Method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle, parking assistance system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle having such a parking assistance system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a drive unit (4, 5) of a motor vehicle (2), wherein a sensor device (8, 9) at least partially detects a parking space (1) of the motor vehicle (2) and generates corresponding sensor data (13), which are supplied to a control device (12), by means of which a data set (14) is generated which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space (1), so that the drive unit (4, 5) is controlled by means of the control device (12) as a function of the data set (14). The invention provides that the volume of the parking space (1) is determined by means of the control device (12) and that the volume is added to the data set (14) for controlling the drive unit (4, 5). The invention also relates to a parking assistance system (3) designed to implement the method, and to a motor vehicle (2) equipped with such a parking assistance system (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle, wherein a sensor device at least partially detects a parking space of the motor vehicle and generates corresponding sensor data, which are provided to a control device, with the aid of which a data set is established which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space, so that the drive unit is controlled with the aid of the control device based on the data set.

[0002] The invention also relates to a parking assistance system for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle equipped with such a parking assistance system.

[0003] Parking assistance systems for motor vehicles are known from the prior art, which assist the user of the motor vehicle when parking and / or unparking the motor vehicle in a parking space or parking lot (e.g. in a longitudinal or transverse parking space or gap), in particular autonomously or at least partially autonomously taking over the longitudinal and / or transverse guidance of the motor vehicle during the parking and unparking operation, i.e. during the parking operation of the motor vehicle. This means that the motor vehicle can be operated at least partially autonomously, in particular can be driven and / or steered at least partially automatically. This applies in particular to parking operations in motor vehicles. Elements or objects in the surroundings of the motor vehicle (e.g. vehicles, curbs, walls, etc.) are detected here by means of surrounding sensors (e.g. ultrasonic sensors, cameras, laser scanners, etc.).

[0004] In particular, a parking assistance system which takes over the longitudinal guidance of the vehicle (accelerating and braking) during a parking operation can autonomously or automatically start or activate a drive unit of the vehicle. The drive unit comprises, in particular, an internal combustion engine.

[0005] It is also known that a user of a vehicle can remotely activate or start a parking operation of a vehicle or a parking assistance system by means of a corresponding operating action. To this end, the user operates a corresponding operating element on a terminal device that is remote from the vehicle but associated with the vehicle (e.g., taps and / or holds at least one button or at least one operating surface of a graphical user interface of the terminal device). The parking assistance system is then activated and the drive unit is started by the parking assistance system. If the user does not continue the parking operation by the operating action or by another operating action (e.g., tapping and / or holding another operating element) after the drive unit is started, i.e., while the drive unit is switched on, the drive unit of the vehicle may be operated or continue to operate in an undesirable manner for a longer period of time. In particular, in the case of a limited volume of a parking space surrounding the vehicle, there is a need to protect persons in the parking space, in particular the user and / or the co-driver of the vehicle, from excessive exposure to the combustion exhaust gases of the drive unit or the internal combustion engine during the period of time. There is also a need to also protect persons located in another space, such as a private garage with a living room or bedroom adjacent thereto, from excessive exposure to the combustion exhaust gases during the period of time. This is because combustion exhaust fumes are harmful to health, especially when overused.

[0006] For this purpose, the drive unit is autonomously / automatically switched off after a predefined period of time by means of a conventional parking assistance system in order to prevent poisoning of persons. In this case, the volume surrounding the vehicle is not taken into account, but a predefined standard volume is used as the starting point. This results in a particularly short maximum permissible time period between starting the drive unit and continuing the parking operation (by means of at least one operator control action), regardless of the actual potential danger due to combustion exhaust gases in the volume of the parking space. Because in many cases, significantly larger volumes are present (e.g. outdoor parking lots, underground parking lots, double garages).

[0007] Automatic / autonomous switching off of the drive unit after this particularly short period of time is particularly unpleasant for the user, since the parking operation must be continued within this period of time after starting the drive unit by the parking assistance system.

[0008] Therefore, the user must leave the car within this time period if necessary, hold the terminal device (e.g., smartphone or key element, etc.), select the desired parking scenario and actively continue the parking operation on the terminal device, for example, on the travel button of the key element or on the operating surface of the smartphone, wherein the key element or smartphone is coupled to the car). In the case of inexperienced users or slow users (e.g., new users, elderly people), this time period may not be enough for the user, so the drive unit is turned off and the parking operation is interrupted. The parking assistance system must then be reactivated. This is correspondingly uncomfortable for the driver.

