Mobile device tethering for remote parking assist

• US 10,747,218 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2018
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael, Chatten, Alyssa, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Golgiri, Hamid M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/870,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20190220001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/005 by providing the operator with signals other than visual, e.g. acoustic, haptic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for remote parking assist. An example vehicle includes ultra-wide angle cameras and a processor coupled to memory. The processor generates an interface based on a location of the mobile device including an overhead representation of the vehicle generated using images from the cameras and representations of a position of a mobile device and a boundary around the vehicle. The processor also sends the interface to the mobile device, and when the mobile device is not within the boundary, prevents autonomous parking of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

ultra-wide angle cameras; and

a processor coupled to memory to;

generate an interface based on a location of a mobile device including an overhead representation of the vehicle generated using images from the cameras and representations of a position of the mobile device and a boundary around the vehicle;

send the interface to the mobile device; and

when the mobile device is not within the boundary, prevent autonomous parking of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a border indicator that is displayed around a perimeter of a display of the mobile device.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the processor is to change characteristics of the border indicator based on the location of the mobile device compared to the location of the boundary.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the processor is to animate the border indicator based on a direction of travel of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a representation of the vehicle, a planned path of the vehicle, and a representation of angles of tires of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a motion track.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the processor is to change characteristics of the motion track based on the location of the mobile device compared to the location of the boundary.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the characteristics include at least one of a color or a blinking pattern.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is to send instructions to the mobile device to cause the mobile device to vibrate.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to vibrate at an interval based on a distance of the mobile device from the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

generating, with a processor, an interface based on a location of a mobile device including an overhead representation of a vehicle generated using images from ultra-wide angle cameras positions on the vehicle and representations of a position of the mobile device and a boundary around the vehicle;

sending, via a wireless module, the interface to the mobile device; and

when the mobile device is not within the boundary, preventing autonomous parking of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface includes a border indicator that is displayed around a perimeter of a display of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, including changing characteristics of the border indicator based on the location of the mobile device compared to the location of the boundary.

14. The method of claim 12, including animating the border indicator based on a direction of travel of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface includes a representation of the vehicle, a planned path of the vehicle, and a representation of angles of tires of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the interface includes a motion track.

17. The method of claim 16, including changing characteristics of the motion track based on the location of the mobile device compared to the location of the boundary.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristics include at least one of a color or a blinking pattern.

19. The method of claim 11, including sending instructions to the mobile device to cause the mobile device to vibrate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to vibrate at an interval based on a distance of the mobile device from the vehicle.