METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PARKING ASSIST

• US 20120016555A1
• Filed: 07/18/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghneim, Maher
• Application Number:
  US12/838,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A parking assist method comprising the steps of capturing a rear-facing image, displaying the rear-facing image, superimposing, by way of a camera module, at least one locus line on the displayed rear-facing image, sensing a steering wheel angle change on the vehicle, extracting vehicle wheel base data from memory in the camera module, calculating, in the camera module, at least one replacement locus line in response to the change in the steering wheel angle and vehicle wheel base data, and changing the display by superimposing the at least one replacement locus line on the displayed rear-facing image in place of the at least one locus line.

Claims

1. A parking assist method comprising the steps of:

capturing a rear-facing image;

displaying the rear-facing image;

superimposing, by way of a camera module, at least one locus line on the displayed rear-facing image;

sensing a steering wheel angle change on the vehicle;

extracting vehicle wheel base data from memory in the camera module;

calculating, in the camera module, at least one replacement locus line in response to the change in the steering wheel angle and vehicle wheel base data; and

changing the display by superimposing the at least one replacement locus line on the displayed rear-facing image in place of the at least one locus line.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of extracting vehicle wheel base data includes data from the group consisting of:

gear ratio, wheel base size, and wheel radius.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of calculating at least one replacement locus line further comprises the steps of:

extending a length of the replacement locus line as the steering wheel angle moves away from a center position; and

decreasing a length of the replacement locus line as the steering wheel angle moves towards the center position.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one replacement locus line further comprises two locus lines separated by a predetermined distance.

5. A parking assist system comprising:

a camera device for capturing a rear-facing image;

a display device for displaying the rear-facing image;

a camera module that senses a change in steering wheel angle, extracts vehicle wheel base data from memory, and calculates at least one locus line in response to the change in steering wheel angle, wherein the at least one locus line is superimposed on the rear-facing image.

6. The parking assist system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the wheel base data further comprises gear ratio, wheel base size and wheel radius.

7. The parking assist system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

the at least one locus line having an extended length for a steering wheel angle change that is away from a center position; and

the at least one locus line having a decreased length for a steering wheel angle change that is towards a center position.

8. The parking assist system as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least one locus line further comprises two lines separated by a predetermined distance.

9. A method for displaying park assist locus lines in a park assist system having a camera device, a display device and a steering wheel angle sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing a rear-facing image;

displaying the rear-facing image;

sensing a current steering wheel angle;

calculating, in a camera module, a length and direction of the park assist locus lines to be displayed based on the current steering wheel angle and stored wheel dimension information; and

displaying the park assist locus lines on the display device according to the calculated length and direction.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of calculating a length and direction of the park assist locus lines further comprises the step of extracting vehicle wheel dimension information from the group consisting of a gear ratio, a wheel base size, and a wheel radius.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of calculating a length and direction of the park assist locus lines further comprises the steps of:

extending a length as the steering wheel angle moves away from a center position; and

decreasing a length as the steering wheel angle moves towards the center position.