PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM

• US 20150081174A1
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marczok, Hagen, Goerg, Holger, Di Alberto, Paolo
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• 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 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A parking assist system for a vehicle includes a camera and a display operable to display video images of an exterior scene derived from image data captured by the camera. A controller, when operating in a first or parking space locator mode, adds an overlay to the displayed video images. The overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay extending along one side of the polygonal representation of the vehicle. The polygonal representation is offset behind and laterally from the vehicle. The controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle and, with the overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location. The linear overlay assists the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location.

Claims

1. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted at the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of an exterior scene in a field of view of the camera;

a display in the vehicle operable to display video images of the exterior scene derived from captured image data;

a controller;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of multiple modes, adds an overlay to the displayed video images of the exterior scene;

wherein said first mode comprises a parking space locator mode;

wherein the overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay extending along one side of the polygonal representation of the vehicle;

wherein the polygonal representation is offset a selected distance behind the vehicle and a selected distance laterally from the vehicle;

wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with the overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location; and

wherein said linear overlay extends forward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle and rearward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle to assist the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location.

2. The parking assist system of claim 1, wherein the polygonal representation comprises a rectangular representation of the vehicle.

3. The parking assist system of claim 2, wherein the rectangular representation has a length that represents generally the length of the vehicle.

4. The parking assist system of claim 3, wherein the rectangular representation has a width that represents generally the width of the vehicle.

5. The parking assist system of claim 1, wherein the target parking location is generally parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

6. The parking assist system of claim 5, wherein said linear overlay assists the driver of the vehicle in lining up the vehicle to be generally parallel to the target parking location.

7. The parking assist system of claim 5, wherein the linear overlay extends along the side of the polygonal representation closest to the vehicle.

8. The parking assist system of claim 1, wherein the target parking location is generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

9. The parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said camera captures image data representative of a rearward exterior scene.

10. The parking assist system of claim 9, wherein, when a transmission of the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in a second mode, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller adds a second overlay to displayed video images of the rearward exterior scene.

11. The parking assist system of claim 10, wherein the second overlay comprises at least one of (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location.

12. The parking assist system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operable to determine a target path for the vehicle, and wherein the second overlay comprises a representation of the target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location.

13. The parking assist system of claim 10, wherein the second overlay comprises (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location, and wherein the controller is operable to determine the target path for the vehicle.

14. The parking assist system of claim 13, wherein the parking assist system is operable to display the determined target path for the vehicle and the projected rearward path of the vehicle to inform the driver of the projected path for the vehicle based on the current vehicle steering angle and to inform the driver of whether the projected rearward path substantially matches the determined target path.

15. The parking assist system of claim 14, wherein, when the vehicle is maneuvered along the target path, the overlay includes a representation of the progress of the vehicle along the target path.

16. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted at the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of an exterior scene in a field of view of the camera;

a display in the vehicle operable to display video images of the exterior scene derived from captured image data;

a controller;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of multiple modes, adds an overlay to the displayed video images of the exterior scene;

wherein said first mode comprises a parking space locator mode;

wherein the overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay extending along one side of the polygonal representation of the vehicle;

wherein the polygonal representation is offset a selected distance behind the vehicle and a selected distance laterally from the vehicle;

wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with the overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location;

wherein said linear overlay extends forward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle and rearward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle to assist the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location;

wherein the target parking location is generally parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle;

wherein said linear overlay assists the driver of the vehicle in lining up the vehicle to be generally parallel to the target parking location;

wherein said camera captures image data representative of a rearward exterior scene, and wherein, when a transmission of the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in a second mode, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller adds a second overlay to displayed video images of the rearward exterior scene; and

wherein the second overlay comprises at least one of (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location.

17. The parking assist system of claim 16, wherein the linear overlay extends along the side of the polygonal representation closest to the vehicle.

18. The parking assist system of claim 16, wherein the second overlay comprises (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location, and wherein the controller is operable to determine the target path for the vehicle, and wherein the parking assist system is operable to display the determined target path for the vehicle and the projected rearward path of the vehicle to inform the driver of the projected path for the vehicle based on the current vehicle steering angle and to inform the driver of whether the projected rearward path substantially matches the determined target path.

19. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted at the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of an exterior scene in a field of view of the camera;

a display in the vehicle operable to display video images of the exterior scene derived from captured image data;

a controller;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of multiple modes, adds an overlay to the displayed video images of the exterior scene;

wherein said first mode comprises a parking space locator mode;

wherein the overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay extending along one side of the polygonal representation of the vehicle;

wherein the polygonal representation has a length that represents generally the length of the vehicle, and wherein the polygonal representation has a width that represents generally the width of the vehicle;

wherein the polygonal representation is offset a selected distance behind the vehicle and a selected distance laterally from the vehicle;

wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with the overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location; and

wherein said linear overlay extends forward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle and rearward of the polygonal representation of the vehicle to assist the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location.

20. The parking assist system of claim 19, wherein the target parking location is generally parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and wherein said linear overlay assists the driver of the vehicle in lining up the vehicle to be generally parallel to the target parking location, and wherein the linear overlay extends along the side of the polygonal representation closest to the vehicle.