METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMPLIFYING MARSHALLING WITH A VEHICLE

• US 20060099067A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Wigerud, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/809
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means

Abstract

A marshalling method and apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle including a camera (3), a display screen (4) and a control unit (5) connected to one another. The display screen shows a picture taken with the camera of the area immediately behind the vehicle and the control unit (5) superimposes a marshalling mark (11, 13) on the picture when the vehicle is in a marshalling mode. The marshalling mode ensues regardless of which direction the vehicle is being driven in.

Claims

1. A marshalling apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a camera (3), a display screen (4) interconnected with a control unit (5), the display screen displays a picture taken with the camera of the area immediately behind the vehicle and in which the control unit (5) superimposes a marshalling mark (11, 13) on said picture when the vehicle is in a marshalling mode, and wherein the marshalling mode ensues regardless of which direction the vehicle is being driven and incorporates a marshalling mark that shows an external contour corresponding to an activated condition of a component mounted on the vehicle.

2. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the marshalling mode ensues when the vehicle is being driven below a predefined speed.

3. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the marshalling mode ensues when the vehicle is situated within a predefined, geographical area.

4. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a marshalling mark is displayed on the display screen as one or more points and/or lines and/or a continuous surface.

5. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an additional marshalling mark that shows the direction to a component mounted on the vehicle.

6. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an additional marshalling mark that shows the external contours of a component that can be coupled to the vehicle.

7. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an additional marshalling mark that shows the external contours of a trailer vehicle coupled to the vehicle.

8. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the marshalling apparatus further comprises at least one distance line of which each represents a distance from the rear edge of the vehicle.

9. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the marshalling apparatus comprises a programming state in which a marshalling mark is defined.

10. The marshalling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit (5) detects a physical delineation of a marshalling mark and stores this in a memory.

11. A method for facilitating the marshalling of a vehicle, comprising the following steps:

using a camera mounted on the back of the vehicle to take a picture of the area immediately behind the vehicle,

displaying the picture on a display screen in the driver'"'"'s cab,

superimposing a marshalling mark corresponding to an activated condition of a component mounted on the vehicle, and

displaying the picture with said marshalling mark regardless of which direction the vehicle is being driven.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising an additional marshalling mark which shows at least one of:

(1) the direction to a component mounted on the vehicle, (2) the size of a component mounted on the vehicle, and (3) an assumed marshalling position for the vehicle.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

physically marking the desired marshalling mark; and

saving the desired marshalling mark in a memory.