JP5857527B2 - Parking assistance device - Google Patents

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, a device that displays a menu of a plurality of parking patterns such as parallel parking to the right or left side and parallel parking to the right or left side as an image on a touch panel display and selects a parking pattern is known. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-208483 A

  However, the conventional apparatus 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.

  According to the present invention, the first direction switch provided on the first direction side with respect to the predetermined reference point or the number of operations to the second direction switch provided on the second direction side opposite to the first direction is determined. The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a parking assistance device that selects a parking pattern with reference to correspondence information in which a parking pattern of a vehicle and the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch are associated in advance. To do.

  According to the present invention, since a target parking pattern can be selected according to the number of times of operation of direction switches arranged at different positions, a vehicle not equipped with a touch panel display for displaying a plurality of parking patterns. The parking pattern can also be selected 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 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 this embodiment, the parking assistance device according to the present invention is applied to a parking assistance device 100 that can be switched between a first mode that executes a parking assistance function and a second mode that executes a control function of an audio device. An example will be described. The parking assistance device 100 functions as the parking assistance device 100 by executing a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program for assisting parking in the selected parking space is stored and a program stored in the ROM. The computer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as an operation circuit and a RAM (Random Access Memory) functioning as an accessible storage device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a region where the input device 10 of the parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment is installed. The input device 10 according to the present embodiment receives a command for the parking assistance device and a command for the audio device. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 10 is fixed to the surface of a vehicle steering area AR1. Since the area AR1 is an area where the finger of the driver who holds the steering wheel can reach without difficulty, the input apparatus 10 can be operated while performing a driving operation by providing the input device 10 in the area AR1. Further, the installation area of the input device 10 is not limited, and may be provided in the area AR2 on the right side of the steering indicated by the broken line in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a part of the steering in the area AR1 in which the input device 10 of the parking assist device 100 according to the present embodiment is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the input device 10 of the parking assistance device 100 of the present embodiment exchanges information with the parking assistance device 100 and the audio device 200 or the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300 that is also mounted on the vehicle. Are connected by a CAN (Controller Area Network) or 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 area. It is a device that outputs the obtained information to the drive control device of the vehicle or presents it to the driver.

  The audio device 200 according to the present embodiment is an information reproduction device that outputs content such as music and video to a speaker or a display provided in the vehicle. The inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300 is a device that controls the travel of the host vehicle so that the distance from the preceding vehicle is kept constant.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 10 of the parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a mode switch 20, direction switches 11 and 12, and a determination switch 31.

  Hereinafter, each switch will be described.

  First, the mode switch 20 will be described. The mode change switch 20 of the input device 10 according to the present embodiment switches between a first mode in which the vehicle parking assist device 100 is operated and a second mode in which the audio device 200 is operated. In the present embodiment, in a state where the mode change switch 20 is not operated, the second mode for accepting a command to the audio device 200 operates, and in a state after the mode change switch 20 is operated, a command to the parking assist device 100 is issued. The first mode to accept operates.

  Next, the direction switches 11 and 12 will be described. The input device 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called toggle type switch that accepts inputs in two directions of a first direction 11a and a second direction 12a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a first direction switch 11 provided on the first direction 11a side with respect to a predetermined reference point Q, and a reference in a direction opposite to the first direction 11a (180 degrees). A direction switch including a second direction switch 12 provided on the second direction 12a side with respect to the point Q is provided (hereinafter, the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12 are also collectively referred to as direction switches 11 and 12). .same as below). The first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12 are accommodated in a common housing and constitute an integral switch. The first direction switch 11 includes a first contact 11p provided in a first direction side (in the direction of arrow 11a in the figure) with respect to a predetermined reference point Q, and the second direction switch 12 The second contact 12p is provided in the direction of the second direction (arrow 12a in the figure), and an ON signal is input to the first direction switch 11 when the first contact 11p region of the first direction switch 11 is pressed. When the second contact point 12p region of the direction switch 12 is pressed, an ON signal can be input to the second direction switch 12.

  In the parking assistance device 100 of the present embodiment, when the mode changeover switch 20 that functions as an IPA activation switch (IPA: Intelligent Parking Assist) is pressed during parking, the first input function (parking assistance function) of the first mode operates. The number of operations of the direction switches 11 and 12 is counted. Specifically, the parking assistance device 100 counts the number of operations based on the number of ON signals of the first contact point 11p and the second contact point 12p obtained in response to the input operation to the direction switches 11 and 12.

