GB2307810A

GB2307810A - Parking aid

Info

Publication number: GB2307810A
Application number: GB9524701A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Michael Ashley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-02
Filing date: 1995-12-02
Publication date: 1997-06-04
Also published as: GB9524701D0

Abstract

An vehicle is fitted with two infra-red proximity sensors mounted in each bumper. The outputs from these are processed in a computer and used to drive a visible LED or LCD bar or numerical display (figs. 4, 5) mounted on the dashboard and to control the volume and pitch of an audible warning.

Description

LOCATION DETERMINATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE The present invention relates to a location determination system for use in a motor vehicle, particularly, but not exclusively, when parking the vehicle between other vehicles or obstacles or when approaching a fixed object such as a loading dock.

Most vehicles have front wheel steering, and therefore, when parking the vehicle in a relatively confined space between two others, it is usually advantageous first to reverse into the space. It is not always easy for the driver of the vehicle to determine the distance between the rear of his vehicle and an adjacent, already parked, vehicle. Given the crowded state of todays roads, and the lack of parking spaces thereon, it is often necessary to approach very closely the vehicle behind in order to allow room for a further forward movement to straighten the car with respect to the kerb. In such cases, it is often necessary for the driver to get out and ascertain the distance or to have a helper to indicate the distance. An unsatisfactory alternative is to reverse until the vehicle hits something, which is the reason most cars are provided with bumpers.

The same considerations apply when reversing the vehicle into the parking space in a car park, where the obstacle may be a concrete wall or metal barrier and at a level below the line of eyesight of the driver, or when reversing lorries or vans into loading docks.

In many vehicles, it is also difficult to judge accurately the position of the front of the vehicle, especially during such parking manoeuvres.

It is an object of the present invention to help the driver ascertain distance, at least rearwardly and preferably also forwardly between his own vehicle and any adjacent object.

According to the present invention, there is provided a location determination system for use in a motor vehicle comprising at least one distance determining device including a sensor and provided at at least one end of the motor vehicle and adapted to estimate the proximity of the device to an adjacent object, and means to indicate to the occupant of the motor vehicle its proximity to the adjacent object.

Preferably at least one distance determining device is provided at each end of the vehicle.

Advantageously two devices spaced apart are provided at at least one end, preferably both ends, of the vehicle.

The devices may be incorporated within or adjacent to the bumper of the vehicle. In this case they may be adapted to sense the proximity of a bumper or other part of an adjacent vehicle, an obstacle such as a loading dock, a post or any other such obstacle.

Signals from the or any one of the sensors may be fed to computing means, and an indicator means for the occupant may be actuated thereby.

The indicator means may comprise an audible warning of proximity, optionally increasing in either pitch or volume as the distance decreases.

Alternatively or additionally the indicator means may comprise visual indicator means provided on or adjacent to a dashboard of the vehicle.

In this case, the visual signal may comprise an indication, optionally in digital form, of the distance between the sensor and the adjacent object, either to the front and/or rear of the vehicle.

Additionally or alternatively, the visual signal may comprise a series of progressively illuminable light sources, such as LEDs or an LCD, the degree or location of the illumination being dependant on the proximity of the adjacent object.

The distance determining device or devices may comprise an emitter of infra-red or other radiation and a sensor to receive reflected signals.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows diagramatically various methods of parking alongside a kerb, and the use of the sensors in each context: FIGURE 2 shows diagramatically a commercial vehicle reversing towards a loading bay or an obstacle: FIGURE 3 shows diagramatically a vehicle parking adjacent a fixed object: FIGURE 4 shows an LED display, provided on or adjacent to the dashboard of the vehicle, indicating the distance either at the front or rear of the vehicle: FIGURE 5 shows diagramatically the same information conveyed in numeric form: FIGURE 6 shows schematically an electrical system connecting both front and rear sensors to a dashboard display unit: and FIGURE 7 shows schematically the location of sensors in a bumper of a motor vehicle Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an example of each of several methods of parking a vehicle alongside a kerb between other parked vehicles. To the righthand side, there is shown an attempt at parking by front entry and sensors at the front of the vehicle may be actuated to give a display as described below. This attempt is surely doomed to failure and therefore we can move to the centre of Figure 1 where a rearward entry is shown, with the back sensors actuated. Once approximately in position, we move to the left hand portion of Figure 1 where several small manouevres are necessary to align the vehicle accurately with the kerb without contacting either the vehicle ahead or the one behind. In this case, both sets of sensors can be actuated.

