Method for warning a driver when parking a motor vehicle on a longitudinally inclined roadway without wheel deflection

• US 20060097859A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nordbruch, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,378,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means

Abstract

A method for warning a driver when parking a motor vehicle, in which an inclination variable describing the roadway inclination in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is ascertained, a vehicle standstill is ascertained, a steering angle variable describing the steering angle is ascertained, and in the case of a standstill of the vehicle a driver warning information is output if the inclination variable fulfills a specified inclination condition and the steering angle variable fulfills a specified steering angle condition.

Claims

1. A method for warning a driver when parking a motor vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining an inclination variable describing a roadway inclination in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

ascertaining a vehicle standstill;

ascertaining a steering angle variable describing a steering angle; and

in the case of the vehicle standstill, outputting a driver warning information if the inclination variable fulfills a specified inclination condition if the steering angle variable fulfills a specified steering angle condition.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the steering angle variable is the steering angle,

the inclination condition is fulfilled if a magnitude of the inclination variable exceeds an inclination limit value, and

the steering angle condition is fulfilled if a magnitude of the steering angle falls below a steering angle limit value.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the steering angle limit value is a function of the inclination limit value.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the steering angle variable is a steering angle direction,

the inclination condition is fulfilled if a magnitude of the inclination variable exceeds an inclination limit value, and

the steering angle condition is fulfilled if the steering angle direction points in an opposite direction as a specified setpoint steering angle direction.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the inclination variable is used to ascertain whether a roadway in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is inclined one of uphill and downhill, and

the setpoint steering angle direction in the case of the roadway inclined downhill and in the case of the roadway inclined uphill points in different directions.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inclination variable is a longitudinal inclination of the roadway.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, in the case of the vehicle standstill, an additional warning information is output if the inclination variable fulfills the inclination condition and if one of a handbrake, an immobilization brake, and a parking brake is detected as not activated.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, in the case of the vehicle standstill, an additional warning information is output:

if the inclination variable fulfills the inclination condition, and one of;

if, provided the vehicle has a manual transmission, no gear is engaged and

if, provided the vehicle has an automatic transmission, the automatic transmission is not set to a parking position.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, when the steering angle variable fulfills the steering angle condition, a driver-independent steering-servo-system sets the steering angle variable in such a way that the steering angle variable no longer fulfills the steering angle condition.

10. A device for warning a driver for parking a motor vehicle, comprising:

an inclination ascertainment arrangement for ascertaining an inclination variable describing a roadway inclination in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

a standstill detection arrangement for ascertaining a vehicle standstill;

a steering angle ascertainment arrangement for ascertaining a steering angle variable describing a steering angle; and

a driver warning arrangement for issuing a driver warning, the driver warning arrangement being triggered by the inclination ascertainment arrangement, the standstill detection arrangement, and the steering angle ascertainment arrangement in such a way that a driver warning is output if;

the vehicle is at a standstill,

the inclination variable fulfills a specified inclination condition, and

the steering angle variable fulfills a specified steering angle condition.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the inclination ascertainment arrangement includes an inclination sensor.

12. The device as recited in claim 10, wherein the steering angle ascertainment arrangement includes one of a steering angle sensor and a steering-wheel angle sensor.