JP2013043510A - Parking assist apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parking assist apparatus 100 capable of selecting a parking pattern depending on situations from among a plurality of parking patterns, even in the case of a vehicle not being equipped with a touch panel display.SOLUTION: The parking assist apparatus includes a selecting switch 20 which receives operations one or more times, and a directional switch 11 which enables selection of a right-side or left-side direction based on the traveling direction of the vehicle. The parking assist apparatus determines the arrangement aspect of the parked vehicle on the basis of the number of times of the operations of the selecting switch 20 with reference to corresponding information T1 in which the arrangement aspect of the parked vehicle and the number of times of the operations of the selecting switch 20 pre-correspond to each other, determines a parking direction on the basis of the right-side or left-side direction selected by the directional switch 11, selects the parking pattern on the basis of the determined arrangement aspect and parking direction of the parked vehicle, and performs parking assist processing depending on the selected parking pattern.

Description

  The present invention relates to a parking assistance device that assists parking in accordance with a selected parking pattern.

  With regard to this type of device, there is known a device for selecting a parking pattern by displaying a menu of a plurality of parking patterns such as parallel parking to the right or left side, parallel parking to the right or left side on a touch panel display (patent) Reference 1).

JP 2010-208483 A

  However, the conventional technology has a problem that it cannot be applied unless the vehicle is equipped with a touch panel display.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that even if the vehicle is not equipped with a touch panel display, the situation can be determined from a plurality of parking patterns such as parallel parking on the right or left side, parallel parking on the right or left side, etc. It is to provide a parking support device that selects a corresponding parking pattern and supports parking.

  The present invention determines the parking direction based on the operation of the direction switch, determines the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle based on the number of operations of the selection switch, and based on the determined layout mode and parking direction of the parked vehicle. The above problem is solved by providing a parking assist device that selects a parking pattern.

  According to the present invention, since the parking pattern corresponding to the arrangement mode and the parking direction of the parked vehicle can be selected by the input operation to at least two switches, a touch panel display for displaying a plurality of parking patterns is provided. A parking pattern can be selected even in a vehicle that is not, and parking can be supported.

It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the input device of the parking assistance apparatus of this embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the correspondence information which matched the parking pattern of this embodiment which concerns on this invention, and the frequency | count of operation previously. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the parking assistance apparatus of this embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure which sets the default parking pattern of this embodiment which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the case where the parking assistance apparatus is applied to the parking assistance apparatus 100 provided with a selection switch that receives a command for the parking assistance apparatus and a direction switch that receives a command for the direction indicator of the vehicle will be described as an example. To do. The parking assistance apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment executes a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program for assisting parking in a selected parking space is stored, and a program stored in the ROM, thereby executing the parking assistance apparatus. The computer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an operation circuit that functions as 100 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as an accessible storage device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an input device 10 of a parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 10 of this embodiment is provided around the driver's seat. As shown in the figure, the input device 10 of the present embodiment includes a selection switch 20, a direction switch 11, and a determination switch 30.

  The direction switch 11 of the present embodiment is disposed in the area AR1 on the right side of the steering. In the present embodiment, the direction indicator switch (winker switch) for informing the outside of the vehicle in the left-right direction and the intention to travel is used as the direction switch 11, but the operation indicating the right direction or the left direction is performed. Another switch that accepts may be provided separately. As other switches, the left or right door window is selected, the door window opening / closing device switch that raises or lowers the door window, the left or right door mirror is selected, and the door mirror housing or mirror body is driven. A switch for the driving device can be used.

  Although not particularly limited, the selection switch 20 and the determination switch 30 of the present embodiment are provided in the area AR2 above the cluster lid. In addition to the area AR2, it may be provided in the area AR3 below the cluster lid, or may be provided in the area AR4 on the left side of the lower panel at a position lower than the handle of the driver's seat, or on the right side of the lower panel. You may provide in area | region AR5.