  The parking assistance device refers to the correspondence information in which the parking pattern of the vehicle and the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 or the second direction switch 12 are associated in advance, and the operation of the first direction switch 11 or the second direction switch 12 Select a parking pattern based on the number of times. At this time, you may show on the meter display D (refer FIG. 1), before sending out to the parking assistance apparatus 100 so that a driver can confirm the content of the parking pattern selected. Although the display mode of the parking pattern selection signal is not particularly limited, the parking patterns corresponding to the number of operations are displayed in order, and when the set number of operations is exceeded, the parking patterns are sequentially arranged 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.

  In addition, the parking assistance device 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform predetermined parking when the direction switches 11 and 12 of the input device 10 are not operated within a predetermined time after the activation of the parking assistance device 100. It is presumed that a pattern (default parking pattern described later) has been 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.

  By the way, the parking pattern in the present embodiment is located on the right side of the own vehicle and is located on the left side of the own vehicle and the right side parallel parking pattern that is parked in an area parallel to the other parked vehicle (parking area). A left side parallel parking pattern that parks in a region parallel to the vehicle (parking region), a right side parallel parking pattern that is located on the right side of the host vehicle and parks in a region parallel to another parked vehicle (parking region), Parked in the left side parallel parking pattern that parks on the left side, parked in the area parallel to other parked vehicles (parking area), and parked in the area parallel to the other parked vehicles (parking area) diagonally on the right side of the host vehicle And a left-side diagonal parking pattern that is located on the left side of the host vehicle and parks in an area parallel to the other parked vehicle (parking area) diagonally.

  The number of operations of the first direction switch 11 and the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 can be associated with parking patterns having different parking directions (left and right). For example, the operation of the first direction switch 11 can be associated with the right parking pattern, and the operation of the second direction switch 12 can be associated with the left parking pattern. On the contrary, the left parking pattern can be associated with the operation of the first direction switch 11, and the right parking pattern can be associated with the operation of the second direction switch 12.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the parking pattern in the opposite direction corresponds to the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12 provided in the opposite directions with respect to the predetermined reference point Q. Thus, the driver can sensuously associate the parking pattern in the direction in which the vehicle is parked with the arrangement direction of the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12 that perform the input operation. Can be done accurately.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of correspondence information T in which a parking pattern of a vehicle and the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 or the second direction switch 12 are associated in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a preset default parking pattern is set in a state where no input operation is performed on the direction switches 11 and 12, that is, in a state where the number of operations is zero. In this example, the parking pattern of the left side parallel parking is set.

  In the correspondence information T shown in FIG. 3, different parking patterns are defined for the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12, respectively. Specifically, the right parking pattern is associated with the operation on the first direction switch 11, and the left parking pattern is associated with the operation on the second direction switch 12. The first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12 are associated with different left and right parking patterns, respectively.

  The correspondence information T of the present embodiment indicates that the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 associated with right side parallel parking is smaller than the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 associated with right side parallel parking. Is defined. Similarly, in the left parking pattern, the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 associated with left side parallel parking is defined to be smaller than the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 associated with left side parallel parking. 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 parallel parking parking pattern is smaller than the number of operations associated with the parallel parking parking pattern, 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 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.

  Although not particularly limited, in the correspondence information T shown in FIG. 3, the left side parallel parking pattern is defined as the default parking pattern at the time of input. A pattern is defined. When the number of operations is two, a left-side parallel parking pattern with a turnover is defined, and when the number of operations is three, a left-side oblique parking pattern is defined.

  Further, in the correspondence information T shown in the figure, parking patterns that are selected less frequently as the number of operations increases are associated with each other. Specifically, when the number of operations for the first direction switch 11 is one, a right side parallel parking pattern is defined, and when the number of operations is two, a right side parallel parking pattern without a turn is defined, and the number of operations is three. In the case of a turn, a right-side vertical parking pattern with a turn-back is defined, and in the case where the number of operations is 4, a right-side oblique parking pattern is defined.

  Although not particularly limited, when the number of operations is zero, a parking pattern with the maximum selection frequency can be set in advance as a default parking pattern. In this example, the parking pattern of the left side parallel parking that is most common in Japan is set as the default parking pattern. 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.

