Technique for effectively aiding a user to park a vehicle

• US 7,519,922 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roswell; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/240,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 715/833, 715/835, 715/771, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/833
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the system including a display element the method comprising:

allowing a user to define on the display element a parking space into which the vehicle is to be parked;

determining whether parking of the vehicle into the parking space is feasible before the parking;

if it is determined that the parking is infeasible, informing the user of infeasibility of the parking; and

if it is determined that parking is feasible, controlling one or more components of the vehicle to park the vehicle into the parking space based on parameters provided by the system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameters concert at least steeling of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameters concern at least a speed of the vehicle.

4. The m method of claim 1 further comprising emitting an audible signal while the vehicle is being parked.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal from outside of the vehicle to initiate parking of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal from outside of the vehicle to abort parking of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting the user to exit the vehicle before parking of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising simulating parking of the vehicle into the parking space on the display element.

9. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a display element;

an interface for allowing a user to define on the d splay element a parking space into which the vehicle is to be parked;

a processing element configured to determine whether parking of the vehicle into the parking space is feasible before the parking;

an output device for informing the user of infeasibility of the parking if it is determined that the parking is infeasible; and

a mechanism for controlling one or more components of the vehicle to park the vehicle into the parking space based on parameters provided by the system if it is determined that the parking is feasible.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the parameters concern at least steering of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the parameters concern at least a speed of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9 where an audible signal is emitted while the vehicle is being parked.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a device receptive to a signal from outside of the vehicle to initiate parking of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a device receptive to a signal from outside of the vehicle to abort parking of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the user is requested to exit the vehicle before parking of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 9 where n parking of the vehicle into the parking space is simulated on the display element.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more components include a brake subsystem.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more components include a transmission subsystem.

19. The system of claim 9 where a the one or more components include a steering subsystem.

20. The system of claim 9 wherein the one or more components include a throttle subsystem.