Parking aid with a wheel sensor

• US 5,602,542 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Widmann, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/446,593
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/903, 340/995, 340/904, 340/435, 340/436, 340/437, 235/95 R, 235/97, 364/564, 364/565, 367/99, 367/909
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/935 for measuring the contour, e.g. a trajectory of measurement points, representing the boundary of the parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A circuit arrangement determines a distance of a motor vehicle from an obstacle in a near range by a displacement sensor instead of an ultrasonic measurement. The distance is determined, above a predetermined limiting value, in accordance with the known ultrasonic transit time measurement. In this range, by comparing the signals of the displacement sensor with the ultrasonic measurement a calibration can be carried out and a correction factor for the displacement sensor can be formed. The correction factor is taken into account during the measurement in the near range, as is the contour of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising an ultrasonic sensor;

an evaluation circuit;

a warning display for an output of a distance of a vehicle from an obstacle;

at least one displacement sensor producing signals;

said evaluation circuit having distance determining means for determining a distance between a motor vehicle and an obstacle and formed so that in an immediate near range of the motor vehicle from the obstacle said distance determining means determine the distance from the signals of said displacement sensor while above a predetermined limited value said determining means determine the distance by an ultrasonic transit time measurement.

2. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a distance is formed to determine the distance within a predetermined measuring limit by means of a model calculation with the aid of the signals of said displacement sensor and the ultrasonic transit time measurement.

3. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a distance include a microcomputer and a contour memory.

4. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said contour memory is formed so that a vehicle contour is stored in said contour memory and a distance of an object located closest to the vehicle contour can be assessed.

5. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a distance include a microcomputer and a measured value memory.

6. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a distance is formed so that they compare distance values of said ultrasonic sensor with the signals of said displacement sensor above the limiting value and calibrate both by averaging, with a correction value being formed with which subsequent distance measurements are correctable.

7. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is calibratable at a defined distance.

8. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is calibrated at a distance of 0 cm.

9. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said displacement sensor is calibrated at a distance of 0 cm.

10. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensors, said evaluating circuit, said warning display and said means for determining distance being formed so as to provide a parking aid for the motor vehicle.

11. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensors, said evaluating circuit, said warning display and said means for determining distance being formed so as to provide an unparking aid for the motor vehicle.

12. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said evaluation circuit is switchable upon reaching a predetermined minimum speed.

13. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said evaluation circuit is switchable upon reaching a predetermined maximum speed.

14. A circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising an ultrasonic sensor;

an evaluation circuit;

a warning display for an output of a distance of a vehicle from an obstacle;

at least one displacement sensor producing signals, said evaluation circuit having means for determining a distance in an immediate near range of the motor vehicle from the signals of said displacement sensor, said means for determining a distance between a motor vehicle and the obstacle from the signals of said displacement sensor being formed to determine a distance above a predetermined limiting value by an ultrasonic transit time measurement, said sensors, said evaluating circuit, said warning display and said means for determining distance being formed so as to provide a parking aid for the motor vehicle.

15. A circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising an ultrasonic sensor;

an evaluation circuit;

a warning display for an output of a distance of a vehicle from an obstacle;

at least one displacement sensor producing signals, said evaluation circuit having means for determining a distance in an immediate near range of the motor vehicle from the signals of said displacement sensor, said means for determining a distance between a motor vehicle and the obstacle from the signals of said displacement sensor being formed to determine a distance above a predetermined limiting value by an ultrasonic transit time measurement, said sensors, said evaluating circuit, said warning display and said means for determining distance being formed so as to provide an unparking aid for the motor vehicle.