  Finally, the decision switch 31 will be described. The decision switch 31 is pressed when the contents of the parking pattern selection signal based on the commands input to the mode change switch 20 and the direction switches 11 and 12 are confirmed. The mode change switch 20 and the direction switches 11 and 12 may send each signal to the parking assist device 100 every time a command is received, but after the decision command is input to the decision switch 31, the mode change switches 21 and 22 The commands received by the direction switches 11 and 12 may be sent to the parking assistance device 100. Thereby, the parking assistance apparatus 100 can be controlled based on the driver's determined intention.

  When the parking assistance device 100 is not activated, for example, when the mode selection command for operating the first input function is not input to the mode changeover switch 20 (or the mode selection command for operating the second input function is mode switching. When input to the switch 20 or when traveling at a predetermined vehicle speed or higher), the command received by the direction switches 11 and 12 is sent to the audio device 200 of the vehicle or the automatic inter-vehicle distance control device 300 of the vehicle.

  Thus, since the input device 10 according to the present embodiment can accept commands for a plurality of in-vehicle devices when the mode changeover switch 20 switches the mode, the existing audio device 200 and the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device provided in the vehicle. A steering switch such as 300 can be shared. For this reason, it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated switch for the parking assist device 100. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost when the parking assist device 100 is mounted on the vehicle.

  Subsequently, a control procedure of the input device 10 of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of outputting the parking pattern selection information of the input device 10, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a default parking pattern setting method of FIG.

  First, when the mode change switch 20 that is an IPA switch is pressed in step 10, the parking support function of the parking support apparatus 100 is activated, and the process proceeds to step 12.

  In step 12, if the first direction switch 11 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 21. On the other hand, if the first direction switch 11 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step 13.

  In step 13, if the second direction switch 12 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 31. On the other hand, if the second direction switch 12 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step 14. In the present embodiment, the process proceeds to step 14 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the parking support function of step 10 was activated.

  In step 21, the parking assistance device 100 counts the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 and proceeds to step 22. In step 22, the parking assistance device 100 refers to the correspondence information T in which the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 and the parking pattern are associated in advance with the number of operations of the first direction switch 11 counted in step 21. Based on this, a parking pattern is selected and the process proceeds to step 40.

  In step 31, the parking assistance device 100 counts the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 and proceeds to step 32. In step 32, the parking assistance apparatus 100 refers to the correspondence information T in which the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 and the parking pattern are associated in advance, and determines the number of operations of the second direction switch 12 counted in step 31. Based on this, a parking pattern is selected and the process proceeds to step 40.

  If neither the first direction switch 11 nor the second direction switch 12 is operated in Steps 12 and 13, the parking assistance device 100 selects a preset default (predetermined) parking pattern in Step 14. The process proceeds to step 40.

  Finally, in step 40, the parking assistance device 100 executes a parking assistance process according to the selected parking pattern.

  Returning to step 10, when the mode switch 20 is not pressed, the second input function for receiving a command to the audio device 200 is activated. When the second input function is activated, the audio device 200 selects content to be played back, skips playback content, adjusts output audio volume, and the like based on operations on the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12. Execute.

  In the second mode, a command for the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300 can be received. The inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300 executes inter-vehicle distance automatic control based on a command input to the first direction switch 11 and the second direction switch 12. A technique known at the time of filing can be applied to the control method of the audio device 200 and the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300.

  The default parking pattern setting method used in step 14 of the control procedure of the input device 10 described above is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, 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 assistance apparatus 100 of the present embodiment configured and operating as described above, the first direction switch 11 disposed on the first direction side and the second direction switch 12 disposed on the second direction side are connected. Since a target parking pattern is selected according to the number of operations, a different parking pattern can be selected by operating any one of the direction switches arranged at different positions. As a result, a parking pattern can be selected and parking can be supported even in a vehicle that is not equipped with a touch panel display.

  Moreover, in the parking assistance apparatus 100 of this embodiment, since the command with respect to several vehicle equipment can be received with the mode change switch 20, the switch for the existing vehicle equipment with which a vehicle is equipped is shared as a switch for the parking assistance apparatus 100. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated switch for the parking assist device 100. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost when the parking assist device 100 is mounted on the vehicle.

  When the parking assist device 100 according to the present embodiment operates either the first direction switch 11 or the second direction switch 12 arranged in directions opposite to each other with respect to a predetermined reference point Q, the right side parking pattern or the left side parking Since one of the patterns can be selected, the driver can sensuously associate the direction in which the vehicle is parked and the input operation with the direction in which the direction switches 11 and 12 are arranged. It can be carried out.

