Park assist system

• US 9,120,425 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tate, Edward D. Jr., Holmes, Alan G., Chan, Hsiu-Pang, Eng, Donald, Huntzicker, Fred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/096,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20140095021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 340/908
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A park assist system for providing guidance to park a vehicle into a parking area is disclosed. The park assist system includes an imaging device, at least one indicator, and a control module. The imaging device acquires image data representative of a field of view (FOV). The indicator provides feedback to guide the vehicle into the parking area. The control module is in communication with the imaging device and the at least one indicator. The control module includes control logic for monitoring image data representative of the viewable area. The control module includes control logic for determining if a specific predetermined object is located within the FOV. The specific predetermined object indicates the presence of the parking area. The control module includes control logic for activating the at least one indicator to provide feedback regarding the parking area.

Claims

1. A park assist system for providing guidance to park a vehicle in a parking area, the park assist system comprising:

an imaging device that acquires image data representative of a field of view (FOV);

at least one indicator for providing feedback to guide the vehicle into the parking area; and

a control module in communication with the imaging device and the at least one indicator, the control module comprising;

a control logic for monitoring image data representative of the viewable area;

a control logic for determining if a specific predetermined object is located within the FOV, the specific predetermined object indicating the presence of the parking area, the specific predetermined object indicating specific information about the parking area; and

a control logic for activating the at least one indicator to provide feedback regarding the specific information about the parking area,

wherein the specific predetermined object comprises an image that is decoded to include the specific information about the parking area.

2. The park assist system of claim 1, comprising a positioning system control module in communication with the control module, the positioning system control module determining a specific geographical location of the vehicle.

3. The park assist system of claim 2, wherein the control module receives a notification from the positioning system control module indicating the vehicle is within a specified proximity of the specific geographical location.

4. The park assist system of claim 3, wherein the control module includes a control logic for monitoring a vehicle bus and receiving a vehicle speed signal, wherein if the vehicle speed signal is less than a threshold value this indicates that the vehicle is travelling slowly enough to be parked, wherein if the vehicle speed signal is not less than the threshold value, the control module skips performing the control logic for monitoring the image data, the control logic for determining, and the control logic for activating.

5. The park assist system of claim 3, wherein the control module includes control logic for comparing a position of the specific predetermined object currently located within the FOV with a standard parking location saved in a memory of the control module.

8. The park assist system of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator is at least one of a display, a speaker, a haptic device, an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

9. The park assist system of claim 8, wherein the haptic device is one of a steering wheel and a driver'"'"'s seat.

10. The park assist system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is one of a front camera and a rear camera.

11. The park assist system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is part of one of a monocular vision system and a stereo vision camera system.

6. A park assist system for providing guidance to park a vehicle in a parking area, the park assist system comprising:

an imaging device that acquires image data representative of a field of view (FOV);

at least one indicator for providing feedback to guide the vehicle into the parking area;

a positioning system control module for determining a specific geographical location of the vehicle;

a control module in communication with the imaging device, the at least one indicator, and the position system control module, the control module comprising;

a control logic for monitoring image data representative of the viewable area;

a control logic for determining if a specific predetermined object is located within the FOV, the specific predetermined object indicating the presence of the parking area; and

a control logic for activating the at least one indicator to provide feedback regarding the parking area;

a control logic for receiving a notification from the positioning system control module indicating the vehicle is within a specified proximity of the specific geographical location;

a control logic for comparing a position of the specific predetermined object currently located within the FOV with a standard parking location saved in a memory of the control module, wherein the standard parking location is stored when the park assist system is operating in a training mode, and wherein the control module determines aspects of the location of the specific predetermined object during the training mode,

wherein the specific predetermined object comprises an image that is decoded to include a specific information about the parking area.

7. The park assist system of claim 6, wherein the control module compares the position of the specific predetermined object currently located within the FOV with the standard parking location.

12. A park assist system for providing guidance to park a vehicle in a parking area, the park assist system comprising:

an imaging device that acquires image data representative of a field of view (FOV);

at least one indicator for providing feedback to guide the vehicle into the parking area; and

a control module in communication with the imaging device and the at least one indicator, the control module comprising;

a control logic for monitoring image data representative of the viewable area;

a control logic for determining if a specific predetermined object is located within the FOV, the specific predetermined object indicating the presence of the parking area; and

a control logic for activating the at least one indicator to provide feedback regarding the parking area,

wherein the specific predetermined object is a sign that provides an indication that a charging pad is present within the parking area,

wherein the specific predetermined object comprises an image that is decoded to include a specific information about the parking area.

13. The park assist system of claim 12, wherein the sign is located at a predetermined height and a predetermined length from a center of the charging pad.

14. The park assist system of claim 12, wherein the sign includes at least one symbol for indicating the charging pad is present within the parking area.

15. The park assist system of claim 12, wherein the specific information about the parking area indicates that the parking area is allocated to a specific driver.