Parking assist system

1. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted to the vehicle so as to capture image data representative of a rearward scene in a field of view of the camera;

a display in the vehicle operable to display an image of the rearward scene derived from captured image data;

a controller operable in multiple modes;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of the multiple modes, is operable to add an overlay to the displayed image of the rearward scene, wherein the overlay includes a representation of a target parking position;

wherein the controller is operable in the first mode while the vehicle is being driven by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, when the 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 and a third overlay to the displayed image of the rearward scene;

wherein the second overlay includes a representation of a projected rearward path of the vehicle that is based on a current vehicle steering angle of the vehicle; and

wherein the controller is operable to determine a target path for the vehicle to guide the driver to the target parking position and wherein the third overlay includes a representation of the determined target path; and

wherein the parking assist system is operable to display the determined 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.

2. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the representation has a length that represents generally the length of the vehicle.

3. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the representation has a width that represents generally the width of the vehicle.

4. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the overlay is a first overlay and wherein the controller is operable to operate the parking assist system in two operating modes which are selectable by a user, wherein in a first operating mode the controller is operable to add the first overlay to the image of the rearward scene, and wherein in a second operating mode the controller is operable to add a second overlay to the image of the rearward scene, wherein the second overlay includes a representation of a projected path for the vehicle based on a current vehicle steering angle, and a representation of a target path segment for the vehicle.

5. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the target parking position is parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

6. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the target parking position is perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

7. A parking assist system for a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted to the vehicle so as to capture image data representative of a rearward scene in a field of view of the camera;

a human/machine interface including a display operable to display an image of the rearward scene derived from captured image data; and

a controller operable in multiple modes;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of the multiple modes, is operable to add an overlay to the displayed image of the rearward scene, wherein the overlay includes a representation of a target parking position;

wherein, when the transmission of the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in a second mode of the multiple modes, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller is operable to determine a target path for the vehicle, to display for viewing by the driver an overlay of a projected path for the vehicle based on a current vehicle steering angle, and to display for viewing by the driver an overlay of the determined target path so as to inform the driver as to whether the projected path substantially matches the determined target path.

8. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when the vehicle is moving along the target path the overlay includes a representation of the progress of the vehicle on the target path.

9. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the representation of the projected path of the vehicle has a width that represents substantially the entire width of the vehicle.

10. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the controller informs the driver of the target path segments via a speaker.

11. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the controller informs the driver of the target path segments by instructing the driver to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle to a selected position.

12. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the controller informs the driver of whether the projected path substantially matches the target path via a speaker.

13. A parking assist system for assisting in the completion of a parking maneuver on a vehicle, the parking assist system comprising:

a camera mounted to the vehicle so as to capture image data representative of a rearward scene in a field of view of the camera;

a display in the vehicle operable to display an image of the rearward scene derived from captured image data; and

a controller operable in multiple modes;

wherein the controller, when operating in a first mode of the multiple modes, is operable to add an overlay to the displayed image of the rearward scene, wherein the overlay includes a representation of a target parking position;

wherein, when the transmission of the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the controller is operable in a second mode of the multiple modes, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller is operable to determine a plurality of target path segments for the vehicle to follow, and wherein, when operating in the second mode, the controller is operable to display overlays of the determined target path segments on the displayed image of the rearward scene and to display an overlay of a projected rearward path of travel based on a current steering angle of the vehicle.

14. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of target path segments is three target path segments, including a first target path segment in which the vehicle is driven straight rearwardly, a second target path segment in which the vehicle is driven rearwardly with the steering wheels at full lock in one direction, and a third target path segment in which the vehicle is driven rearwardly with the steering wheels at full lock in the opposite direction.

15. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the length of each target path segment remains constant from one parking maneuver to another.

16. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller informs the driver of the target path segments via the display.

17. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller informs the driver of the target path segments via a speaker.

18. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein, when the vehicle is reversing, the overlay includes a representation of the progress of the vehicle along the determined target path.

19. A parking assist system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the representation of the projected rearward path of travel has a width that represents substantially the entire width of the vehicle.