Remote Control for a Parking Assistance System and a Parking Assistance System which can be Controlled by Remote Control

• US 20140222252A1
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: MATTERS, Patrick, TRPINAC, Marina, BADER, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 9,946,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions

Abstract

A remote control for a parking assistance system for automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle is provided. The parking assistance system has an environment sensor system that supplies sensor information, and an obstacle detection device for detecting the presence of an obstacle based on the sensor information. In addition, the parking assistance system has a bidirectional wireless communication device that transmits obstacle detection information about the presence of an obstacle to the remote control. The remote control also has a bidirectional wireless communication device for communication with the passenger motor vehicle. In addition, the remote control has one or more parking function operating elements for controlling the parking and/or unparking. The bidirectional communication device of the remote control receives the obstacle detection information. In addition, the remote control has signaling means for signaling the presence of an obstacle to the operator of the remote control.

Claims

1. A remote control for a parking assistance system for automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle, wherein the parking assistance system comprises an environment sensor system, an obstacle detection device for detecting the presence of an obstacle based on sensor information from the environment sensor system, and a first bidirectional wireless communication device for transmitting obstacle detection information on the presence of an obstacle as determined by the obstacle detection device, and for receiving information sent by the remote control,

the remote control comprising:

a second bidirectional wireless communication device for wireless communication with the first bidirectional wireless communication device of the passenger motor vehicle, and

one or more parking function operating elements for controlling at least one of parking or unparking of the passenger motor vehicle, wherein;

the second bidirectional wireless communication device of the remote control is configured to receive the obstacle detection information on the presence of the obstacle determined by the obstacle detection device, and

the remote control has signaling means for signaling the presence of the obstacle to an operator of the remote control according to the received obstacle detection information.

2. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means include at least one of:

a forwards display element for visually signaling the presence of the obstacle in the forward direction, or

a reverse display element for visually signaling the presence of the obstacle in the reverse direction.

3. The remote control according to claim 2, wherein the one or more parking function operating elements include:

a forwards operating element for controlling a forward movement of the passenger motor vehicle,

a reverse operating element for controlling the reverse movement of a passenger motor vehicle, or

a combined forwards and reverse operating element.

4. The remote control according to claim 3, wherein at least one of:

the forwards display element is arranged next to the forwards operating element,

the reverse display element is arranged next to the reverse operating element, or

at least one of the forwards display element or the reverse display element is arranged next to the combined forwards and reverse operating element.

5. The remote control according to claim 3, wherein

at least one of the forwards operating element or the reverse operating element, and the display element which is functionally assigned to the forwards reverse operating element or the reverse operating element, and/or the combined forwards and reverse operating element, and at least one of the forwards display element or the reverse display element, form one integrated operating and display element.

6. The remote control according to claim 5, wherein the operating element in the integrated operating and display element is backlit with light from the display element.

7. The remote control according to claim 6, wherein the integrated operating and display element has a button which is backlit by a light emitting diode (LED) which is functionally assigned to the button.

8. The remote control according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the forwards display element or the reverse display element:

is illuminated in a first color for signaling the presence of the obstacle in at least one of the forward direction or the reverse direction, and

is illuminated in a second color for signaling the absence of the obstacle in at least one of the forward direction or the reverse direction.

9. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the parking function operating elements have an activation operating element for activating the parking assistance system.

10. The remote control according to claim 9, wherein a display element for signaling a status of a parking function is functionally assigned to the activation operating element.

11. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises a display element that blinks to request actuation of an associated operating element or to request release of the associated operating element.

12. The remote control according to claim 1, further comprising:

a base element, and

a parking function operating part comprising the one or more parking function operating elements, wherein;

when the parking function operating part is in a covered state, the one or more parking function operating elements of the parking function operating part are covered and cannot be operated, and

the parking function operating part is transitioned from the covered state into an open state of the parking function operating part by moving the parking function operating part with respect to the base element, wherein the parking function operating elements are visible and operated when in the open state.

13. The remote control according to claim 12, wherein the parking function operating part is transitioned from the covered state into the opened state by sliding out, pulling out, or flipping out the parking function operating part.

14. The remote control according to claim 1, further comprising a radio control key for locking and unlocking the passenger motor vehicle.

15. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control and the parking assistance system serve the purpose of automated parking of the passenger motor vehicle in a head-in parking space.

16. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein:

the second bidirectional wireless communication device of the remote control has a first radio mode and a second radio mode which has a greater range compared to a range of the first radio mode,

in the first radio mode, a signal emitted by the passenger motor vehicle is received, and

in the second radio mode, a signal is transmitted to the passenger motor vehicle if the remote control is located in a space near the passenger motor vehicle.

17. The remote control according to claim 1, further comprising a touchscreen for implementing the one or more parking function operating elements and the signaling means.

18. A parking assistance system which can be controlled by a remote control, for automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle, the parking assistance system comprising:

an environment sensor system,

an obstacle detection device for detecting the presence of an obstacle based on sensor information from the environment sensor system, and

a bidirectional wireless communication device for transmitting to the remote control obstacle detection information on the presence of an obstacle as determined by the obstacle detection device, and for receiving information sent by the remote control.

19. The parking assistance system according to claim 18, wherein:

the bidirectional wireless communication device has a first radio mode and a second radio mode which has a greater range compared to a range of the first radio mode, and

the parking assistance system monitors whether the remote control is located within the range of the first radio mode by transmitting a signal to the remote control in the first radio mode, and then receives a signal transmitted from the remote control in the second radio mode if the remote control is located within the range of the first radio mode.

20. A remote control for a parking assistance system for the automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle, the remote control comprising:

a base element; and

a parking function operating part comprising one or more parking function operating elements for controlling at least one of parking or unparking of the passenger motor vehicle, wherein;

when the parking function operating part is in a covered state, the one or more parking function operating elements of the parking function operating part are covered and cannot be operated, and

the parking function operating part is transitioned from the covered state into an open state of the parking function operating part by moving the parking function operating part with respect to the base element, wherein the parking function operating elements are visible and operated when in the open state.

21. The remote control according to claim 20, wherein the parking function operating part is transitioned from the covered state into the opened state by sliding out, pulling out, or flipping out the parking function operating part.