Method for parking a vehicle

• US 7,248,153 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Uhler, Werner, Danz, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam
• Application Number:
  US10/504,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20050122234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 340435-436, 340/903, 340/932.2, 340/933, 342/70, 342/27, 342/59, 701300-301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/878 wherein transceivers are operated, either sequentially or simultaneously, both in bi-static and in mono-static mode, e.g. cross-echo mode
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9327 Sensor installation details
• 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 2015/936 for measuring parking spaces extending transverse or diagonal to the driving direction, i.e. not parallel to the driving direction

Abstract

A method for parking a vehicle in which distances of the vehicle from obstacles as well as the length and/or width of a parking space are determined. Sensors are used for parking space determination as well as distance measurement in this context.

Claims

1. A method for parking a vehicle, comprising:

determining distances of the vehicle from obstacles via a plurality of sensors, at least one of a length and a width of a parking space being determined by at least some of the sensors;

measuring a distance from boundaries of the parking space by the sensors when subsequently parking in the parking space; and

issuing a warning signal to a driver when the measured distance drops below a predefined distance from an obstacle,

wherein the sensors are operated in a first measuring mode when determining the at least one of the length and the width of the parking space, and in a second measuring mode when determining the distance from the boundaries of the parking space.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a frequency of a signal emission is greater in the first measuring mode than in the second measuring mode.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein direct echoes are evaluated in the first measuring mode, and direct echoes and cross echoes are evaluated in the second measuring mode.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sensors are operated on a front and a back end of the vehicle, and at least some of the sensors on the front and back end of the vehicle are operated laterally on the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of acoustic and electromagnetic waves are emitted by the sensors, and the at least one of the acoustic and electromagnetic waves are reflected and then received by the sensors.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating the data acquired by the sensors by a control unit in the vehicle; and

outputting warnings or messages.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are substantially identical to each other.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is an ultrasound sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the sensors used for the determining the at least one of the length and the width of the parking space are also used for the measuring the distance from the boundaries of the parking space.

10. A device for parking a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors to determine distances of the vehicle from an obstacles, at least one of a length and a width of a parking space being determined by at least some of the sensors; and

an arrangement configured to measure a distance from boundaries of the parking space, via at least some of the sensors, when parking, and to issue a warning signal to a driver when the measured distance drops below a predefined distance from the obstacle,

wherein the sensors are operated in a first measuring mode when determining the at least one of the length and the width of the parking space, and in a second measuring mode when determining the distance from the boundaries of the parking space.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors are substantially identical to each other.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is an ultrasound sensor.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein at least some of the sensors used for the determining the at least one of the length and the width of the parking space are also used for the measuring the distance from the boundaries of the parking space.