Method for operating an environmental recognition system of a vehicle, in particular, a proximate region recognition or parking assistance system and associated system

• US 7,573,374 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Heimberger, Markus, Hoffsommer, Klaus, Gotzig, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/717,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/932.2, 701/300, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52001 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying sonar signals or the like, e.g. sonar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/527 Extracting wanted echo signals Doppler systems G01S15/50

Abstract

A method for operating an environmental recognition system of a vehicle, in particular, a proximate region recognition or parking assistance system, comprising sensors for detecting objects proximate the vehicle, wherein, during operation of the system, an object located in the detecting area of the sensors is recognized and the separation and/or the position of the object relative to the vehicle are determined. When disturbing signals occur and are recognized, a change of the separation and/or the position of the vehicle relative to the object are determined by information detected by other vehicle systems. A system for operating such a method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating an environmental recognition system, a proximate region recognition system, or a parking assistance system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting an object proximate the vehicle during operation of the system, the object being present in a detecting area of sensors;

b) determining a separation and/or position of the object relative to the vehicle;

c) recognizing disturbing signals; and

d) calculating, using information detected by at least one additional vehicle system, a change in the separation and/or the relative position between the vehicle and the object using a separation determined prior to occurrence of the disturbing signals in step c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a presence of the object in the detecting area of the sensors is communicated and/or displayed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of disturbing signals is communicated and/or displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein information detected by the other vehicle systems comprises position encoder signals, speed or velocity signals, camera signals, and/or steering angle signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is connected to a bus system of the vehicle, and the information detected by the other vehicle systems is stored on the bus system.

6. An environmental recognition system, a proximate region recognition system, or a parking assistance system for a vehicle, the system structured to execute the method of claim 1.