Automatic steering apparatus for vehicle

• US 6,223,847 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sakai, Katsuhiro, Shimizu, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/059,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 180/204, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/199, 180/401, 180/446, 280/761, 340/932.2, 340/479.3, 340/491.3, 340/478.1, 340/435, 116/204, 116/205, 116/DIG. 43, 116/35 R, 116/36, 116/42, 116/28 R, 318/587, 33/264, 701/25
• US Class Current: 180/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

If a driver starts an automatic parking control operation with a vehicle V stopped at a starting position, the vehicle V is guided from the starting position via a reversing position to a target position. Left and right markers are provided on the vehicle V. The vehicle V can be stopped at the starting position by aligning any of the markers with the center line of a parking position.

Claims

1. An automatic steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a movement locus determining means for one of storing and calculating a locus of movement of the vehicle to a target position;

an actuator for steering wheels of the vehicle;

a control means for controlling driving of said actuator based on the locus of movement determined by said movement locus determining means to move the vehicle, which is stopped at a starting position, to said target position; and

a marker provided for stopping the vehicle at said starting position by a driver,

wherein said marker is provided on the vehicle, and

wherein said marker emits light or sound by operating a manual switch and said manual switch is a switch for selecting any of a plurality of loci of movement stored in said movement locus determining means.

2. An automatic steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle starts to move from the starting position, emission of light or sound from said marker is stopped.

3. An automatic steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a movement locus determining means for one of storing and calculating a locus of movement of the vehicle to a target position;

an actuator for steering wheels of the vehicle;

a control means for controlling driving of said actuator based on the locus of movement determined by said movement locus determining means to move the vehicle, which is stopped at a starting position, to said target position; and

a marker provided for stopping the vehicle at said starting position by a driver, wherein said marker is brought into a visually perceivable state by operating a manual switch and wherein when the vehicle starts to move from the starting position, the marker is brought into a visually non-perceivable state.

4. An automatic steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said manual switch is a switch for selecting any of a plurality of loci of movement stored in said movement locus determining means.