  As shown in the figure, the input device 10 of the present embodiment is a CAN (Controller Area Network) so that it can exchange information with the parking assist device 100 mounted on the vehicle and the vehicle turn indicator 200. ) Connected by other in-vehicle LAN.

  The parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment obtains information (vehicle operation procedure, operation amount, etc.) for assisting the parking operation according to the parking pattern based on the positional relationship between the own vehicle to be parked and the parking space. This is a device that outputs this to the drive control device of the vehicle or presents it to the driver.

  The direction indicator 200 of this embodiment is a device that blinks a direction indicator lamp provided outside the vehicle in order to notify the outside of the vehicle's intention to travel in the left-right direction and travel, and is a so-called blinker device.

  Hereinafter, each of the selection switch 20, the direction switch 11, and the determination switch 20 will be described.

  First, the selection switch 20 will be described. The selection switch 20 of the input device 10 according to the present embodiment accepts input of an ON signal in response to one or more operations with respect to parking assistance for the parking assistance device 100 mounted on the vehicle. The selection switch 20 of the present embodiment accepts an activation operation for parking support processing and an operation for selecting an arrangement mode of parked vehicles. The switch for starting the parking assistance apparatus 100 can also be provided elsewhere.

  When the selection switch 20 receives the first ON signal, the parking support function of the parking support device 100 is activated. And the parking assistance apparatus 100 judges the arrangement | positioning aspect of a parked vehicle based on the frequency | count of operation of the selection switch 20. FIG.

  Specifically, the parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment refers to correspondence information in which the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle and the number of operations of the selection switch 20 are associated in advance, and based on the number of operations of the selection switch, The arrangement mode is determined. Incidentally, the selection switch 200 of the parking assistance device 100 of the present embodiment accepts both an operation relating to activation of the parking assistance device 100 (starting of parking assistance processing) and an operation relating to the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle. 100 recognizes the operation received within a predetermined time after being activated by the first operation of the selection switch 20 as the operation related to the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correspondence information T. In the correspondence information T shown in FIG. 2, the number of operations of the selection switch 20 and the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle are associated with each other. The parking pattern regarding the arrangement | positioning aspect of the parking area of this embodiment contains a parallel parking pattern, a parallel parking pattern (with or without turning over), and a diagonal parking pattern.

  Specifically, the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle in the present embodiment is a parallel parking pattern when parking in an area parallel to another parked vehicle (parking space), and an area parallel to another parked vehicle (parking space). And a parallel parking pattern for parking.

  The correspondence information T shown in FIG. 2 is defined such that the number of operations of the selection switch 20 associated with the parallel parking parking pattern is smaller than the number of operations of the selection switch 20 associated with the parallel parking parking pattern. Has been.

  In Japan, parallel parking is more frequent than statistically parallel parking. By defining the correspondence information T so that the number of operations associated with the parking pattern for parallel parking is smaller than the number of operations associated with the parking pattern for parallel parking as in this embodiment, A parking pattern of parallel parking that is frequently used can be selected with a small number of operations. As a result, it is possible to provide the parking assistance device 100 that can input with a small operation load. On the other hand, in Europe, parallel parking is more frequent than statistical parallel parking. For this reason, the correspondence information T is defined so that the number of operations associated with the parallel parking parking pattern is smaller than the number of operations associated with the parallel parking parking pattern. Thereby, in Europe, the parking assistance apparatus 100 which can select the parking pattern of parallel parking with a high frequency of use with few operations can be provided.

  Further, in the correspondence information T shown in FIG. 2, when no input operation is performed on the parking mode switch 20, that is, when the number of operations is zero, a default parking pattern (parallel parking in this example) is set in advance. . The parking assist device 100 according to the present embodiment has a predetermined mode set in advance when the selection switch 20 is not operated again within a predetermined time after the selection switch 20 is operated and the parking support process is started. The parking pattern (default parking pattern) is estimated to be selected.

