Method of providing stopped-vehicle movement mode, driver assistance apparatus providing the same, and vehicle including driver assistance apparatus

• US 10,144,397 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lim, Jongjin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/955,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20170057475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A driver assistance apparatus includes a sensor unit sensing an obstacle around a vehicle; a memory storing a stopped-vehicle movement range; a brake driving control unit turning on or off a vehicle brake; and a processor controlling the brake driving control unit to turn on or off the vehicle brake according to the obstacle around the vehicle and the stopped-vehicle movement range, wherein the processor provides a stopped-vehicle movement mode in which the vehicle moves, when a user is not in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A driver assistance apparatus comprising:

a sensor to detect an obstacle around a vehicle;

a memory configured to store a stopped-vehicle movement range;

a brake driving controller configured to turn on or off a vehicle brake; and

a processor configured to;

cause the vehicle to move by transmitting a control signal to a controller of the vehicle,

provide a stopped-vehicle movement mode in which the vehicle is permitted to move by an external force applied to the vehicle or an auxiliary power source of the vehicle when a driver is not in the vehicle in a state in which the vehicle is stopped and an ignition is off,

control the brake driving controller to turn off the vehicle brake and maintain the vehicle in a neutral gear when the stopped-vehicle movement mode is executed, and

control the brake driving controller to turn on the vehicle brake based on at least one of an obstacle detected around the vehicle and the stopped-vehicle movement range in the stopped-vehicle movement mode.

2. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to set the stopped-vehicle movement range as a range input by a user.

3. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a camera to obtain an image of an area outside of the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to set the stopped-vehicle movement range according to the image.

4. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit configured to exchange data related to the vehicle with a terminal,

wherein the processor is configured to authenticate a connected user terminal through the communication circuit and reset the stopped-vehicle movement range according to a request from an authenticated user terminal.

5. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to turn on the vehicle brake when an obstacle is detected from a movement direction of the vehicle.

6. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to designate a region around the vehicle as a dead zone and turn off the vehicle brake when an obstacle is detected in the dead zone.

7. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the dead zone is a region adjacent to the vehicle where a person moving the vehicle is located.

8. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit configured to exchange data with a terminal,

wherein the processor is configured to authenticate a connected user terminal through the communication circuit and execute another stopped-vehicle movement mode in which a person controls the vehicle according to a request from an authenticated user terminal.

9. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a camera to obtain surrounding images that are obtained by capturing images around the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to transmit the captured surrounding images to the user terminal in the stopped-vehicle movement mode.

10. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit configured to exchange data with a terminal,

wherein the processor is configured to authenticate a connected user terminal through the communication circuit and execute a remote stopped-vehicle movement mode in which the vehicle is controlled according to a request from an authenticated user terminal.

11. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit configured to exchange data with a terminal,

wherein the processor is configured to provide a call between the user terminal and a location outside of the vehicle through the communication circuit.

12. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an external output to output stopped-vehicle movement information outside of the vehicle.

13. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the external output comprises an external display disposed at at least one of a front windshield of the vehicle and a trunk of the vehicle to display the stopped-vehicle movement information.

14. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the external display is configured to display an around view monitor image that displays images of all directions of the vehicle.

15. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the external display is configured to display a movement key to control the vehicle movement, and

wherein the movement key comprises a forward movement key for moving the vehicle forward, a backward movement key for moving the vehicle backward, and a direction key for controlling a wheel direction of the vehicle.

16. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an external input unit disposed on the external output to sense an external input for executing and controlling the stopped-vehicle movement mode.

17. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the external output comprises an external audio output,

wherein the external input comprises an external microphone, and

wherein the processor is configured to provide a call with the user terminal through the external audio output and the external microphone.

18. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the stopped-vehicle movement information comprises at least one of a notification of the execution of the stopped-vehicle movement mode, the stopped-vehicle movement range, and a notification of who is responsible for the vehicle movement.

19. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the external output comprises a laser, and

wherein the laser is configured to display the stopped-vehicle movement range on a road surface.

20. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the vehicle to move back to an originally stopped position after the stopped-vehicle movement mode ends.

21. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to scan a parking space after an end of the stopped-vehicle movement mode, and perform automatic parking of the vehicle into the parking space.

22. The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the vehicle to apply the vehicle brake when a certain time elapses from when the stopped-vehicle movement mode ends.

23. A vehicle comprising:

a driver assistance apparatus including;

a sensor configured to detect an obstacle around a vehicle;

a memory configured to store a stopped-vehicle movement range;

a brake driving controller configured to turn on or off a vehicle brake; and

a processor configured to;

cause the vehicle to move by transmitting a control signal to a controller of the vehicle,

provide a stopped-vehicle movement mode in which the vehicle is permitted to move by an external force applied to the vehicle or an auxiliary power source of the vehicle when a driver is not in the vehicle in a state in which the vehicle is stopped and an ignition is off, and

control the brake driving controller to turn off the vehicle brake and maintain the vehicle in a neutral gear when the stopped-vehicle movement mode is executed, and

control the brake driving controller to turn on the vehicle brake based on at least one of an obstacle detected around the vehicle and the stopped-vehicle movement range in the stopped-vehicle movement mode.

24. A method of providing a stopped-vehicle movement mode in which a vehicle moves when a driver is not in the vehicle, the method comprising:

stopping the vehicle by activation of a vehicle brake;

setting a stopped-vehicle movement range;

executing the stopped-vehicle movement mode in a state in which the vehicle is stopped and an ignition is off;

releasing the vehicle brake and maintaining the vehicle in a neutral gear when the stopped-vehicle movement mode is executed;

sensing movement of the vehicle by an external force applied to the vehicle or an auxiliary power source of the vehicle;

sensing an obstacle from a movement direction of the vehicle; and

activating the vehicle brake when either the obstacle is sensed or a position of the vehicle reaches a limit of the stopped-vehicle movement range.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

providing a movement key to control the movement of the vehicle, and

moving the vehicle according to an input of the movement key.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising moving the vehicle through a mobile terminal of a user.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a request for movement of the vehicle;

moving the vehicle by executing the stopped-vehicle movement mode;

scanning a parking space after the vehicle is moved; and

performing automatic parking of the vehicle into the scanned parking space.