Dual laser beam guidance and parking device

• US 20070046500A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Dechiara, Stephen Mcfarland, William Herbert
• Original Assignee: Anthony Dechiara, Stephen Mcfarland, William Herbert
• Inventors: McFarland, Stephen, Dechiara, Anthony, Herbert, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/46 Indirect determination of position data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A vehicle guidance and parking system that continuously guides the operator of a vehicle to a pre-determined parking position by using two laser beams impinging on a forward or rearward surface. The two lasers beams project to a substantially vertical surface to which a vertical line has been applied and the vehicle is guided by the operator such that the two laser beams are kept equidistantly horizontally centered around the line during the vehicle approach to maintain the correct lateral position in the pre-determined parking position. When the two laser beams converge on the vertical line, the vehicle is longitudinally positioned to the pre-determined parking position. Temperature compensation, due to the wide temperature of potential use range, is provided by the laser emitting device used in the vehicle guidance and parking system. A light blocking shroud is used around the vertical line in bright sunlight conditions when necessary to improve the visibility of the two laser beam outputs for vehicle maneuvering.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking system using two converging lasers emitting from the vehicle positioning device from the interior or enclosed exterior location of a vehicle for use in longitudinal and lateral parking position control of vehicles comprising:

(a) two laser emitting diodes producing visible outputs on a forward or rearward surface, utilizing a vertical line such that the two visible laser outputs are equidistantly aligned horizontally around the vertical line on the forward or rearward surface continuously during parking for achieving lateral distance control to a pre determined location; and

(b) two converging laser emitting diodes that align vertically during parking on a surface forward or rearward pre-determined vertical line for achieving longitudinal distance control to that pre-determined location; and

(c) at least one angle adjustment control for one of the laser emitting diodes for calibration of the intersection point of the two visible laser beam outputs.

2. A vehicle parking system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle positioning device is of an automatic temperature compensating design to preserve the longitudinal and lateral calibration point in both cold and hot conditions to the pre-adjusted calibration point of the two visible laser outputs.

3. A vehicle parking system according to claim 2, wherein a light blocking shroud is used around the vertical line to improve the visibility of the two visible laser beam outputs.

4. The vehicle positioning device according to claim 2, wherein a single laser diode adjustment control is used to adjust the angle of both laser emitting diodes and utilizes components of optimal thermal expansion coefficients to achieve automatic temperature compensation of the pre-adjusted calibration point of the two visible laser outputs.

5. The vehicle positioning device according to claim 2, wherein at least one laser diode adjustment control is used to adjust the angle of at least one laser emitting diode and the inherent design of the vehicle positioning device results in automatic temperature compensation of the pre-adjusted calibration point of the two visible laser outputs.

6. The vehicle positioning device according to claim 2, wherein a bracket is adaptable for mounting the device to either the windshield, dashboard, or interior inside front of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle positioning device of claim 2, wherein an electronic control circuit is used to control the activation and automatic shut off time of the lasers to preserve battery life and prevent inadvertent continuous use of the device.

8. The vehicle positioning device of claim 2, wherein remote activation is actively achieved using hand held radio frequency or infrared transmitters with radio frequency or infrared receivers in the electronic circuit of the device.

9. The vehicle positioning device of claim 2, wherein automatic activation is achieved when opening the garage door by incorporating a radio frequency receiver in the electronic control circuit of the device.

10. The vehicle positioning device according to claim 2 wherein the device is attached to the vehicle with internally or externally mounted enclosed individual lasers wherein one or both lasers are adjustable and are temperature compensating.

11. A vehicle positioning device according to claim 10 wherein the parking device has at least one remotely adjustable laser and an activation switch that is activated from inside the vehicle.

12. A method of vehicle guidance and parking comprising:

(a) Parking the vehicle is parked in the desired parking position;

(b) Calibrating a temperature compensating dual laser beam device to a vertical line placed forward or rearward of the vehicle by adjusting the dual laser outputs and vertical position on the device such that both visible laser beam outputs intersect on the vertical line;

(c) Use of a light blocking shroud around a vertical line that shields the vertical line from bright sunlight when necessary to improve the visibility of the two visible laser beam outputs.

(d) When entering the garage or parking space for the vehicle, the temperature compensated dual lasers are aimed by the vehicle operator such that the visible laser outputs are equidistantly spaced about the surface forward vertical line.

(e) The equidistant spacing of the two projected laser dots around the surface forward vertical line is maintained while approaching the desired calibrated parking position;

(f) The vehicle is stopped when both visible laser beam outputs vertically intersect on the surface forward or rearward vertical line.