Device and method for assisting a driver in driving his vehicle into and out of a parking space in a parking facility

• US 10,062,289 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arndt, Christoph, Gussen, Uwe, Stefan, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US14/903,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 701117, 701414, 3409322
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A device and method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation and removing his vehicle therefrom is provided. The vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering. The device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to determine, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle, and determine, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking device comprising:

a parking apparatus configured to

determine, at a start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle from an entry region of a parking installation to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to a driving assistance system of the vehicle, and

determine, at an end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from the parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system,

wherein the determination of the first route and of the second route is according to a function of current traffic volume in the parking installation.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a sensor arrangement configured to carry out real-time monitoring of vehicles moving within the parking installation.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement is also configured to carry out real-time monitoring of parking spaces which are available within the parking installation.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking apparatus is configured to communicate with the driving assistance system via wireless data communication.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking apparatus is also configured to carry out wireless data communication with at least one operator.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking apparatus is also configured to estimate a time of return of a driver to the parking installation.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking apparatus is also configured to calculate costs for utilization of the parking installation.

8. A park assist method for a vehicle, comprising:

by a parking apparatus, transmitting to the vehicle instructions defining autonomous driving operations to maneuver the vehicle along a route, to an available parking space within a parking installation, planned as a function of current traffic volume due to other vehicles in the parking installation such that movement of the vehicle to the available parking space does not disrupt or slow down the other vehicles.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting to the vehicle further instructions defining autonomous driving operations to maneuver the vehicle along a route from a parking space of the parking installation to an exit of the parking installation and planned as a function of the current traffic volume.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting including wireless transmitting.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting messages about the vehicle to a user of the vehicle.

12. A park assist system for a vehicle, comprising:

a parking apparatus configured to transmit to the vehicle instructions defining autonomous driving operations to maneuver the vehicle along a route, to an exit of a parking installation, planned as a function of current traffic volume due to other vehicles in the parking installation such that movement of the vehicle to the exit does not disrupt or slow down the other vehicles.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the parking apparatus is further configured to transmit to the vehicle further instructions defining autonomous driving operations to maneuver the vehicle along a route from an entry of a parking installation to an available parking space within the parking installation and planned as a function of the current traffic volume.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the parking apparatus is further configured to perform the transmitting wirelessly.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the parking apparatus is further configured to transmit messages about the vehicle to a user of the vehicle.