Automatic parallel parking system

• US 4,735,274 A
• Filed: 11/22/1985
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jacob E. Vilhauer Jr, Warren T. Good
• Original Assignee: Jacob E. Vilhauer Jr, Warren T. Good
• Inventors: Good, Warren T., Vilhauer, Jacob E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/800,709
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 180/199, 180/204, 180/202, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169
• US Class Current: 180/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00

Abstract

A vehicular automatic parallel parking system adapted for installation either as a factory option or as a retrofit kit. A microprocessor-based controller exercises control over a hydraulic valve which regulates the fluid to the vehicle'"'"'s power steering cylinder. Preferably the system controls the vehicle'"'"'s standard power steering valve through a solenoid attachment, although a separate solenoid-operated valve in parallel with the power steering valve can be used in retrofit installations if necessary. By its sensing of rearward distance moved by the vehicle, the controller is able to control turning during a parallel parking maneuver through its regulation of the solenoid-operated valve. The turning parameters of the vehicle are adjustable in response to certain variable inputs, including the transverse distance separating the vehicle from the parked vehicle behind which it is desired to park, the longitudinal alignment of the two vehicles, relative length of the available parking space, and the width of the parked vehicle. Sensors automatically provide inputs representative of the transverse and longitudinal relationships between the driven vehicle and the parked vehicle.

Claims

1. Automatic parallel parking apparatus for controlling the steerable wheels of a driven vehicle while such vehicle is moving in a rearward direction so as to position said vehicle behind a parked vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) power means for controlling the turning of said steerable wheels;

(b) sensor means for producing signals representative of the distance traveled by the driven vehicle in a rearward direction;

(c) controller means responsive to said signals from said sensor means and connected to said power means for controlling said power means so as to cause turning of said steerable wheels first in one direction and then in the opposite direction in response to rearward progress of said vehicle as sensed by said sensor means; and

(e) manually-controlled data input means for entering variable data selected by the driver, said controller means including means variably responsive to said data for variably predetermining said response of said power means to said signals from said sensor means, said data input means comprising means for entering data representative of differences between the respective widths of said driven vehicle and said parked vehicle.

2. Automatic parallel parking apparatus for controlling the steerable wheels of a driven vehicle while such vehicle is moving in a rearward direction from a position alongside a parked vehicle spaced transversely therefrom to a position behind the parked vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) power means for controlling the turning of said steerable wheels;

(b) controller means connected to said power means for controlling said power means so as to cause turning of said steerable wheels first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during movement of said driven vehicle in said rearward direction; and

electronic scanning means mounted on said driven vehicle for sensing the presence of said parked vehicle and measuring the transverse distance between said driven vehicle and said parked vehicle while said driven vehicle is alongside said parked vehicle, said controller means including means variably responsive to said scanning means for variably predetermining at what point in the rearward path of travel of said driven vehicle, said steerable wheels are turned in said opposite direction, as a function of the measurement of said transverse distance by said scanning means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said scanning means includes a pair of scanners located on opposite sides of said driven vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said scanning means includes means for sensing when said scanning means has passed the rear extremity of said parked vehicle during rearward movement of said driven vehicle.

5. Automatic parallel parking apparatus controlling the steerable wheels of a driven vehicle while such vehicle is moving in a rearward direction from a position alongside a parked vehicle spaced transversely therefrom to a position behind the parked vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) power means for controlling the turning of said steerable wheels;

(b) controller means connected to said power means for controlling said power means so as to cause turning of said steerable wheels first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during movement of said driven vehicle in said rearward direction; and

(c) electronic scanning means mounted on said driven vehicle for sensing the presence of said parked vehicle and sensing the passage of a predetermined rear portion of said driven vehicle beyond the rear extremity of said parked vehicle during rearward movement of said driven vehicle while alongside said parked vehicle, said controller means including means responsive to said scanning means for predetermining the rearward path of travel of said driven vehicle and for turning said steerable wheels from said first direction to said opposite direction, in response to the sensing of said passage by said scanning means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said scanning means includes a pair of scanners located on opposite sides of said driven vehicle.

7. A method of parallel parking a driven vehicle having steerable wheels behind a parked vehicle by turning the steerable wheels of the driven vehicle first in one direction and then in the opposite direction while moving the driven vehicle rearwardly, said method comprising:

(a) positioning said driven vehicle alongside said parked vehicle spaced transversely therefrom;

(b) while said driven vehicle is alongside said parked vehicle, electronically measuring the transverse distance between said driven vehicle and said parked vehicle;

(c) variably predetermining the rearward path of travel of said driven vehicle by calculating the point along the rearward path at which said steerable wheels will be steered in said opposite direction, in response to the measurement of said transverse distance; and

(d) causing said driven vehicle to follow said rearward path of travel, as predetermined in step (c), during the turning of said steerable wheels in said opposite direction.

8. A method of parallel parking a driven vehicle having steerable wheels behind a parked vehicle by turning the steerable wheels of the driven vehicle first in one direction and then in the opposite direction while moving the driven vehicle rearwardly, said method comprising:

(a) positioning said driven vehicle alongside said parked vehicle spaced transversely therefrom;

(b) initiating rearward movement of said driven vehicle;

(c) during said rearward movement and while said driven vehicle is alongside said parked vehicle, electronically sensing the passage of a predetermined rear portion of said driven vehicle beyond the rear extremity of said parked vehicle;

(d) predetermining the rearward path of travel of said driven vehicle by calculating the point along the rearward path at which said steerable wheels will be steered in said opposite direction, in response to the sensing of said passage; and

(e) causing said driven vehicle to follow said rearward path of travel, as predetermined in step (d), during the turning of said steerable wheels in said opposite direction.