PARKING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM USING PROJECTOR AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130120572A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Yang Woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A parking assistance system using a projector and a method thereof are provided. The parking assistance system includes a projector, a capture module, and a control unit. The projector projects an image to outside a vehicle. The capture module captures a projection region of the projector. The control unit controls the projector to illuminate the projection region, and controls a screen output of an image captured by the capture module.

Claims

1. A parking assistance system using a projector, comprising:

a projector projecting an image to outside a vehicle;

a capture module capturing a projection region of the projector; and

a control unit controlling the projector to illuminate the projection region, and controlling a screen output of an image captured by the capture module.

2. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers a guide image for guiding parking of the vehicle to the projector, for the guide image to be projected onto the illuminated projection region.

3. The parking assistance system of claim 2, further comprising a steering angle sensor detecting a steering angle,

wherein the control unit transfers the guide image, having a guide line trace corresponding to the detected steering angle, to the projector.

4. The parking assistance system of claim 1, further comprising an obstacle sensing module sensing an obstacle located in the projection region,

wherein when the obstacle is sensed, the control unit transfers an obstacle image to the projector for the obstacle image to be projected onto the projection region.

5. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers a text image to the projector for the text image to be projected onto the projection region.

6. The parking assistance system of claim 5, wherein the text image is an image for cautioning a pedestrian against the vehicle.

7. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein when intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, the control unit controls the projector to illuminate the projection region.

8. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the projector projects an image onto a rearward region of the vehicle.

9. The parking assistance system of claim 8, wherein when a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing step, the control unit controls the projector to illuminate the projection region.

10. The parking assistance system of claim 8, wherein when a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing step and intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, the control unit controls the projector to illuminate the projection region.

11. A parking assistance method using a projector, the parking assistance method comprising:

controlling the projector to illuminate a projection region outside a vehicle; and

receiving an outward image of the vehicle, comprising the projection region illuminated by the projector, from a capture module to control a screen output of the image.

12. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising transferring a guide image for guiding parking of the vehicle to the projector, for the guide image to be projected onto the illuminated projection region.

13. The parking assistance method of claim 12, wherein the guide image is an image which has a guide line trace corresponding to a steering angle.

14. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether an obstacle is located in the illuminated projection region; and

transferring an obstacle image to the projector for the obstacle image to be projected onto the illuminated projection region, when the obstacle is determined as being located.

15. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising transferring a text image to the projector for the text image to be projected onto the illuminated projection region.

16. The parking assistance method of claim 15, wherein the text image is an image for cautioning a pedestrian against the vehicle.

17. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value,

wherein when the sensed intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the reference value, the controlling of the projector is performed.

18. The parking assistance method of claim 11, wherein the projection region is a certain region rearward from the vehicle.

19. The parking assistance method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing step,

wherein when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step, the controlling of the projector is performed.

20. The parking assistance method of claim 19, further comprising determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value,

wherein when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step and the sensed intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the reference value, the controlling of the projector is performed.