In Figure 2, there is shown an example of a commercial vehicle reversing towards a loading bay and in Figure 3 there is shown diagramatically a motor vehicle being parked against a multi-storey car park wall, which may be too low for adequate vision from the driving position, or against some other fixed object such as a garage wall.

Referring now to Figure 7, a preferred location for the sensors is to be recessed within a bumper of the motor vehicle. Since the height of the bumper in most motor vehicles is more or less standardised, such sensors should be able to determine the distance between one bumper and that of an adjacent vehicle. As can be seen, it is preferred to provide two sensors for each bumper of the motor vehicle, one at each side of the motor vehicle. These may be recessed into the bumper as shown in Figure 7.

Signals to and from each of the sensors may be passed, optionally selectively, from a computing means which is also able to give an indicator signal to the driver of the vehicle.

The indicator may be an audio unit which can be selectively engaged by means of a manual switch and which increases in pitch or volume as the distance between the vehicle and the adjacent object decreases.

Alternatively or additionally, a visual unit may be provided, preferably on the dashboard of the vehicle, (perhaps with a repeater display towards the rear of the vehicle). The visual display may take the form of an LCD or the like display showing numerically the available distance to front and/or rear of the vehicle, such as shown in Figure 5. Alternatively, it may, as is shown in Figure 4, take the form of an LED or LCD display with progressively illuminable bars, again depending on the distance available.

These visual displays are also preferably actuated by a manual switch and will not, usually, be used when the vehicle is travelling in normal traffic.

The rear sensor or sensors may be actuated automatically in a manner similar to the known automatic actuation of reversing lights when reverse gear is selected.

The invention will aid parking, particularly in reverse, for those who have difficulty in this respect and for those who are elderly or infirm and who may have difficulty in turning to view rearwardly whilst still controlling the steering wheel of the vehicle.

As alternatives, the sensors may be fitted in or adjacent to the lights of the vehicle, which would make the electric wiring of the vehicle easier to arrange. Since the lights or other parts of the main body of the vehicle are set back from the bumper, it may be necessary to calibrate the sensors to give a signal at a greater distance.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A location determination system for use in a motor vehicle comprising at least one distance determining device including a sensor and provided at at least one end of the motor vehicle and adapted to estimate the proximity of the device to an adjacent object, and means to indicate to the occupant of the motor vehicle the proximity thereof to the adjacent object.

2. A location determination system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one distance determining device is provided at each end of the vehicle.

3. A location determination system as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein two devices spaced apart are provided at at least one end of the vehicle.

4. A location determination system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein two devices spaced apart are provided at each end of the vehicle.

5. A location determination system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the devices are incorporated within or adjacent to the bumper of the vehicle.

6. A location determination system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein signals from the or any one of the sensors are fed to computing means, and an indicator means for the occupant is actuated thereby.

7. A location determination system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the indicator means comprises an audible warning of proximity, optionally increasing in either pitch or volume as the distance decreases.

8. A location determination system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the indicator means comprises visual indicator means provided on or adjacent to a dashboard of the vehicle.

9. A location determination system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the visual signal comprises an indication, optionally in digital form, of the distance between the sensor and the adjacent object, either to the front and/or rear of the vehicle.

10. A location determination system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the visual signal comprises a series of progressively illuminable light sources, such as LEDs or an LCD, the degree of location of the illumination being dependant on the proximity of the adjacent object.

11. A location determination system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance determining device or devices comprise an emitter of infra-red or other radiation and a sensor to receive reflected signals.

12. A location determination system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.