PARKING MODE SELECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20130144492A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takano, Teruhisa, Kikuchi, Masahiko, Kasai, Hajime, Minegishi, Kouki, Takamatsu, Yoshiro, Shibano, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

A parking mode selection apparatus selects one parking mode among from plural parking modes including at least a perpendicular parking or a parallel parking. The parking mode selection apparatus includes a steer angle detector that detects a steer angle of a steering wheel, an operation detector that detects, based on the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector, a predetermined operation in which the steering wheel is returned to a neutral position after rotated to a right or a left, and a parking mode selector. The parking mode selector selects, when the predetermined operation is detected by the operation detector, a parking mode that coincides with a steered direction to the right or the left of the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector and is associated with said steer angle.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A parking mode selection apparatus for selecting one parking mode among from a plurality of parking modes including at least a perpendicular parking and a parallel parking, the apparatus comprising:

a steer angle detector that detects a steer angle of a steering wheel;

an operation detector that detects, based on the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector, a predetermined operation in which the steering wheel is returned to a neutral position after rotated to a right or a left; and

a parking mode selector that selects, when the predetermined operation is detected by the operation detector, one parking mode to a right side of a vehicle or a left side of a vehicle that coincides with a steered direction to the right or the left of the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector in the predetermined operation and is associated with the steer angle in the predetermined operation, among from the plurality of parking modes.

22. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a guidance output unit that outputs, when the steering wheel is returned to the neutral position, a display screen guidance or a voice guidance for prompting to return the steering wheel to the neutral position.

23. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a torque generator that generates, when the steering wheel is returned to the neutral position, a torque toward the neutral position on the steering wheel.

24. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 23, wherein

the torque generator generates the torque toward the neutral position only within a predetermined range close to the neutral position.

25. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the plurality of parking modes includes a perpendicular parking on right and left sides, an angular parking on right and left sides, and a parallel parking on right and left sides.

26. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the plurality of parking modes further includes an angular parking,

the parking mode selection apparatus further comprises a display for presenting a parking mode that is being selected on a top view movie including an environment of a vehicle, and

the parking mode selector presents, while the angular parking is being selected as the parking mode, the parking mode for the angular parking on the display while changing a parking angle according to the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector.

27. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

the parking mode selector makes a changed direction of the parking angle coincided with the steered direction of the steer angle.

28. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

the parking mode selector presents, while the parallel parking is being selected as the parking mode, the parking mode for the parallel parking on the display while changing a parking angle according to the steer angle detected by the steer angle detector.

29. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

the change of the parking angle is presented on the display in a step-by-step manner according to the steer angle.

30. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

the parking mode selector shifts, when shifting the parking mode from the angular parking to the parallel parking on the display, the parking mode by coinciding one vertex of a parking frame indicating the parking mode for the angular parking with one vertex of a parking frame indicating the parking mode for the parallel parking.

31. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

a parking mode setting steer angle range that includes the neutral position and parking mode selection steer angle ranges that are associated with the parking modes, respectively, are set,

the parking mode selector set a threshold value within the parking mode setting steer angle range and on a side of the steered direction with respect to the neutral position, and

the operation detector detects the predetermined operation when the steering wheel is returned to an inside of the parking mode setting steer angle range and then passes through the threshold value.

32. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 31, wherein

the parking mode selector changes the threshold value according to a maximum value of the steer angle while the parking mode is being selected.

33. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 31, wherein,

after the operation detector detects the predetermined operation when the steering wheel is returned to an inside of the parking mode setting steer angle range and then passes through the threshold value, and then,

when the steering wheel is rotated again and the steer angle enters into the parking mode selection steer angle ranges outside the parking mode setting steer angle range, the parking mode selector can select the parking mode once again.

34. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

a parking mode setting steer angle range that includes the neutral position and parking mode selection steer angle ranges that are associated with the parking modes, respectively, are set,

the parking mode selection apparatus further comprises a torque detector that detects a torque applying to a steering shaft, and

the operation detector compensates the steer angle when the steering wheel is returned to an inside of the parking mode setting steer angle range and the torque detected by the torque detector is equal-to or smaller-than a predetermined value, and then detects whether or not the predetermined operation is completed based on the compensated steer angle.

35. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 34, wherein

the operation detector sets a steer angle at a time got back from a time when the torque becomes equal-to or smaller-than a predetermined value by a predetermined duration time as the compensated steer angle, and detects the predetermined operation if the compensated steer angle is within the parking mode setting steer angle range.

36. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 34, wherein

the operation detector filters a change of the steer angle for a predetermined time duration before a time when the torque becomes equal-to or smaller-than a predetermined value to set the filtered steer angle as the compensated steer angle, and detects the predetermined operation if the compensated steer angle is within the parking mode setting steer angle range.

39. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the plurality of parking modes includes a perpendicular parking on right and left sides, an angular parking on right and left sides, and a parallel parking on right and left sides, and

the plurality of parking modes is associated, sequentially from the neutral position to each of the right and the left, with a steer angle range for the perpendicular parking, a steer angle range for the angular parking, and a steer angle range for the parallel parking.

40. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 39, wherein

a target position is set at each center of the steer angle ranges associated with the plurality of parking modes, and

the parking mode selection apparatus further comprises a torque generator that generates a torque toward the neutral position when the steer angle becomes misaligned with the target position.

41. The parking mode selection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the plurality of parking modes is associated, sequentially from the neutral position to the right and the left, with steer angle ranges for higher frequent parking modes.

37. A parking mode selection apparatus for selecting one parking mode among from a plurality of parking modes including at least a perpendicular parking and a parallel parking, the apparatus comprising:

a steer angle detection means that detects a steer angle of a steering wheel;

an operation detection means that detects, based on the steer angle detected by the steer angle detection means, a predetermined operation in which the steering wheel is returned to a neutral position after rotated to a right or a left; and

a parking mode selection means that selects, when the predetermined operation is detected by the operation detection means, one parking mode to a right side of a vehicle or a left side of a vehicle that coincides with a steered direction to the right or the left of the steer angle detected by the steer angle detection means in the predetermined operation and is associated with the steer angle in the predetermined operation, among from the plurality of parking modes.

38. A parking mode selection method for selecting one parking mode among from a plurality of parking modes including at least a perpendicular parking and a parallel parking, the method comprising:

detecting a steer angle of a steering wheel;

detecting, based on the detected steer angle, a predetermined operation in which the steering wheel is returned to a neutral position after rotated to a right or a left; and

selecting, when the predetermined operation is detected, one parking mode to a right side of a vehicle or a left side of a vehicle that coincides with a steered direction to the right or the left of the detected steer angle in the predetermined operation and is associated with the steer angle in the predetermined operation, among from the plurality of parking modes.