PARKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE

• US 20100066825A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuboyama, Tsuyoshi, Watanabe, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 of parking space

Abstract

An imaging device mounted on a vehicle (30) acquires image data resulting from capturing an image of a scene around the vehicle (30). A parking section (E) corresponding to the desired parking position is set. The image data is subjected to an image-converting process that includes at least one of viewpoint conversion and distortion correction. A deflection angle (λ) between the vehicle (30) and the parking section (E) is calculated. The image data is outputted until the deflection angle (λ) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined reference deflection angle, the image data being outputted to a display adapted for installation in the vehicle (30). Once the deflection angle (λ) has become equal to or less than the reference deflection angle, converted image data that has been subjected to the image-converting process is outputted.

Claims

1. A parking assistance device for assisting a driving operation involving turning for parking a vehicle in a desired parking position, the parking assistance device comprising:

an image-receiving part for acquiring image data resulting from capturing an image of a scene around the vehicle using an imaging device mounted on the vehicle;

a parking-section setting part for setting a parking section corresponding to the desired parking position;

an image-converting part for performing an image-converting process on the image data, the image-converting process including at least one of viewpoint conversion and distortion correction;

a deflection angle calculating part for calculating a deflection angle between the vehicle and the parking section; and

an image-outputting part for outputting the image data until the deflection angle is equal to or less than a reference deflection angle, and, after the deflection angle has become equal to or less than the reference deflection angle, outputting converted image data that has been subjected to the image-converting process, the image data and converted image data being outputted to a display device adapted for installation in the vehicle.

2. The parking assistance device according to claim 1, wherein, once the deflection angle has become equal to or less than the reference deflection angle, the image-outputting part outputs the converted image data regardless of the subsequent deflection angle while a state of driving assistance continues.

3. The parking assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the image-converting part performs the image-converting process so that the extent of conversion of the converted image data relative to the image data increases as the deflection angle decreases.

4. The parking assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the parking-section setting part sets the parking section on the basis of a parking standard detected on the basis of the image data, the parking standard acting as a reference while parking.

5. The parking assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the image-outputting part lays an extension line of the parking section over the converted image data.

6. The parking assistance device according to claim 2, wherein the image-converting part performs the image-converting process so that the extent of conversion of the converted image data relative to the image data increases as the deflection angle decreases.

7. The parking assistance device according to claim 2, wherein the parking-section setting part sets the parking section on the basis of a parking standard detected on the basis of the image data, the parking standard acting as a reference while parking.

8. The parking assistance device according to claim 3, wherein the parking-section setting part sets the parking section on the basis of a parking standard detected on the basis of the image data, the parking standard acting as a reference while parking.

9. The parking assistance device according to claim 2, wherein the image-outputting part lays an extension line of the parking section over the converted image data.

10. The parking assistance device according to claim 3, wherein the image-outputting part lays an extension line of the parking section over the converted image data.

11. The parking assistance device according to claim 4, wherein the image-outputting part lays an extension line of the parking section over the converted image data.