DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER IN DRIVING HIS VEHICLE INTO AND OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING FACILITY

• US 20160371982A1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: ARNDT, Christoph, GUSSEN, Uwe, STEFAN, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 10,062,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A device and method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation and removing his vehicle therefrom is provided. The vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering. The device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to determine, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle, and determine, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation such as a multistory car park, an underground garage or the like and removing his vehicle therefrom, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering, wherein the device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to carry out the following steps:

determining, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle;

determining, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein the determination of the first route and of the second route by the parking management and monitoring apparatus is carried out in each case by monitoring further vehicles moving within the parking installation.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latter has a sensor arrangement which is configured to carry out real-time monitoring of vehicles moving within the parking installation and to transmit corresponding sensor data to the parking management and monitoring apparatus.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement is also configured to carry out real-time monitoring of parking spaces which are available within the parking installation and to transmit corresponding sensor data to the parking management and monitoring apparatus.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is configured to communicate with the driving assistance system of the vehicle by means of wireless data communication.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to carry out wireless data communication with at least one operator.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to estimate the time of return of the driver to the parking installation.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to calculate the costs for the utilization of the parking installation.

8. A method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation such as a multistory car park, an underground garage or the like and removing his vehicle therefrom, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

determining, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle;

determining, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein the determination of the first route and of the second route by the parking management and monitoring apparatus is carried out in each case by monitoring further vehicles moving within the parking installation.