  By associating the default parking pattern with no operation, it is possible to automatically select the default parking pattern by omitting the pressing operation, so that the operation load on the driver can be reduced. Furthermore, if a parking pattern that is likely to be selected is set as a default parking pattern, the operation load on the driver can be effectively reduced.

  As the default parking pattern set in advance, a parking pattern having the maximum selection frequency can be set. In this example, the most common parking pattern of parallel parking is set in Japan. The default parking pattern setting method is not particularly limited, and a parking pattern that is statistically frequently used (selected frequency) in the vehicle sales area may be preset as the default parking pattern, or the previously selected parking pattern. May be set as the parking pattern to be selected this time, or the parking pattern with the highest selection frequency may be obtained from the selection history of the past driver and set as the parking pattern.

  Further, in the correspondence information T of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a parking pattern that is selected less frequently as the number of operations on the selection switch 20 increases is associated. Specifically, a parallel parking pattern is defined as a default parking pattern at the time of input. When the number of operations of the selection switch 20 is one, a non-reversing parallel parking pattern is defined, and when the number of operations is two A parallel parking pattern with turnover is defined, and an oblique parking pattern is defined when the number of operations is three.

  When the selection switch 20 is operated, the meter display D (see FIG. 1) is displayed before sending to the parking support device 100 so that the driver can confirm the contents of the parking pattern selection signal sent to the parking support device 100. May be presented. The display pattern of the parking pattern selection signal is not particularly limited, but the parking patterns are displayed in order according to the number of operations, and when the set number of operations is exceeded, the parking patterns are sequentially ordered in the order of decreasing the number of operations. The number of operations may be reset to zero, and the parking pattern may be displayed again in order according to the number of operations.

  Moreover, the timing at which the parking assistance apparatus 100 determines the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle is not particularly limited, and may be a timing at which the selection switch 20 is operated within a predetermined time after the parking assistance processing is started, which will be described later. It may be after the decision switch 30 is operated.

  Next, the direction switch 11 will be described. The direction switch 11 receives an operation for selecting a right side or a left side based on the traveling direction of the vehicle. When the direction switch 11 is operated to the right side, the contact 11R associated with the left / right command for selecting the right side is turned on, and when the direction switch 11 is operated to the left side, the contact 11L associated with the left / right command for selecting the left side is selected. Is turned on. When the parking support function of the parking support device 100 is not activated, the direction switch 11 functions as an operation switch of the direction indicator 200, and the input left / right command indicating the left / right direction is sent to the direction indicator 200. Send it out.

  As described above, the direction switch 11 of the present embodiment is the winker switch 11 of the direction indicator 200. The parking assistance apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment determines the parking direction based on the right or left direction selected by the direction switch 11. In the present embodiment, the right and left directions selected by the direction switch 11 and the parking direction are associated in advance with correspondence information T shown in FIG.

  As described above, the parking assist device 100 according to the present embodiment receives the left / right command indicating the right direction when the direction switch 11 is operated to the right side, and the left / right command indicating the left direction when the direction switch 11 is operated to the left side. Accept. The driver can sensuously associate the operation direction of the direction switch 11 with the parking direction that is the direction in which the host vehicle is parked. As a result, the parking pattern can be accurately selected.

  Finally, the determination switch 30 will be described. The decision switch 30 is operated when the contents of the parking pattern selection signal based on the commands input to the selection switch 20 and the direction switch 11 are confirmed. The decision switch 30 can input a signal that can identify the input mode of double pressing or long pressing, and the selection switch 20 and / or the direction switch 11 can be operated by pressing twice or long pressing. Can be canceled.

