Method and system for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle in identifying suitable parking spaces for the vehicle

• US 8,515,641 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2006
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Riegel, Thilo
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, DANIEL LAWSON
• Application Number:
  US11/922,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,640 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/70
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/004 using wave sensors radar designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicles and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A method for assisting the driver of a vehicle in detecting suitable parking spaces for the vehicle, a measuring unit detecting potential parking spaces as the vehicle passes by and the length and/or depth or width of a detected parking space being ascertained. A detected parking space is evaluated as a function of the ascertained length and/or depth regarding the possibility of parking the vehicle in this parking space, and the drive and/or braking device of the vehicle is controlled or regulated in such a way that the vehicle is automatically braked if the evaluation of a detected parking space yields the result that the vehicle can be parked in this parking space.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle in detecting a suitable parking space for the vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting potential parking spaces by a measuring unit as the vehicle passes by;

ascertaining at least one of a length and depth of a detected parking space;

evaluating the detected parking space as a function of the at least one of the ascertained length and depth regarding whether parking the vehicle into this detected parking space is possible; and

controlling or regulating at least one of a drive and a braking device of the vehicle so that the vehicle is automatically braked if the evaluation of a detected parking space yields a result that the vehicle can be parked in the detected parking space.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is braked to a standstill.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein braking is performed so that a speed of the vehicle is reduced according to a predefined speed curve.

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

detecting a distance to at least one of a following vehicle and a preceding vehicle, braking being performed as a function of the detected distance, wherein;

the vehicle is braked more intensively at least one of in an event of a greater distance to the following vehicle, and in an event of a smaller distance to the preceding vehicle; and

the vehicle is less intensively braked at least one of in an event of a smaller distance to the following vehicle and in an event of a greater distance to the preceding vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive of the vehicle is controlled in such a way that after automatic braking, the vehicle is accelerated again if there is an acceleration signal to be input by the driver, the acceleration being performed automatically to a speed recorded as having prevailed immediately before the automatic braking was initiated.

6. A method for assisting the driver of a vehicle in detecting suitable parking spaces for the vehicle, comprising:

detecting potential parking spaces by a measuring unit as the vehicle passes by;

ascertaining at least one of a length and depth of a detected parking space;

evaluating the detected parking space as a function of the at least one of the ascertained length and depth regarding whether parking the vehicle into this detected parking space is possible;

controlling or regulating at least one of a drive and a braking device of the vehicle so that the vehicle is automatically braked if the evaluation of a detected parking space yields a result that the vehicle can be parked in the detected parking space; and

controlling at least one of a drive and a braking device of the vehicle so that a parking space search speed of the vehicle is automatically kept constant and information is given to the driver about a detected parking space.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the parking space search speed of the vehicle is set automatically if there is a start signal to be input by the driver.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the parking space search speed is predefined.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein a distance to possible preceding vehicles or to obstacles in front of the vehicle is detected and the parking space search speed is reduced if the distance drops below a certain minimum distance.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein a detected parking space is evaluated as a function of the at least one of the ascertained length and depth regarding whether and how parking the vehicle in this detected parking space is possible, and information about a result of the evaluation of the parking space is output in an output unit.

11. A system for assisting a driver of a vehicle in detecting a suitable parking space for the vehicle, comprising:

a measuring device adapted to measure at least one of a length and a depth of potential parking spaces as the vehicle passes by;

an evaluation unit adapted to evaluate the suitability of a detected parking space for the vehicle; and

a control or regulating unit adapted to control or regulate at least one of a drive and a braking device of the vehicle as a function of the evaluation.