[0009] DE 102007 057216 B4 discloses a system for a vehicle, the system having a drive engine for driving the vehicle and a wireless remote control device, which is at least used to start the drive engine, wherein a control device is provided, the control device is suitable for receiving at least one signal generated by the remote control device for starting the drive engine and causing the start of the drive engine based on the received signal, wherein the control device is suitable for once or repeatedly determining whether the vehicle is in an at least partially enclosed space based on a signal provided by at least a distance sensor and / or a light sensor or a camera sensor when the signal is received, and preventing the start of the drive engine or cutting off the drive engine after the start is completed according to the determination result.

[0010] In addition, DE102016209465B3 discloses a method for automatically controlling the engine of a vehicle, the method having the following steps: detecting an instruction for starting the engine of the vehicle; starting the engine of the vehicle; in response to the engine starting, detecting time and a first signal; and stopping the engine if the time detection exceeds a determined first threshold and no control instruction of the vehicle is detected, wherein each time an instruction for starting the vehicle engine is redetected, the method restarts and detects time and another signal, wherein if at least two signals are detected and the number of detected signals exceeds a determined second threshold, the engine starting is prevented, wherein if a start instruction with an ignition key is detected, the prevention of the engine starting is released.

[0011] Furthermore, DE 10 2012 014 002 A1 discloses a method for remote communication of a vehicle with an external communication unit by means of at least one air interface and at least one sensor system, wherein data of the sensor system of the vehicle are transmitted to the communication unit via the air interface, wherein the external environment of the vehicle is detected by means of the sensor system.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a particularly safe and user-friendly parking operation for a motor vehicle.

[0013] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle, a parking assistance system and a motor vehicle.

[0014] Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the parking assistance system according to the invention and of the motor vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the parking assistance system according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0015] In order to configure a parking operation of the motor vehicle in a particularly safe and user-friendly manner, it is provided according to the invention that the volume of the parking space is determined by means of the control device and is added to the data set for controlling the drive unit.

[0016] The motor vehicle has a drive unit, which is in particular designed as an internal combustion engine or comprises such an internal combustion engine. In a combustion operating state, the internal combustion engine discharges combustion exhaust gases, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), via an exhaust system. In a shut-off operating state of the internal combustion engine, no inflow of fluid, compression, power and / or exhaust processes occur in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

[0017] A motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, can be switched between a use operation, such as a driving operation, and a non-use operation. If the motor vehicle is to be used, for example, the user of the motor vehicle wishes to use the motor vehicle for driving, the motor vehicle is switched from the non-use operation to the use operation. If the motor vehicle is not to be used, for example, the user wishes to park the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is switched to the non-use operation.

[0018] The parking space is a space which is provided for parking a vehicle without using the vehicle; if the vehicle is positioned as desired in the parking space, the vehicle is switched from the operating mode to the non-operating mode. If the vehicle enters the parking space, the parking space at least partially surrounds the vehicle. According to this provision, the vehicle parked in the parking space is switched to the non-operating mode.

[0019] In particular, the motor vehicle comprises a sensor system, which comprises at least one sensor with at least one sensor operating element, such as ultrasound, laser, lidar, radar, camera, etc. The sensor system comprises in particular a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensors can be designed differently with regard to their sensor principle. The corresponding sensor can be a sensor that is already used in the motor vehicle, which then has a multifunctional nature. Thus, for example, a laser sensor can be used during driving operation to measure the distance between the vehicle driving ahead and the motor vehicle; for the method, the same laser sensor can be used to detect a parking space.

[0020] To this end, the sensor device at least partially detects the parking space. This means that at least one of the sensors of the sensor device detects at least one element of the parking space and generates a corresponding sensor signal. For example, the depth and width of the parking space can be detected by means of the sensors and a corresponding depth dimension as well as a corresponding width dimension can be provided to the control device in the form of data that can be processed by means of the control device or can be further processed. The width measurement and the depth measurement are thus sensor data from which the control device creates a data set. The parking space is thus at least spatially characterized by the width / width dimension and the depth / depth dimension, from which the control device can calculate the area or area dimension of the parking space.

[0021] The drive unit is controlled by means of the control device as a function of one or more characteristics of the parking space, such as the size of the area, i.e. as a function of the data set. In other words, the drive unit is controlled by means of the control device as a function of the data set. For this purpose, the control device can, for example, generate a control signal as a function of the data set, which is supplied to the drive unit, for example wirelessly and / or by wire. On the one hand, it is particularly provided that the control device switches off the drive unit as a function of the data set as long as the drive unit or the internal combustion engine is switched on. On the other hand, it is particularly provided that the control device switches on the drive unit as a function of the data set as long as the drive unit or the internal combustion engine is switched off.

