via a user interface of the vehicle, one or more user-provided selections defining the new trailer maneuver as a sequence of trailer maneuver segments. At least one user-provided parameter is received via the user interface for each trailer maneuver segment of the new trailer maneuver. The defined new trailer maneuver is stored in memory along with the at least one user-provided parameter for each trailer maneuver segmen