Parking assistance device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10438487-B2
Application number	US-201615760751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Provided is a parking assistance device that calculates evaluation results based on a driver's evaluation criterion with regard to a plurality of parking spaces. The parking assistance device includes a parking space recognizer configured to recognize a plurality of parking spaces; a parking space selection criterion setter configured to set a driver's parking space selection criterion; and a parking space candidate calculator configured to calculate a parking space candidate based on the parking space selection criterion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A parking assistance device comprising:
a parking space recognizer configured to recognize a plurality of parking spaces;
an evaluation criterion setter configured to set a driver's evaluation criterion;
a parking space candidate calculator configured to calculate, based on the set driver's evaluation criterion, evaluation results with regard to the plurality of parking spaces to calculate a plurality of parking space candidates; and
a display portion configured to display concurrently the plurality of parking space candidates in such a manner that one parking space candidate is selectable from among the plurality of parking space candidates, wherein
the parking assistance device is configured to perform automatic parking in a parking space corresponding to the selected parking space candidate.

2. The parking assistance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a parking route calculator configured to calculate respective parking routes from a parking assist start position to the plurality of parking spaces, wherein
the evaluation criterion setter sets a required parking time that is required for parking, as the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator comprises a required parking time calculator configured to calculate respective required parking times that are required when an own vehicle moves along the plurality of parking routes, and the parking space candidate calculator calculates the plurality of parking space candidates, based on the plurality of required parking times.

3. The parking assistance device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the evaluation criterion setter sets an allowable parking time that is allowed by the driver, as the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator calculates parking spaces each having the required parking time that is equal to or shorter than the allowable parking time, as the plurality of parking space candidates, among the plurality of parking spaces.

4. The parking assistance device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the evaluation criterion setter comprises a condition setter configured to cause the driver to set a condition of the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator sets a priority in relation to the condition and calculates parking spaces each having a higher priority, as the plurality of parking space candidates.

5. The parking assistance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a parking route calculator configured to calculate respective parking routes from a parking assist start position to the plurality of parking spaces, wherein
the evaluation criterion setter sets a forward reverse switching frequency required for parking, as the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator comprises a switching frequency calculator configured to calculate respective switching frequencies when an own vehicle moves along the plurality of parking routes, and the parking space candidate calculator calculates the plurality of parking space candidates, based on the plurality of switching frequencies.

6. The parking assistance device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the evaluation criterion setter sets an allowable switching frequency that is allowed by the driver, as the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator calculates parking spaces each having the switching frequency that is equal to or less than the allowable switching frequency, as the plurality of parking space candidates, among the plurality of parking spaces.

7. The parking assistance device according to claim 6 ,
wherein the evaluation criterion setter comprises a condition setter configured to cause the driver to set a condition of the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator sets a priority in relation to the condition and calculates parking spaces each having a higher priority, as the plurality of parking space candidates.

8. The parking assistance device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the evaluation criterion setter comprises a condition setter configured to cause the driver to set a condition of the evaluation criterion, and
the parking space candidate calculator sets a priority in relation to the condition and calculates parking spaces each having a higher priority, as the plurality of parking space candidates.

9. The parking assistance device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a parking route calculator configured to calculate respective parking routes from a parking assist start position to the plurality of parking spaces, wherein
the parking space candidate calculator comprises a required parking time calculator configured to calculate respective required parking times that are required when an own vehicle moves along the plurality of parking routes; and a switching frequency calculator configured to calculate the respective switching frequencies when the own vehicle moves along the plurality of parking routes, and the parking space candidate calculator calculates a parking spaces each having a calculated required parking time and a calculated switching frequency corresponding to conditions set by the driver, as the plurality of parking space candidates, among the plurality of parking spaces.

10. The parking assistance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a parking route calculator configured to calculate respective parking routes from a parking assist start position to the plurality of parking spaces, wherein
the parking space candidate calculator comprises a switching frequency calculator configured to calculate respective turning frequencies of a steering with regard to the plurality of parking routes, and the parking space calculator calculates the plurality of parking space candidates, based on the turning frequencies.

Assignees

• Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Harai Tatsunori

Classifications

• B62D15/027

  Parking aids, e.g. instruction means · CPC title

• B62D15/0285 Primary

  Parking performed automatically · CPC title

• G08G1/14

  indicating individual free spaces in parking areas · CPC title

• G08G1/145 Primary

  where the indication depends on the parking areas · CPC title

• B60R2300/806

  for aiding parking · CPC title