IP Library Granted Patent US 11,807,226
Granted Patent B2
US 11,807,226 · App. 17/840,204 · Granted Nov 7, 2023

Parking assistance apparatus

Inventors: Satoshi Fukumoto (Tokyo, JP); Takanobu Ito (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
B60W30/06B60W2420/42B60W2420/52B60W2554/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,807,226
App. No.
17/840,204
Granted
Nov 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A parking control method includes: detecting a first parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by an imaging device; controlling at least a steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the first parking space; detecting a second parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device, while the vehicle is travelling into the first parking space, the second parking space being adjacent to the first parking space in a travelling direction of the vehicle, the second parking space being farther than the first parking space from the vehicle; and controlling at least the steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space.

Claims (78)

1. A parking control method for a parking control circuit mounted on a vehicle,

the parking control circuit including an input circuit coupled with an imaging device to capture an ambient image of the vehicle, and an output circuit coupled with a steering actuator performing steering of the vehicle,

the parking control method comprising:

detecting a first parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device;

controlling at least the steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the first parking space;

detecting a second parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device, while the vehicle is travelling into the first parking space, the second parking space being adjacent to the first parking space in a travelling direction of the vehicle, the second parking space being farther than the first parking space from the vehicle; and

controlling at least the steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space.

2. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device is performed after the vehicle parks in the first parking space.

3. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device is performed before the vehicle parks in the first parking space.

4. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device is performed, while the vehicle is travelling into the first parking space, and

at least the steering actuator of the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space, when there is no car stopper in the first parking space.

5. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein

the output circuit of the parking control circuit is further configured to be coupled with an output device mounted on the vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising

making an inquiry to an occupant of the vehicle about whether to park the vehicle in the second parking space using the output device before the vehicle enters the second parking space, when the second parking space is detected based on the ambient image of the vehicle captured by the imaging device.

6. The parking control method according to claim 5 , wherein

the input circuit of the parking control circuit is further configured to be coupled with an input device mounted on the vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising

receiving a parking instruction for parking in the second parking space using the input device, after making the inquiry to the occupant of the vehicle using the output device, wherein

at least the steering actuator of the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space, after receiving the parking instruction for parking in the second parking space.

7. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle, and

the second parking space is between a second vehicle and a third vehicle, the second parking space having a distance between the second vehicle and the third vehicle, the distance being greater than a vehicle width of the first vehicle.

8. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising:

detecting the second parking space, a second vehicle being adjacent to the second parking space, and an opening door of the second vehicle; and

controlling at least the steering actuator of the first vehicle to cause the first vehicle not to be parked in the second parking space.

9. The parking control method according to claim 1 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising:

detecting the second parking space, a second vehicle being adjacent to the second parking space, and an occupant in the second vehicle; and

controlling at least the steering actuator of the first vehicle to cause the first vehicle not to be parked in the second parking space.

10. The parking control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting parking spaces being diagonally divided, before detecting the first parking space; and

detecting the first parking space.

11. A parking control method for a parking control circuit mounted on a vehicle,

the parking control circuit including an input circuit coupled with a transmission and reception device mounted on the vehicle, and an output circuit coupled with a steering actuator performing steering of the vehicle, the transmission and reception device transmitting an acoustic wave or a radio wave and receiving a reflective wave of the acoustic wave or the radio wave,

the parking control method comprising:

detecting a first parking space based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device;

controlling at least the steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the first parking space;

detecting a second parking space based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device, while the vehicle is travelling into the first parking space, the second parking space being adjacent to the first parking space in a travelling direction of the vehicle, the second parking space being farther than the first parking space from the vehicle; and

controlling at least the steering actuator of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space.

12. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device is performed after the vehicle parks in the first parking space.

13. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device is performed before the vehicle parks in the first parking space.

14. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein

detecting the second parking space based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device is performed, while the vehicle is travelling into the first parking space, and

at least the steering actuator of the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space, when there is no car stopper in the first parking space.

15. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein

the output circuit of the parking control circuit is further configured to be coupled with an output device mounted on the vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising

making an inquiry to an occupant of the vehicle about whether to park the vehicle in the second parking space using the output device before the vehicle enters the second parking space, when the second parking space is detected based on the reflective wave received by the transmission and reception device.

16. The parking control method according to claim 15 , wherein

the input circuit of the parking control circuit is further configured to be coupled with an input device mounted on the vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising

receiving a parking instruction for parking in the second parking space using the input device, after making the inquiry to the occupant of the vehicle using the output device, wherein

at least the steering actuator of the vehicle is controlled to cause the vehicle to be parked in the second parking space, after receiving the parking instruction for parking in the second parking space.

17. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle, and

the second parking space is between a second vehicle and a third vehicle, the second parking space having a distance between the second vehicle and the third vehicle, the distance being greater than a vehicle width of the first vehicle.

18. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising:

detecting the second parking space, a second vehicle being adjacent to the second parking space, and an opening door of the second vehicle; and

controlling at least the steering actuator of the first vehicle to cause the first vehicle not to be parked in the second parking space.

19. The parking control method according to claim 11 , wherein,

the vehicle is defined as a first vehicle,

the parking control method further comprising:

detecting the second parking space, a second vehicle being adjacent to the second parking space, and an occupant is in the second vehicle,

controlling at least the steering actuator of the first vehicle to cause the first vehicle not to be parked in the second parking space.

20. The parking control method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting parking spaces being diagonally divided, before detecting the first parking space; and

detecting the first parking space.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0245 →