Method for providing information for parallel parking of a vehicle

• US 7,528,740 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hess, Steffen, Egelhaaf, Jan, Guelzow, Thomas, Belfroid-Van Der Putten, Joline
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/732,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method for providing information for the driver of a vehicle for parallel parking of the vehicle includes sending the driver information about the length (size) of the parking spot in relation to the length (size) of the vehicle. After detection of the first obstacle (or end point) delimiting the length of the parking spot, the vehicle and its position are displayed in relation to the parking spot or the already detected part of the parking spot, on a display unit assigned to the driver. The ratio of the vehicle length to the length of the parking spot or the detected part of the parking spot corresponds to the ratio of the displayed vehicle length to the length of the displayed parking spot or the displayed part of the parking spot.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a driver of a vehicle for aiding parallel parking the vehicle in a parking spot having a length defined by a first end point and a second end point, comprising:

measuring the parking spot, wherein the measurement includes detecting the first and second end points defining the length of the parking spot;

determining a position of the vehicle relative to the first and second end points; and

displaying on a display unit assigned to the driver, after detection of the first end point and prior to the detection of the second end point, an image of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle relative to one of an image of the parking spot and an image of a detected portion of the parking spot, wherein a ratio of an actual length of the vehicle to one of the length of the parking spot and a length of the detected portion of the parking spot substantially corresponds to a ratio of a length of the image of the vehicle displayed to one of a length of the image of the parking spot displayed and a length of the image of the detected portion of the parking spot displayed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, until the second end point is detected, the image of the detected portion of the parking spot is displayed in a predefined color dependent on the length of the detected portion of the parking spot.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein, after the second end point is detected, the image of the parking spot is displayed in a predefined color dependent on the length of the parking spot.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the image of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle relative to one of the image of the parking spot and the image of the detected portion of the parking spot are displayed from a top view perspective.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein an actual driving direction of the vehicle substantially corresponds to a direction of movement of the image of the vehicle displayed.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein data regarding the vehicle position and the position of the parking spot are stored during the detection of the first end point and the second end point.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, after the detection of the first end point and prior to the detection of the second end point, the length of the detected portion of the parking spot is displayed in relation to a minimum required length for parking the vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

until the second end point is detected, the image of the detected portion of the parking spot is displayed in a predefined color dependent on the length of the detected portion of the parking spot,

after the second end point is detected, the image of the parking spot is displayed in a predefined color dependent on the length of the parking spot, and

the image of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle relative to one of the image of the parking spot and the image of the detected portion of the parking spot are displayed from a top view perspective.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein an actual driving direction of the vehicle substantially corresponds to a direction of movement of the image of the vehicle displayed, and wherein data regarding the vehicle position and the position of the parking spot are stored during the detection of the first end point and the second end point.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein after the detection of the first end point and prior to the detection of the second end point, the length of the detected portion of the parking spot is displayed in relation to a minimum required length for parking the vehicle, and wherein the image of the vehicle and the position of the vehicle relative to one of the image of the parking spot and the image of the detected portion of the parking spot are displayed from a top view perspective.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein an actual driving direction of the vehicle substantially corresponds to a direction of movement of the image of the vehicle displayed, and wherein data regarding the vehicle position and the position of the parking spot are stored during the detection of the first end point and the second end point.