Device and method for assisting a driver in driving his vehicle into and out of a parking space in a parking facility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016371982-A1
Application number	US-201414903877-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device and method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation and removing his vehicle therefrom is provided. The vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering. The device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to determine, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle, and determine, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmit corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle.

First claim

1 . A device for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation such as a multistory car park, an underground garage or the like and removing his vehicle therefrom, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system which permits remote-controlled movement and steering, wherein the device has a parking management and monitoring apparatus which is configured to carry out the following steps:
determining, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; determining, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; and wherein the determination of the first route and of the second route by the parking management and monitoring apparatus is carried out in each case by monitoring further vehicles moving within the parking installation.

2 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the latter has a sensor arrangement which is configured to carry out real-time monitoring of vehicles moving within the parking installation and to transmit corresponding sensor data to the parking management and monitoring apparatus.

3 . The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the sensor arrangement is also configured to carry out real-time monitoring of parking spaces which are available within the parking installation and to transmit corresponding sensor data to the parking management and monitoring apparatus.

4 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is configured to communicate with the driving assistance system of the vehicle by means of wireless data communication.

5 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to carry out wireless data communication with at least one operator.

6 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to estimate the time of return of the driver to the parking installation.

7 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parking management and monitoring apparatus is also configured to calculate the costs for the utilization of the parking installation.

8 . A method for assisting a driver when parking his vehicle in a parking installation such as a multistory car park, an underground garage or the like and removing his vehicle therefrom, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a driving assistance system, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
determining, at the start of a parking phase, a first route for a vehicle, which has been left behind by the driver in an entry region of the parking installation, to a currently available free parking space within the parking installation and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; determining, at the end of the parking phase, a second route for the vehicle from this parking space to an exit region of the parking installation, and transmitting corresponding movement instructions to the driving assistance system of the vehicle; and wherein the determination of the first route and of the second route by the parking management and monitoring apparatus is carried out in each case by monitoring further vehicles moving within the parking installation.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Arndt Christoph
• Gussen Uwe
• Stefan Frederic

Classifications

• G08G1/166

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• G07B15/02

  taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24) · CPC title

• G08G1/096811

  where the route is computed offboard · CPC title

• G08G1/168 Primary

  Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space · CPC title

• G08G1/146

  where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space · CPC title