Park-assist based on vehicle door open positions

• US 10,717,432 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krekel, Markus, Benmimoun, Ahmed
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Tamara L
• Application Number:
  US16/130,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20200086850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/20 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/001 Planning or execution of driving tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/00 Electronic control; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/456 for programming
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 of parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for park-assist based on vehicle door open positions. An example vehicle includes a door, a door sensor, a range-detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is to determine, via the door sensor, a preferred angle of an occupant for opening the door and detect, via the range-detection sensor, a spot that is unoccupied. The controller also is to predict a maximum angle for opening the door within the spot. The example vehicle also includes an autonomy unit to perform park-assist into the spot responsive to the maximum angle equaling or exceeding the preferred angle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a door;

a door sensor;

a range-detection sensor;

a controller configured to;

determine, via the door sensor, a preferred angle of an occupant for opening the door;

detect, via the range-detection sensor, a spot that is unoccupied; and

predict a maximum angle for opening the door within the spot;

determine that the maximum angle is between the preferred angle and a permissible angle;

provide, based on the determination that the maximum angle is between the preferred angle and the permissible angle, an option for the occupant to select whether to park into the spot; and

receive, in response to the option for the occupant to select whether to park in the spot, an indication to park in the spot; and

an autonomy unit to perform park-assist into the spot based on the received indication to park in the spot.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door includes a side mirror and the door sensor includes a camera coupled to the side mirror to monitor an angle of the door.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door sensor includes a potentiometer to monitor an angle of the door.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the range-detection sensor includes at least one of a camera and a proximity sensor to monitor a surrounding area.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door sensor is further configured to collect a door-angle measurement each time the occupant opens the door.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller determines the preferred angle based on a plurality of door-angle measurements collected during a plurality of occurrences of the occupant opening the door.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a human-machine interface (HMI) unit.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the HMI unit is further configured to collect an identity of the occupant for the controller.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the HMI unit is further configured to collect the preferred angle as a user input from the occupant.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a communication module for wireless communication, wherein the controller is to identify the occupant upon wirelessly communicating with a mobile device associated with the occupant.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the autonomy unit does not perform the park-assist into the spot when the maximum angle is less than the preferred angle.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the permissible angle is less than the preferred angle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the autonomy unit does not perform the park-assist into the spot when the maximum angle is less than the permissible angle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the autonomy unit is further configured to perform the park-assist into the spot based on a selection by the occupant.

15. A method comprising:

determining, via a door sensor, a preferred angle of an occupant for opening a door of a vehicle;

detecting, via a range-detection sensor, a parking spot that is unoccupied;

predicting, via a processor, a maximum angle for opening the door within the parking spot;

determining that the maximum angle is between the preferred angle and a permissible angle;

providing, based on the determination that the maximum angle is between the preferred angle and the permissible angle, an option for the occupant to select whether to park into the spot;

receiving, in response to the option for the occupant to select whether to park in the spot, an indication to park in the spot; and

performing, via an autonomy unit, park-assist into the parking spot based on the received indication to park in the spot.

16. The method of claim 15, further including not performing the park-assist into the parking spot when the maximum angle is less than the preferred angle.

17. The method of claim 15, further including determining a permissible angle of an occupant for opening the door, the permissible angle is less than the preferred angle.

18. The method of claim 17, further including not performing the park-assist into the parking spot when the maximum angle is less than the permissible angle.