Park assist object distance measurement clock control

• US 9,224,297 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Aric David, Stempnik, Vern, Choi, Brian, Kane, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US13/868,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/435, 340/436, 340/437, 701/41, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 367/87, 367/99, 180/271, 180/274
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method of determining an object distance from a vehicle includes sending a first transmission signal during a first burst period from a first transmitter, listening for a first reflection signal during a first listen period in a receiver, and sending a second transmission signal during a second burst period from a second transmitter. The second transmission signal is sent based on a time when the first transmission signal is sent.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a first transmission signal during a first burst period from a rear park aid;

listening for a first reflection signal during a first listen period;

sending a second transmission signal from a front park aid after the first listen period;

listening for a second reflection signal during a second listen period; and

performing park aid computations based on the first and second reflection signals at the same time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first time window that is comprised of the first burst period and the first listen period; and

sending the second transmission signal after the first time window.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a second time window that is comprised of a second listen period; and

listening for a second reflection signal during the second listen period.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining inputs for a parking algorithm based on a first timing between the first transmission signal and the first listen period and whether a signal is detected during the first listen period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining inputs for the parking algorithm from at least one of the front park aid and the rear park aid based on a second timing between the second transmission signal and the second listen period and whether a signal is detected during the second listen period.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the inputs are determined during the second time window.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the first transmission signal further comprises sending one of an ultrasonic signal and a radar signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time of the second signal transmission is based on one of a global positioning system (GPS) and an atomic clock.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions comprising steps to:

send a park assist burst during a first time window;

listen for a park assist reflected signal during the first time window;

send a rear park aid burst during a second time window;

listen for a rear park aid reflected signal during the second time window;

send a front park aid burst during a third time window;

listen for a front park aid reflected signal during the third time window; and

performing park assist computations based on the park assist reflected signal during the second time window.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second time window is longer than the third time window.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising steps to:

determine inputs for a parking algorithm based on a first timing between the rear park aid burst and a first listen period corresponding to the listen for rear park aid reflected signal step and further based on a second timing between the front park aid burst and a second listen period corresponding to the listen for a front park aid reflected signal step.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising steps to determine the inputs for the parking algorithm during the second time window.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising steps to:

access a precise clock time based on one of a clock for a global positioning system (GPS) and an atomic clock; and

base a trigger for the time when the front park aid burst is sent on the precise clock time.

14. A host vehicle comprising:

a first transceiver positioned proximate a rear bumper;

a second transceiver positioned proximate a front bumper; and

a computer programmed to

in response to actuation of a brake pedal while the host vehicle is proximate an identified parking space, send a first burst signal during a first burst period from the first transceiver,

listen for a first reflected signal during a first listen period,

send a second burst signal from the second transceiver during a second burst period,

listen for a second reflection signal during a second listen period, and

perform computations based on the first and second reflection signals.

15. The host vehicle of claim 14, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine a first time window that is comprised of the first burst period and the first listen period; and

send the second burst signal after the first time window.

16. The host vehicle of claim 15, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine a second time window that is comprised of the second burst period and the second listen period, wherein the first time window is greater than the second time window.

17. The host vehicle of claim 16, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine inputs for a parking algorithm based on a first timing between the first burst signal and the first listen period.

18. The host vehicle of claim 17, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine inputs for the parking algorithm based on one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on a second timing between the second burst signal and the second listen period.

19. The host vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first and second transceivers are comprised of a combination of at least one of an ultrasonic transmitter and a radar transmitter and at least one of an ultrasonic receiver and a radar receiver.

20. The host vehicle of claim 14, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

access a precise clock time based on one of a clock for a global positioning system (GPS) and an atomic clock; and

base a trigger for the time when the second burst signal is sent on the precise clock time.