Parking assist apparatus

• US 7,598,887 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Kosuke, Watanabe, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/640,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 701/26, 701/28, 701/41
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• 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: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A parking assist apparatus includes a monitor displaying an image captured by a camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing an image in a moving direction of the vehicle and an assist information output device outputting assist information for assisting a parking operation and displaying the assist information on the monitor, wherein the assist information output device: calculates a locus for guiding the vehicle to a parking position specified on the image displayed on the monitor; sets a target position on the locus for guiding the vehicle to the parking position; outputs guide information corresponding to the target position so as to be displayed on the locus in the image displayed on the monitor; and outputs a navigation mark corresponding to a current position of the vehicle so as to be displayed on the monitor.

Claims

1. A parking assist apparatus comprising:

a monitor displaying an image captured by a camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing an image in a moving direction of the vehicle; and

assist information output means outputting assist information for assisting a parking operation and displaying the assist information on the monitor, wherein

the assist information output means;

calculates a locus for guiding the vehicle to a parking position specified on the image displayed on the monitor;

sets a target position on the locus for guiding the vehicle to the parking position;

outputs guide information, which corresponds to the target position and which indicates a posture of the vehicle at the target position so as to be displayed on the locus in the image displayed on the monitor; and

outputs a navigation mark corresponding to a current position of the vehicle so as to be displayed on the monitor; and

wherein either one of the guide information and the navigation mark is formed in a line shape and the other of the guide information and the navigation mark formed in a frame shape enclosing the either one of the guide information and the navigation mark, which is formed in the line shape.

3. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assist information output means sets plural target positions on the locus, and once the vehicle reaches a position at which the navigation mark overlaps a guide information corresponding to one of the target positions, the guide information disappears from the monitor, and then a guide information corresponding to another target position for guiding the vehicle from the current position to a next position is displayed on the monitor.

4. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assist information output means outputs a locus, by which the vehicle is moved from the current position to the target position, so as to be displayed on the monitor.

5. The parking assist apparatus according to claims 1, wherein the guide information corresponding to the target position is formed in the line shape, and the navigation mark is formed in the frame shape in order to enclose the guide information, so that, when the vehicle is moved in a manner where the navigation mark is aligned with the target position, the posture of the vehicle is defined.

6. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locus includes a forward movement area and a backward movement area, and the target position is set at a position between the forward movement area and the backward movement area.

2. A parking assist apparatus comprising:

a monitor displaying an image captured by one of a front camera and a rear camera, the front camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing an image of a front area of the vehicle and the rear camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing an image of a rear area of the vehicle; and

assist information output means outputting assist information for assisting a parking operation and displaying the assist information on the monitor, wherein

the assist information output means;

calculates a locus for guiding the vehicle so as to be in a parking position specified on the image displayed on the monitor;

sets a target position on the locus for guiding the vehicle to the parking position within the front area of the vehicle on the basis of a front end of the vehicle;

sets a target position on the locus for guiding the vehicle to the parking position within the rear area of the vehicle on the basis of a rear end portion of the vehicle;

outputs, while the vehicle is moving forward, guide information corresponding to the target position set within the front area of the vehicle so as to be displayed on a ground in the image of the front area displayed on the monitor;

outputs, while the vehicle is moving forward, a navigation mark corresponding to a current position of a front end of the vehicle so as to be displayed on the monitor;

outputs, while the vehicle is moving backward, guide information corresponding to the target position set within the rear area of the vehicle so as to be displayed on a ground in the image of the rear area displayed on the monitor; and

outputs, while the vehicle is moving backward, a navigation mark corresponding to a current position of a rear portion of the vehicle so as to be displayed on the monitor;

wherein, on the monitor, a color of the navigation mark differs from a color of the guide information.

7. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the assist information output means sets plural target positions on the locus.

8. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when parallel parking is executed, the assist information output means sets four target positions on the locus.

9. The parking assist apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target position is set at one of:

a position where an operating direction of the steering wheel is changed from one direction to the other direction, and a position where a moving direction of the vehicle is changed.