Parking assist system

• US 8,965,678 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US13/715,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/301, 340/901, 340/904, 340/932.2, 340/988, 340/435, 340/436, 340/815.45, 340/384.1, 345/7
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A device for assisting the driver of a vehicle in the process of parking is provided. The device includes sensors for detecting obstacles in an environment of the vehicle, at least in an environment in front and in back of the vehicle, and a display for indicating the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle identified in the environment. The display includes a first means, with which the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle identified in front of the vehicle can be displayed on a windshield of the vehicle, and a second means, with which the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle identified in back of the vehicle can be displayed on a rear window of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for assisting the driver of a vehicle in the process of parking, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting obstacles in an environment of the vehicle, at least in an environment in front and in back of the vehicle;

a display for indicating the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle identified in the environment, the display including;

a first means, with which the distance between the vehicle and a first obstacle identified in front of the vehicle is displayable as a line on a windshield of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is displayable as an immovably positioned first rectangular symbol below the line of the windshield, and wherein the line moves closer to the first rectangular symbol as a distance from the first obstacle decreases; and

a second means, with which the distance between the vehicle and a second obstacle identified in back of the vehicle is displayable as a second rectangular symbol on a rear window of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is displayable as an immovably positioned third rectangular symbol, and wherein the second rectangular symbol moves closer to the third rectangular symbol as a distance from the vehicle to the second obstacle decreases.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means and second means are optical projectors, with which the respective symbols are projected onto the respective one of the windshield and rear window.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first means and second means are head-up displays.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means further comprises light-emitting diodes integrated into the windshield, the second means further comprises light emitting diodes integrated into the rear window, and the respective symbols are displayed via the light-emitting diodes.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means and second means are designed and set up in such a way that at least one of the first rectangular symbol, the second rectangular symbol, the third rectangular symbol and the line change in at least one of shape and color as a function of the distance from the respective obstacle.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signaling means is present, with which acoustic signals are generated as a function of the distance from an identified obstacle.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means and second means are designed and set up in such a way that the first means is only activated if the vehicle has been put into first gear, and the second means is only activated if the vehicle has been put into reverse.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting obstacles in an environment of the vehicle, at least in an environment in front and in back of the vehicle;

a display for indicating the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle identified in the environment, the display including;

a first optical projector, with which the distance between the vehicle and a first obstacle identified in front of the vehicle is displayable as a line on a windshield of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is displayable as a first rectangular symbol below the line on the windshield, and wherein the line moves closer to the first rectangular symbol as a distance from the first obstacle decreases; and

a second optical projector, with which the distance between the vehicle and a second obstacle identified in back of the vehicle is displayable as a second rectangular symbol on a rear window of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is displayable as an immovably positioned third rectangular symbol, and wherein the second rectangular symbol is moves closer to the third rectangular symbol as a distance from the vehicle to the second obstacle decreases.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first optical projector and the second optical projector are designed and set up in such a way that at least one of the first rectangular symbol, the second rectangular symbol, the third rectangular symbol, and the line change in at least one of shape and color as a function of the distance from the respective obstacle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein an acoustic signaling means is present, with which acoustic signals are generated as a function of the distance from an identified obstacle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first optical projector and the second optical projector are designed and set up in such a way that the first optical projector is only activated if the vehicle has been put into first gear, and the second optical projector is only activated if the vehicle has been put into reverse.