Parking assist system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457717-B2
Application number	US-201414524203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Jul 27, 2009
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A parking assist system for a vehicle includes a camera and a display operable to display video images of an exterior scene derived from image data captured by the camera. A controller, when operating in a first or parking space locator mode, adds an overlay to the displayed video images. The overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay extending along one side of the polygonal representation of the vehicle. The polygonal representation is offset behind and laterally from the vehicle. The controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle and, with the overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location. The linear overlay assists the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:
a camera mounted at the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of an exterior scene in a field of view of the camera;
a display in the vehicle operable to display video images of the exterior scene derived from captured image data;
a controller operable in a first mode and a second mode;
wherein the controller, when operating in the first mode, adds a first overlay to the displayed video images of the exterior scene;
wherein the first mode comprises a parking space locator mode;
wherein the first overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay;
wherein the polygonal representation is offset a selected distance behind the vehicle and a selected distance laterally from the vehicle;
wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;
wherein, with the first overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location;
wherein the linear overlay extends along an outboard side of the polygonal representation and forward of the polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle and rearward of the polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle to assist the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location and to assist the driver of the vehicle in lining UP the vehicle to be parallel to the target parking location;
wherein, when the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in the second mode, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller adds a second overlay to the displayed image of the rearward scene;
wherein the second overlay includes (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle; and
said second overlay guiding the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location.

2. The parking assist system of claim 1 , wherein the polygonal representation comprises a rectangular representation of the vehicle.

3. The parking assist system of claim 2 , wherein the rectangular representation has a length that represents generally the length of the vehicle.

4. The parking assist system of claim 3 , wherein the rectangular representation has a width that represents generally the width of the vehicle.

5. The parking assist system of claim 1 , wherein the target parking location is generally parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

6. The parking assist system of claim 5 , wherein the linear overlay assists the driver of the vehicle in lining up the vehicle to be generally parallel to the target parking location.

7. The parking assist system of claim 5 , wherein the linear overlay extends along the side of the polygonal representation closest to the vehicle.

8. The parking assist system of claim 1 , wherein the target parking location is generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

9. The parking assist system of claim 1 , wherein the camera captures image data representative of a rearward exterior scene.

10. The parking assist system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is operable to determine the representation of a target path for the vehicle at least in part responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera.

11. The parking assist system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to determine the representation of a target path for the vehicle.

12. The parking assist system of claim 11 , wherein the parking assist system is operable to display the determined representation of a target path for the vehicle and the projected rearward path of the vehicle to inform the driver of the projected path for the vehicle based on the current vehicle steering angle and to inform the driver of whether the projected rearward path substantially matches the determined target path.

13. The parking assist system of claim 12 , wherein, when the vehicle is maneuvered along the target path, the second overlay includes a representation of the progress of the vehicle along the target path.

14. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:
a camera mounted at the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of an exterior scene in a field of view of the camera;
a display in the vehicle operable to display video images of the exterior scene derived from captured image data;
a controller operable in a first mode and a second mode;
wherein the controller, when operating in the first mode, adds a first overlay to the displayed video images of the exterior scene;
wherein the first mode comprises a parking space locator mode;
wherein the first overlay includes (i) a polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle and (ii) a linear overlay;
wherein the polygonal representation is offset a selected distance behind the vehicle and a selected distance laterally from the vehicle;
wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;
wherein, with the first overlay added to displayed video images, the driver maneuvers the vehicle to position the polygonal representation at a displayed target parking location;
wherein the linear overlay extends along an outboard side of the polygonal representation and forward of the polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle and rearward of the polygonal representation of a target parking position for the vehicle to assist the driver in parking the vehicle at the target parking location and to assist the driver of the vehicle in lining UP the vehicle to be parallel to the target parking location;
wherein the target parking location is generally parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
wherein the linear overlay assists the driver of the vehicle in lining up the vehicle to be generally parallel to the target parking location;
wherein the camera captures image data representative of a rearward exterior scene, and wherein, when a transmission of the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in a second mode, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller adds a second overlay to displayed video images of the rearward exterior scene;
wherein the second overlay comprises (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle; and
said second overlay guiding the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location.

15. The parking assist system of claim 14 , wherein the linear overlay extends along the side of the polygonal representation closest to the vehicle.

16. The parking assist system of claim 14 , wherein the second overlay comprises (i) a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle and (ii) a representation of a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver when maneuvering the vehicle towards and into the target parking location, and wherein the controller is operable to determine the target path for the vehicle, and wherein the parking assist system is operable to display the determined target path for the vehicle and the p

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Marczok Hagen
• Goerg Holger
• Di Alberto Paolo

Classifications

• B62D15/028

  Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically · CPC title

• B60Q9/005 Primary

  using a video camera · CPC title

• B62D15/0275 Primary

  by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image · CPC title

• B60R2300/8006

  for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo · CPC title

• G08G1/168

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