  When the determination switch 30 is operated, the parking assistance apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment selects a parking pattern based on the determined arrangement mode and parking direction of the parked vehicle. The parking assistance device 100 is parked according to the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle determined based on the number of operations on the selection switch 20 and the parking direction determined based on the operation direction of the direction switch 11 (satisfying both). Select a pattern. The parking pattern in the present embodiment is located on the right side of the host vehicle and parked on the right side parallel parking pattern that parks in a region parallel to the other parked vehicle (parking region), and on the left side of the host vehicle. The left side parallel parking pattern that parks in the area parallel to the parking area), the right side parallel parking pattern that is located on the right side of the host vehicle and parks in the area parallel to the other parked vehicle (parking area), and the left side of the host vehicle Left side parking pattern that is positioned and parked in the area parallel to other parked vehicles (parking area), and the right side that is parked on the right side of the host vehicle and parked diagonally with other parked vehicles (parking area) It includes at least a parking pattern and a left-side diagonal parking pattern that is positioned on the left side of the host vehicle and parks in an area that is diagonally aligned with other parked vehicles (parking area). For parallel parking, a parking pattern that needs to be turned back and a parking pattern that does not need to be turned back can be included.

  Subsequently, a control procedure of the parking assistance apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a parking support process of the parking support apparatus 100, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a default parking pattern setting method of FIG.

  First, when the selection switch 20 is pressed in step 10, the parking support function is activated and the process proceeds to step 11.

  In step 11, it is determined whether or not an input has been made to the selection switch 20 within a predetermined time after activation of the parking support function, or whether or not an input has been made to the selection switch 20 again before the direction switch 11 has been input. To do. At the above timing, if the selection switch 20 is operated, the process proceeds to step 13, and if not, the process proceeds to step 12.

  In step 13, the number of operations of the direction switch 11 is counted and the process proceeds to step 14. In step 14, the parking assistance device 100 refers to the correspondence information T in which the number of operations is associated in advance based on the arrangement mode (parallel, column, diagonal) of the parked vehicle, and the selection switch 20 counted in step 13. The arrangement mode of the parked vehicle according to the number of operations is determined. Then, the process proceeds to Step 15.

  In step 15, the parking assist device 100 determines whether or not the direction switch 11 is operated and an on signal is input to the right contact 11R. If the on signal is input to the right contact 11R, the parking assist device 100 performs step. Proceed to 16. On the other hand, if the direction switch 11 is operated in step 17 and an ON signal is input to the left contact 11L, the process proceeds to step 18.

  In step 16, the parking assistance apparatus 100 determines that the right parking direction has been selected, and proceeds to step 19. In step 18, the parking assist device 100 determines that the left parking direction has been selected, and proceeds to step 19.

  In step 19, the parking assistance device 100 performs step 16 according to the arrangement mode (parallel, column, diagonal) of the parked vehicle determined in step 14 according to the number of operations on the selection switch 20 and the operation direction of the direction switch 11. Alternatively, one parking pattern is selected based on the parking direction determined in step 18, and parking support processing is executed according to the selected parking pattern.

  Returning to step 10, if the selection switch 20 is not pressed, the left / right command input to the direction switch 11 is sent to the direction indicator 200. A technique known at the time of filing can be applied to the control method of the direction indicator 200.

  The default parking pattern setting method used in step 12 of the control procedure of the parking assist apparatus 100 described above is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step 101, it is first determined whether or not there is an initial setting. The initial setting may be set by the driver himself or a parking pattern having the highest usage frequency which is statistically determined. If there is an initial setting, the process proceeds to step 102 and a default parking pattern is read.

  If it is determined in step 101 that the initial setting has not been made, the process proceeds to step 103. In step 103, it is determined whether or not it is defined that the same parking pattern as the previous parking pattern is set as the default parking pattern. When the same parking pattern as the previous time is set, the process proceeds to step 104, and the parking pattern used last time is set as the default parking pattern. Thereby, when the parking pattern used by the driver is the same, a desired parking pattern can be selected with a small number of operations.

  On the other hand, if the same parking pattern as in the previous time is not set in step 103, the process proceeds to step 105. In step 105, a history of parking patterns selected in the past is read. In step 106, a parking pattern having the maximum frequency selected in the past is obtained and set as a default parking pattern. Thereby, since the parking pattern which a driver uses frequently is set as a default parking pattern, the driver can select the target parking pattern with a small number of operations.

