Integration of global positioning system and active parking assist functionalities

• US 8,542,130 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees, Edny
• Application Number:
  US13/080,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/436, 340/425.5, 340/437, 701/1, 701/41, 701/42, 180/199, 280/761
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A vehicle has a global positioning system and an active parking assist system. The global positioning system is configured for providing information designating a present location of the vehicle and for providing information designating configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle. The active parking assist system is configured to affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location. The active parking assist system is coupled to the global positioning system for acquiring the present location information therefrom and the target parking location information therefrom. The active parking assist system determines a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location dependent upon the present location information and the target parking location information.

Claims

1. A system to assist parking a vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system configured for providing information designating a present location of the vehicle and for providing information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle;

an active parking assist system configured to affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location, wherein the active parking assist system is coupled to the global positioning system for acquiring the present location information therefrom and the target parking location information therefrom and wherein the active parking assist system determines a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location dependent upon the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information;

the active parking assist system uses the present location information for determining that the target parking location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location;

the active parking assist system activates a particular one of a plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information;

the active parking assist system uses the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system; and

the active parking assist system automatically omits parking locations that are not valid, provides a notification that a parking location is invalid and determines another instance of a target parking location.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the target parking location information designates that the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system determines that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration dependent upon the target parking location information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system determines that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration dependent upon the target parking location information.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system uses the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system.

2. The system of claim wherein the active parking assist system makes the determination to implement:

a parallel parking mode of operation in response to the target parking location information indicating that the configuration of the target parking location has a parallel parking configuration; and

a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response to the target parking location information indicating that the configuration of the target parking location has a perpendicular parking configuration.

7. A parking assist system for a vehicle, comprising:

a signal interface for receiving information designating a present location of a vehicle and for receiving information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle;

an information processing module configured for activating a type of assisted parking functionality dependent upon the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information, using the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system, automatically omitting parking locations that are not valid, providing a notification that a parking location is invalid, and determining another instance of a target parking location.

8. The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein activating the type of assisted parking functionality includes determining if the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration or a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

9. The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein activating the type of assisted parking functionality includes:

activating a parallel parking mode of operation in response to the configuration of the target parking location being a parking location having a parallel parking configuration; and

activating a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response to the configuration of the target parking location being a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

10. The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein the information processing module is further configured for;

using the present location information for determining that the target parking location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location; and

automatically activating a particular one of a plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information.

11. The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein the target parking location information designates that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

12. A controller having a set of instructions to carry out operations for:

acquiring information designating a present location of a vehicle and information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle;

determining a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affecting maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location, wherein determining the type of assisted parking functionality to implement is performed using the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information

using the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system;

providing a notification that a target parking location is invalid and determining another instance of a target parking location.

13. The controller of claim 12 wherein determining the type of assisted parking functionality to implement includes determining if the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration or a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

14. The controller of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions are further configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

activating a parallel parking mode of operation is required in response to determining that the configuration of the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration; and

activating a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response determining that the configuration of the target parking location is a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.

15. The controller of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions are further configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

using the present location information for determining that the target parking, location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location; and

automatically activating a particular one of as plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information.

16. The controller of claim 12 wherein the target parking location information designates that the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.