The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2012
Matt Y. Rupp, Canton, MI (US);
David Dean Smit, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Roger Arnold Trombley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thomas Edward Pilutti, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Erick Michael Lavoie, Dearborn, MI (US);
Taehyun Shim, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Matt Y. Rupp, Canton, MI (US);
David Dean Smit, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Roger Arnold Trombley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thomas Edward Pilutti, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Erick Michael Lavoie, Dearborn, MI (US);
Taehyun Shim, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Dearborn, MI (US);
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle comprises a trailer angle detection apparatus and a trailer backup control system. The trailer angle detection apparatus is configured for outputting hitch angle information generated as a function of an angle between the vehicle and a trailer towably attached thereto. The trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus. The jackknife enabling condition detector is coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus for receiving the hitch angle information therefrom and for determining if a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle. The jackknife counter-measures controller implements a vehicle speed reducing action in response to the jackknife enabling condition detector determining that the jackknife enabling condition has been attained at the particular point in time during backing of the trailer.