Vehicle park assist system and method for parking a vehicle using such system

• US 8,378,850 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Toledo, Salvador, Gunia, Dirk, Meise, Janet
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/557,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 340/425.5, 701/1, 701/36, 701/41, 701/45, 701/300, 701/301, 348/143, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A park assist system for parking a vehicle in a target parking space includes a first sensing system which determines whether there is a sufficient slot length in a target parking space in which to park the vehicle. A second sensing system determines whether an obstacle is located in a predetermined clearance zone on a side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space. A decision regarding whether to recommend parking the vehicle in the target parking space sensed by the first sensing system is dependent upon a determination that an obstacle located in the clearance zone may be avoided by executing a first steering trajectory provided by the park assist system in order to avoid the obstacle before executing a second steering trajectory provided by the park assist system in order to park the vehicle into the target parking space.

Claims

1. A method for parking a vehicle in a target parking space, the vehicle having a sensing system and a park assist system operatively connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning neighboring objects using a first sensor to determine if a target parking space is available for parking the vehicle, the neighboring objects including at least one object either in front of or behind the target parking space, wherein the first sensor provides an input signal to the park assist system;

scanning neighboring objects on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space using a second sensor to determine if a first clearance zone on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space is free of obstacles, wherein the second sensor provides an input signal to the park assist system;

scanning neighboring objects on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space using the second sensor to determine if a second clearance zone on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space is free of obstacles, wherein the second sensor provides an input signal to the park assist system;

using the park assist system to determine whether there is a sufficient slot length in which to park the vehicle;

if no obstacles are identified in the first clearance zone but an obstacle is identified in the second clearance zone, then using the park assist system to identify a first steering trajectory to avoid the obstacle and a second steering trajectory to park the vehicle into the target parking space; and

parking the vehicle in the target parking space along the first and second steering trajectories.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the step of parking the vehicle in the target parking space, the park assist system recommends the parking space sensed by the first sensor to the vehicle driver.

3. The method system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an ultrasonic sensor for determining whether there is the sufficient slot length in which to park the vehicle, and wherein the second sensor is an ultrasonic sensor for determining whether an obstacle is located in the first and second clearance zones on a side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target parking space is a parallel parking space between a forward first object and a rearward second object and adjacent an object.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor determines a measured lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the identified obstacle.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including comparing the measured lateral distance to a first predetermined lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the obstacle.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the measured lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the obstacle is less than the first predetermined lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the obstacle, the park assist system does not recommend the parking space sensed by the first sensing system to the vehicle driver.

8. The method according to claim 7, further including comparing the measured lateral distance to a second predetermined lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the obstacle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein when the measured lateral distance between the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space and the obstacle is between the first and second predetermined lateral distances, the park assist system determines, recommends, and executes a first steering trajectory to avoid the obstacle and a second steering trajectory to park the vehicle into the target parking space.

10. A method for parking a vehicle in a target parking space, the vehicle having a sensing system and a park assist system operatively connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning neighboring objects using a first ultrasonic sensor to determine if a target parking space is available for parking the vehicle, the neighboring objects including at least one object either in front of or behind the target parking space, wherein the first ultrasonic sensor provides an input signal to the park assist system;

scanning neighboring objects on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space using a second ultrasonic sensor to determine if a clearance zone on the side of the vehicle opposite the target parking space is free of obstacles, wherein the second ultrasonic sensor provides an input signal to the park assist system;

using the park assist system to determine whether there is a sufficient slot length in which to park the vehicle;

if an obstacle is identified in the clearance zone, then using the park assist system to identify a first steering trajectory to avoid the obstacle and a second steering trajectory to park the vehicle into the target parking space; and

parking the vehicle in the target parking space along the first and second steering trajectories.