Backing operation assist apparatus for vehicle

• US 8,068,957 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/069,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/51, 701/65, 340/438, 340/441
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means

Abstract

A vehicular backing operation assist apparatus is coupled with a movement direction demand unit for demanding a forward or backward movement of the vehicle and a change detection unit for detecting a change of a state of the vehicle taking place in association with a start-up of the vehicle. A reverse departure, which is a backing operation for exiting a parking state, is determined to be performed if a transit period from when the change of the state is detected to when the backward movement is demanded, is within a predetermined period. A reverse parking, which is a backing operation for entering a parking state, is performed, if the transit period is greater than or equal to the predetermined period. An assist control unit then provides an assist item for a backing operation relative to either the reverse departure or the reverse parking, which is determined to be performed.

Claims

1. A backing operation assist apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus being coupled with a movement direction demand unit for demanding a forward movement or a backward movement of the vehicle and a change detection unit for detecting a change of a state of the vehicle taking place in association with a start-up of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a determination unit configured to make

(i) a determination that a reverse departure, which is a backing operation for exiting a parking state, is performed if a transit time period, which ranges from when the change of the state is detected by the change detection unit to when the backward movement is demanded by the movement direction demand unit, is within a predetermined period, and

(ii) a determination that a reverse parking, which is a backing operation for entering a parking state, is performed, if the transit time period is greater than or equal to the predetermined period; and

an assist control unit configured to select one assist item from among an assist item for a backing operation relative to the reverse departure and an assist item for a backing operation relative to the reverse parking, in accordance with the determination made by the determination unit, and to control the selected one assist item.

2. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the change of the state of the vehicle taking place in association with the start-up of the vehicle occurs around a time when the vehicle is started up.

3. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the change of the state of the vehicle detected by the change detection unit includes a change of a door state of the vehicle from a door open state to a door close state.

4. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the change of the state of the vehicle detected by the change detection unit includes a change of a state of a seatbelt of the vehicle taking place when the seat belt is fastened.

5. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the change of the state of the vehicle detected by the change detection unit includes a change of a state of a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle taking place when the seat is occupied.

6. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the change of the state of the vehicle detected by the change detection unit includes a change of a state of an ignition switch of the vehicle taking place when the ignition switch is turned on.

7. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is further coupled with a display unit; and

the assist control unit is configured to cause the display unit to display

(i) an image having a first field of view rearward of the vehicle when the reverse departure is determined to be performed; and

(ii) an image having a second field of view rearward of the vehicle when the reverse parking is determined to be performed, the second field of view being narrower than the first field of view.

8. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a switch unit configured to be manually switchable so that the first field of view and the second field of view are switched to each other.

9. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the first field of view has an angle of approximately 180 degrees.

10. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is further coupled with an obstacle detection unit, which is disposed on a rear part of the vehicle and configured to detect an obstacle rearward of the vehicle; and

the assist control unit is configured to provide an inside of the vehicle with a warning control with respect to

(i) an obstacle detected in a first warning area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse departure is determined to be performed, and

(ii) an obstacle detected in a second warning area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse parking is determined to be performed, the second warning area being narrower than the first warning area.

11. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the first warning area has a covering angle of approximately 180 degrees.

12. A backing operation assist apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a determination unit configured to make

(i) a determination that a reverse departure, which is a backing operation for exiting a parking state, is performed if a first predetermined condition in association with the reverse departure is satisfied, and

(ii) a determination that a reverse parking, which is a backing operation for entering a parking state, is performed, if a second predetermined condition in association with the reverse parking is satisfied; and

an assist control unit configured to select one assist item from among a first assist item for a backing operation relative to the reverse departure and a second assist item for a backing operation relative to the reverse parking, in accordance with the determination made by the determination unit, and to provide the selected one assist item;

wherein

the apparatus is further configured to be coupled with a movement direction demand unit for demanding a forward movement or a backward movement of the vehicle;

the first predetermined condition in association with the reverse departure is satisfied when a transit time period, which ranges from when a change of a state taking place in association with a start-up of the vehicle is detected to when the backward movement is demanded by the movement direction demand unit, is within a predetermined period; and

the second predetermined condition in association with the reverse parking is satisfied when the transit time period is greater than or equal to the predetermined period.

13. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the first assist item for the backing operation relative to the reverse departure is provided by the assist control unit in association with a first covering area rearward of the vehicle;

the second assist item for the backing operation relative to the reverse parking is provided by the assist control unit in association with a second covering area rearward of the vehicle, the second covering area narrower than the first covering area.

14. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

the apparatus is further coupled with a display unit; and

the assist control unit is configured to cause the display unit to display

(i) an image corresponding to the first covering area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse departure is determined to be performed, and

(ii) an image corresponding to the second covering area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse parking is determined to be performed.

15. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

the apparatus is further coupled with an obstacle detection unit, which is configured to detect an obstacle rearward of the vehicle; and

the assist control unit is configured to provide an inside of the vehicle with a warning control with respect to

(i) an obstacle detected by the obstacle detection unit in the first covering area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse departure is determined to be performed, and

(ii) an obstacle detected by the obstacle detection unit in the second covering area rearward of the vehicle when the reverse parking is determined to be performed.

16. The backing operation assist apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the first covering area rearward of the vehicle has an angle of 180 degrees relative to a rear portion of the vehicle.