  According to the parking assist device 100 of the present embodiment configured and operating as described above, the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle is determined based on the number of operations of the selection switch 20, and the host vehicle is determined based on the operation direction of the direction switch 11. Since the parking direction with respect to the vehicle is judged and the parking pattern according to the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle and the parking direction is selected, the target parking pattern can be selected by operating at least two switches. For this reason, it is not necessary to use a display device such as a touch panel display in order to secure a region for displaying a plurality of input switches corresponding to the number of each parking pattern candidate. As a result, it is possible to accept a command for the parking assistance device even in a vehicle that is not equipped with a touch panel display.

  In the parking assistance device 100 of this embodiment, the correspondence information T is defined so that the number of operations associated with the parallel parking parking pattern is smaller than the number of operations associated with the parallel parking parking pattern. Therefore, it is possible to select a parking pattern for parallel parking that is frequently used with a small number of operations. As a result, it is possible to provide the parking assistance device 100 that can input with a small operation load. In particular, in Japan, since the frequency of parallel parking is higher than statistically parallel parking, the operation load can be reduced in many situations.

  When the selection switch 20 is operated and the selection switch 20 is not operated for a predetermined time after the ON signal indicating that the parking support device 100 is activated is received. Since it is presumed that a preset parking pattern of a predetermined mode has been selected, it is possible to omit the pressing operation and automatically select a default parking pattern, so that the operation load on the driver can be reduced. In particular, the operation load can be effectively reduced by setting the parking pattern most likely to be selected as the default parking pattern.

  In the parking assistance device 100 of the present embodiment, the winker switch operated when the direction is instructed is used as the direction switch 11, so that it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated switch for the parking assistance device 100. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost when the parking assist device 100 is mounted on the vehicle. In addition, by associating the on signal received by the right contact operated at the time of right turn with the right parking pattern and associating the on signal received by the left contact operated at the time of left turn with the left parking pattern, the driver relates to the parking direction with respect to the own vehicle. Since the parking pattern and the operation direction of the direction switch 11 can be associated sensuously, the selection of the parking pattern can be performed accurately. As a result, it is possible to provide the parking assistance device 100 capable of inputting with high operability that matches human senses and cognition.

  It should be noted that all the embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

  In this specification, the parking assistance apparatus 100 mounted on a vehicle will be described as an example of the parking assistance apparatus according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  In this specification, the parking assistance apparatus which has the input device 10 provided with the direction switch 11, the selection switch 20, and the determination switch 30 as one aspect | mode of the parking assistance apparatus which has an input device provided with the direction switch and selection switch based on this invention. The description will be made with reference to 100 examples, but is not limited thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Input device 20 ... Selection switch 11 ... Direction switch 11R ... Right contact 11L of direction switch ... Left contact 30 of direction switch ... Decision switch 100 ... Parking assistance device 200 ... Direction indicator

Claims (4)

A selection switch that accepts one or more operations, and a direction switch that can select a right or left direction based on the traveling direction of the vehicle,
The arrangement mode of the parked vehicle is referred to the correspondence information in which the number of operations of the selection switch is associated in advance, the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle is determined based on the number of operations of the selection switch, and the direction switch is selected. A parking assistance device that determines a parking direction based on the right or left direction and selects a parking pattern based on the determined arrangement mode and parking direction of the parked vehicle. The parking pattern related to the arrangement mode of the parked vehicle includes at least a parallel parking pattern and a parallel parking pattern,
The number of operations of the selection switch associated with the parallel parking parking pattern is less than the number of operations of the selection switch associated with the parallel parking parking pattern. Parking assistance device.   The said selection switch presumes that the preset parking pattern was selected, when operation is not performed within the predetermined time after the said parking assistance process was started. Parking assistance apparatus as described in. The direction switch is a winker switch of a direction indicator for informing the traveling direction of the vehicle to the outside,
The parking assistance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the parking assistance processing is not executed, the winker switch sends the traveling direction of the vehicle to a direction indicator. apparatus.

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