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:
Mar. 03, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2011
Erick Michael Lavoie, Dearborn, MI (US);
Douglas Scott Rhode, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Matt Y. Rupp, Canton, MI (US);
David Dean Smit, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thomas Edward Pilutti, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Roger Arnold Trombley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Erick Michael Lavoie, Dearborn, MI (US);
Douglas Scott Rhode, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Matt Y. Rupp, Canton, MI (US);
David Dean Smit, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thomas Edward Pilutti, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Roger Arnold Trombley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A trailer backup steering input apparatus is coupled to a vehicle. The trailer backup steering input apparatus comprises a rotatable control element (e.g., a knob) and a rotatable control element movement sensing device. The rotatable control element biased to an at-rest position between opposing rotational ranges of motion. The rotatable control element movement sensing device is coupled to the rotatable control element for sensing movement of the rotatable control element. The rotatable control element movement sensing device outputs a signal generated as a function of an amount of rotation of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position, a rate movement of the rotatable control element, and/or a direction of movement of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position.