The present invention relates to a device and a method.
Increasing traffic density and increased development of open spaces continuously restrict the room for traffic, in particular in metropolitan areas. The available parking areas are becoming more cramped and the search for a suitable parking space and the steadily increasing traffic volume put additional stress on the driver. In particular when backing into a parking space, the operator of a vehicle must be particularly focused. The driver must watch the space to the rear of the vehicle, in particular, in order to correctly maneuver the vehicle into the parking space. For this reason, the attention of the driver of a vehicle is primarily reduced in the vehicle's forward direction. There is the possibility during a backward parking operation that, when steering to the right (steering direction of the steering wheel) while backing up, the driver-side front end of the vehicle protrudes into the opposite lane of traffic. This results in a potentially dangerous situation which, in particular in the case of small parking spaces, may not always be avoidable.
Various devices are known for assisting the driver of a vehicle during parking, such as a parking distance control device or a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous parking assistance. These devices simplify in particular the selection of a parking space and the targeted successful steering of the vehicle. The above-mentioned devices according to the related art have the disadvantage that none of the above-mentioned devices signals or prevents a potentially imminent protrusion of the vehicle into the opposite traffic lane or alerts the driver to such a dangerous situation.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which detect a protrusion of a vehicle into the oncoming lane of a multi-lane roadway during a backward parking operation in a timely manner and, if necessary, activate suitable means for preventing the protrusion into the oncoming lane.
The method according to the present invention is characterized by the following method steps:
The above-mentioned method makes it possible to determine the position of the vehicle to be parked with regard to the lanes prior to the parking operation, as well as the probable parking trajectory, i.e., the path to be traveled by the vehicle. It is thereby possible to conclude in advance whether the vehicle will protrude into the opposite lane during the entire parking operation. In the event of the vehicle's protrusion into the oncoming lane, a signal, which is processed by suitable means, preferably means for alerting the driver of the motor vehicle, or means for braking the vehicle is provided according to the present invention. According to the present invention, it may thereby be achieved that the driver of a motor vehicle, who, during a backward parking operation, pays little attention to the area ahead of the vehicle, in particular the opposite lane including objects of the opposite traffic (vehicles), is alerted in the event of an imminent protrusion of the vehicle into the oncoming lane and thus a possible collision with vehicles in the opposite lane. It is alternatively provided that the vehicle is decelerated via corresponding means before it is able to protrude into the oncoming lane. This increases the active traffic safety of the vehicle in particular, since a collision with oncoming traffic in the oncoming lane, primarily during backward parking operations, may be prevented.
The present invention provides that, during execution of the method, the size of a parking space is determined using ultrasonic sensors. This and all determined data are then advantageously processed via a data processing unit, the data processing unit being an onboard computer of a vehicle according to the present invention.
As advantageous embodiments it is provided that the means is a device for alerting the driver of the vehicle, the means for alerting the driver of the vehicle being in particular an acoustic, a visual, and/or a haptic means, or the means being a device for braking the vehicle.
The vehicle's position at the beginning of the parking operation and the position of the oncoming lane in relation to the vehicle at the beginning of the parking operation are preferably determined using ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, lidar sensors, video sensors, or other distance sensors. Moreover, the anticipated final parking position, which results mainly from the size of the parking space, is determined using ultrasonic sensors. Using mathematical computations, the parking trajectory may be calculated from the determined data via a data processing unit for example, preferably the onboard computer of a motor vehicle.
A device according to the present invention for determining the position and/or the anticipated position of a vehicle during a parking operation in relation to the oncoming lane of a multi-lane roadway includes:
The means for determining the position of the oncoming lane in relation to the vehicle preferably has at least one ultrasonic sensor.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the use of potentially existing cameras of a video system in the vehicle to classify oncoming vehicles in the oncoming lane in order to generate an alert and output it to the driver only in the event of a real danger during the parking operation, i.e., in the event of a high probability of a collision.
In another preferred design variant of the present invention, the dangerousness of the situation may be classified by a semi-autonomous parking system and, in the presence of a dangerous situation, automatic and timely braking may be triggered to avoid a collision.
The present invention is subsequently explained in greater detail in an exemplary embodiment based on the appended drawing.
To avoid such collisions during a backward parking operation, in which the driver of vehicle 10 normally pays little attention to the area in front of the vehicle and oncoming lane 16, the present invention provides for a protrusion into oncoming lane 16 to be detected so early that an alert may be output to the driver of vehicle 10, for example, which results in the parking operation involving a protrusion into oncoming lane 16 being aborted in a timely manner. It is alternatively possible to effect automatic braking of vehicle 10. The device according to the present invention is able to be particularly advantageously integrated into vehicles already having a parking distance control device (PLV) or a semi-autonomous Park Pilot (SPA) since the necessary ultrasonic sensors are already pre-installed in vehicle 10 and may be used. If vehicle 10 threatens to protrude into oncoming lane 16, the driver is alerted to a potentially dangerous situation via an appropriate signal (visual, acoustic, haptic).
Ultrasonic sensors 24 may be used to determine whether a protrusion into oncoming lane 16 is imminent, as schematically shown in
The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments represented here. It is possible to implement further design variants by combining and modifying the mentioned means and features without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10332961.7 | Jul 2003 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP04/50928 | 5/26/2004 | WO | 7/19/2006 |