  In the parking assistance device 100 of the present 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 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.

  In the parking assistance device 100 of the present embodiment, when the input of the ON signal in the first direction and the second direction is not received within a predetermined time after the activation of the parking assistance device 200, a predetermined parking set in advance Since the pattern is selected, the default parking pattern can be automatically selected when no operation is performed, and the operation load on the driver can be reduced. In particular, the operation load can be further reduced by setting a parking pattern that is most likely to be selected as a default parking pattern set in advance.

  In the parking assistance apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated switch for the parking assistance apparatus 100 by using the audio switch provided in the steering of the vehicle as the direction switches 11 and 12. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost when the parking assist device 100 is mounted on the vehicle.

  In the parking assistance apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it is necessary to newly provide a dedicated switch for the parking assistance apparatus 100 by using the inter-vehicle distance automatic control switch provided in the steering of the vehicle as the direction switches 11 and 12. Absent. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost when the parking assist device 100 is mounted on the vehicle.

  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 support apparatus 100 including the input device 10 will be described as an example of the parking support apparatus according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Further, in the present specification, the audio device 200 and the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device 300 will be described as examples of the in-vehicle devices other than the parking assist device 100, but are not limited thereto.

  Further, in this specification, as an aspect of the input device including the direction switch and the mode change switch according to the present invention, the input device 10 having the direction switches 11 and 12, the mode change switch 20, and the determination switch 31 is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Input device 20 ... Mode changeover switch 11 ... 1st direction switch, direction switch 11p ... 1st contact 12 ... 2nd direction switch, direction switch 12p ... 2nd contact 31 ... Decision switch Q ... Reference point

Claims (6)

A parking assistance device that assists in parking a vehicle,
A first direction switch provided on a first direction side with respect to a predetermined reference point; and a second direction switch provided on a second direction side with respect to the reference point opposite to the first direction. With direction switch,
Parking based on the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch with reference to correspondence information in which the parking pattern of the vehicle and the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch are associated in advance. Select a pattern ,
When the first direction switch is operated, the right-side parking pattern or the left-side parking pattern is selected according to the number of operations of the first direction switch, and the first direction is selected according to the number of operations of the second direction switch. Select the parking pattern on the right side or the parking pattern on the left side that is not associated with the number of switch operations ,
The number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the right side parallel parking pattern is the number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the first direction switch associated with the right side parallel parking pattern. Less than the number of operations of the two-way switch,
The number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the left side parallel parking pattern is the number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the left side parallel parking pattern. Parking assist device less than the number of operations of the two-way switch . When neither the first direction switch nor the second direction switch is operated within a predetermined time after the activation of the parking assist device, a predetermined parking pattern set in advance is selected. The parking assistance device according to claim 1 . A mode changeover switch for switching between a first mode for assisting parking of the vehicle in accordance with a predetermined parking mode and a second mode for executing functions of the vehicle other than the parking assist;
The parking assistance device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a parking pattern is selected in accordance with the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch when the mode is switched to the first mode. The second mode executes control of an audio device mounted on the vehicle,
The parking assistance device according to claim 3 , wherein when the direction switch is operated when the mode switch is switched to the second mode, the audio device is controlled. The second mode executes control of an inter-vehicle distance automatic control device mounted on the vehicle,
The parking assist device according to claim 3 , wherein when the direction switch is operated when the mode switch is switched to the second mode, the inter-vehicle distance automatic control device is controlled. . A first direction switch provided on a first direction side with respect to a predetermined reference point; and a second direction switch provided on a second direction side with respect to the reference point opposite to the first direction. A parking support method used in a parking support device including a direction switch,
  A parking pattern based on the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch with reference to correspondence information in which the parking pattern of the vehicle and the number of operations of the first direction switch or the second direction switch are associated in advance. Select
  When the first direction switch is operated, the right-side parking pattern or the left-side parking pattern is selected according to the number of operations of the first direction switch, and the first direction is selected according to the number of operations of the second direction switch. Select the parking pattern on the right side or the parking pattern on the left side that is not associated with the number of switch operations,
  The number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the right side parallel parking pattern is the number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the first direction switch associated with the right side parallel parking pattern. Less than the number of operations of the two-way switch,
  The number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the left side parallel parking pattern is the number of operations of the first direction switch or the number of operations of the second direction switch associated with the left side parallel parking pattern. Parking support method that is less than the number of operations of the two-way switch.

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