Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Parking Process of a Vehicle

• US 20140121930A1
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wey, Torsten, Kappes, Stefan, Allexi, Gregor, Kunze, Claudia, Mould, Mike John, Ceylan, Mithat
• Granted Patent: US 10,077,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a parking process of a vehicle. The method including setting an upper speed limit; using a speed-limiting device to limit the speed of the vehicle at a parking speed that is less than or equal to the upper speed limit speed; suppressing an accelerator pedal speed increase request that increases the vehicle speed over the upper speed limit; and performing the assisted parking operation while limiting the vehicle speed and terminating the suppression of the increase in speed when the accelerator pedal is depressed by more than a predetermined value. Wherein the predetermined value is selected as a function of a slope on which the vehicle is located. The invention also relates to a steering system for an assisted parking procedure of a vehicle and a vehicle with such a steering system.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an assisted parking procedure of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

setting an upper speed limit;

limiting the speed of the vehicle during the assisted parking procedure to a parking speed less than or equal to the upper limit speed;

suppressing accelerator operation that would increase the speed of the vehicle above the upper speed limit; and

terminating the accelerator operation suppression when the accelerator pedal is actuated more than a predetermined value wherein the predetermined value depends on vehicle slope.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including using a speed limiting device to limit the speed of the vehicle during the assisted parking procedure.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of limiting the speed includes limiting the output of an engine of the vehicle.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of limiting the speed includes using the brakes of the vehicle.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of selecting a first predetermined value based on a first slope value and a second predetermined value based on a second slope value with the second predetermined value greater than the first predetermined value.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 where in the predetermined value is selected depending on a linear gradient.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of at the end of parking process continuously reducing the speed of the vehicle to reach a vehicle hold point, the hold point of the vehicle determined by distance sensors or a route calculation of the parking operation.

8. A steering system for a vehicle having an assisted parking operation comprising:

a speed limiting device, said speed limiting device operative to maintain the vehicle'"'"'s speed at a speed less than or equal to an upper speed limit; and

a control unit, said control unit operative to suppress an increase in speed requested by the accelerator pedal in excess of upper speed limit.

9. A steering system as set forth in claim 8 including said control unit operative to limit the output of an engine of the vehicle to limit the vehicle speed.

10. A steering system as set forth in claim 8 including said control unit operative to control a vehicle brake to limit the vehicle speed.

11. A steering system as set forth in claim 8 including a plurality of sensors, said sensors cooperating with said control unit to control the vehicle speed.