Parking assist overlay with variable brightness intensity

• US 8,665,116 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghneim, Maher
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/917,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/435, 340/425.5, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340988-990, 340/995.1, 340/438, 340/441
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A parking assist system overlay that adjusts the color and/or intensity of locus lines at a predetermined steering wheel angle to alert a vehicle operator that static or dynamic locus lines should be followed to ensure the vehicle successfully reaches a target parking space.

Claims

1. A parking assist method comprising the steps of:

capturing a rear-facing image;

displaying the rear-facing image;

superimposing, by way of a camera module, an overlay on the rear-facing image, the overlay having a set of dynamic locus lines and a set of static locus lines;

sensing a vehicle steering wheel angle;

adjusting a brightness and intensity displayed for the locus lines in the overlay in accordance with the vehicle steering wheel angle.

2. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a brightness and intensity displayed for the locus lines further comprises the steps of:

decreasing the brightness and intensity of the static locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves away from a predetermined steering wheel angle; and

increasing the brightness and intensity of the static locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves toward a predetermined steering wheel angle.

3. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

increasing the brightness and intensity of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves away from a predetermined steering wheel angle; and

decreasing the brightness and intensity of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves toward a predetermined steering wheel angle.

4. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the predetermined steering wheel angle is a predetermined angle from a center steering wheel position.

5. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the predetermined steering wheel angle is a predetermined angle from a center steering wheel position.

6. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

extracting vehicle wheel base data from memory in the camera module; and

calculating, in the camera module, a set of replacement dynamic locus lines in response to the steering wheel angle and the vehicle wheel base data, wherein a length of the dynamic locus lines is adjusted and displayed.

7. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

extending a length of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves away from a center steering, wheel angle position; and

decreasing a length of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves towards the center steering wheel angle position.

8. A parking assist method comprising the steps of:

capturing a rear-facing image;

displaying the rear-facing image;

superimposing, by way of a camera module, an overlay on the rear-facing image, the overlay having a set of dynamic locus lines and a set of static locus lines;

sensing a vehicle steering wheel angle;

adjusting a brightness and intensity displayed for the dynamic locus lines in the overlay in accordance with the vehicle steering wheel angle;

adjusting a brightness and intensity displayed for the static locus lines in the overlay in accordance with the vehicle steering wheel angle.

9. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the steps of adjusting a brightness and intensity displayed further comprises the steps of:

decreasing the brightness and intensity of the static locus lines as the steering, wheel angle moves away from a predetermined steering wheel angle;

increasing the brightness and intensity of the static locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves toward a predetermined steering wheel angle;

increasing the brightness and intensity of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves away from a predetermined steering wheel angle; and

decreasing the brightness and intensity of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves toward a predetermined steering wheel angle.

10. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the predetermined steering wheel angle is a predetermined angle from a center steering wheel position.

11. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

extracting vehicle wheel base data from memory in the camera module; and

calculating, in the camera module, a set of replacement dynamic locus lines in response to the steering wheel angle and the vehicle wheel base data, wherein a length of the dynamic locus lines is adjusted and displayed.

12. The parking assist method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

extending a length of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves away from a center steering, wheel angle position; and

decreasing a length of the dynamic locus lines as the steering wheel angle moves towards the center steering wheel angle position.