Parking apparatus

• US 8,098,173 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hueppauff, Martin, Danz, Christian, Uhler, Werner, Seiter, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/989,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• 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

Abstract

In a parking apparatus for a vehicle, a parking space is measured and a parking trajectory into the parking space is determined by using this apparatus. A driving space for the vehicle is captured by a camera, both the parking trajectory and a turning point situated on the parking trajectory being superimposed on the camera image.

Claims

1. A parking apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a measurement device configured to measure a parking space;

a computation unit configured to calculate a parking trajectory into the parking space;

a camera configured to capture a driving space of the vehicle; and

a display configured to represent a camera image, the parking trajectory being superimposed on the camera image;

wherein at least one turning point situated on the parking trajectory is superimposed on the camera image.

2. The parking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a steering angle sensor configured to detect a set steering angle and a path detection unit configured to measure a path traveled, a symbolic representation being superimposed on the camera image during a parking maneuver to represent an approach to the turning point.

3. The parking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a color of symbols of the symbolic representation is altered with a progressive approach to the turning point.

4. The parking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an approach to a turning point is displayed as a bar diagram.

5. The parking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bar diagram is displayed such that bars are projected in perspective onto a driving path.

6. The parking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a steering instruction is output on reaching a turning point.

7. The parking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a path characteristic of the vehicle is displayed on the display in the case of an unchanged steering angle as currently set.

8. The parking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera monitors a rear driving space of the vehicle.

9. The parking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a calculated parking trajectory and at least one turning point for driving the vehicle forward for a multi-maneuver parking maneuver are represented in the display.

10. The parking apparatus of claim 1, wherein a location of the at least one turning point is indicated on the display with a marker extending perpendicular to the parking trajectory.

11. The parking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the color of a symbol representing a location of the turning point is different from the colors of symbols representing locations of non-turning points.

12. The parking apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the display is divided into a first area presenting the camera image and a second area representing a portion of the driving space that is not captured in the camera image; and

the display is configured to display the parking trajectory in the second area when the parking trajectory is located beyond a portion of the driving space captured in the camera image.

13. The parking apparatus of claim 12, wherein text messages are displayed in the second area when the second area is not being used for displaying the parking trajectory.

14. The parking apparatus of claim 1, wherein turning points on a forward parking trajectory are displayed in a different manner than turning points on a reverse parking trajectory.

15. A parking method for a vehicle, comprising:

measuring a parking space;

calculating a parking trajectory for parking the vehicle in the parking space;

recording a vehicle environment by a camera;

showing the vehicle environment in a display;

entering the parking trajectory into a camera image of the vehicle environment in the display; and

entering at least one turning point situated on the parking trajectory into the camera image in the display for instruction as to a required change in a set steering angle at the turning point.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a turning point situated outside of the camera image is shown in a calculated representation of an area of the vehicle environment belonging to the calculated representation in the display.