[0022] Thus, if the height of the vehicle (e.g., the standard height of a vehicle model) is known or predetermined for the method and is provided to the control device, the volume or volume dimensions of the parking space can be calculated by means of the control device, wherein the known height of the vehicle is then multiplied by the area. The data set thus has volume dimensions, wherein the parking space is at least partially spatially characterized by the data set having the volume or volume dimensions.

[0023] The method is particularly safe because the time period between activation or start of the parking assistance system and the continuation of the parking maneuver by the user is determined as a function of the volume surrounding the vehicle. If a volume greater than a standard volume is present, the drive unit can therefore be operated for a longer period of time without the risk of health damage to the user and / or other persons due to exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine. Due to the longer period of time, the user also has more time to perform a corresponding operating action in order to continue the parking maneuver, so that the method is particularly user-friendly, especially for inexperienced users.

[0024] If it is determined during or with the aid of the method that the vehicle is parked or should be parked outdoors, the volume size of the parking space can be assumed to be unbounded or infinite. An outdoor parking space is understood in particular to be an uncovered parking space. Furthermore, a parking space can be considered to be outdoors if it is arranged in a building, the side walls of which are largely open. Such parking spaces are typically found on the ground floor of a parking building.

[0025] In this case, the maximum permissible time period can be derived from at least one other condition. This can be, for example, exceeding the fuel consumption of the vehicle when stationary or exceeding a maximum time period predefined for this situation. This prevents the engine of the vehicle from running (without the driver starting the parking or unparking process after a sufficiently long time period).

[0026] The volume / volume dimension can also be determined more accurately by means of the control device if at least one height of an element and / or object arranged in the parking space is at least estimated or roughly determined by means of the control device based on the sensor data and the corresponding height dimension is added to the data set for controlling the drive unit. This is because it happens that the user of the vehicle at least partially uses the parking space as a storage point for elements, such as seasonal wheels for the vehicle, gardening tools, tools and / or other household items, which can be parked on horizontal floor elements of the parking space and / or can be fixed (for example hung) on ​​vertical wall elements of the parking space. These elements stored in the parking space are respectively reduced in volume, whereby the time period for continuing the parking operation is determined. These elements are detected within the scope of the method by means of the sensor device. If the corresponding height of the element detected by the sensor device is estimated or roughly determined, then - in particular by means of the control device - a height classification is performed with respect to the corresponding element, such as "low", "high", "unknown". In this case, the height classification "low" means that the corresponding element can still be passed by the vehicle (for example: curb) without damage. On the other hand, the height class "high" means that the corresponding element can no longer be passed by a vehicle without being damaged (e.g. warning cones). The height class "unknown" comprises particularly high elements, i.e. elements that are higher than those of the height class "high". If the sensor device detects a corresponding element, it is provided that the sensor device then supplies an element width measurement and / or an element depth measurement to the control device. The control device then determines the corresponding element volume or element volume size in interaction with the respective height classification of the corresponding element. This element volume and any further element volume sizes of other elements are then subtracted from the volume size of the parking space by means of the control device, thereby determining the net volume (or capacity) of the parking space.

[0027] The volume of the parking space can therefore be determined more reliably or more accurately, thereby more accurately determining the permissible time period between the start or activation of the parking assistance system and the continuation of the parking operation.

[0028] If, for example, a height dimension representing the respective height of the respective element is generated by means of a sensor device, the volume of the determined time period is determined even more accurately, and thus the volume of the respective element is determined even more accurately. This means that the sensor device has at least one sensor which is designed to detect the height of the element. Thus, the volume dimension of the parking space is determined by means of the control device from the sensor data and added to the data set for controlling the drive unit.

[0029] Alternatively or additionally, the elements arranged in the parking space can be structural elements that limit the volume of the parking space. The corresponding structural elements can be designed as horizontal ceiling elements, horizontal floor elements or vertical wall elements. If the parking space is, for example, a single garage, the corresponding structural elements can be, for example, the wall of the building structure that faces inward, i.e., toward the parked car, in which the parking space is constructed or arranged. At least one of the four vertical wall elements is designed as a door element or gate element, which in the closed state closes the parking space relative to the surroundings of the parking space and in the open state opens the parking space toward the surroundings of the parking space. Alternatively, the parking space can have only three vertical wall elements and one open side. It is particularly advantageous here to detect the corresponding height of one or more wall elements by means of a sensor device and to add the corresponding height dimension to the data set for controlling the drive unit.

[0030] This is because the volume of the parking space can be determined more accurately, since the standard height of the vehicle is no longer used to determine the volume, but instead the actual height of the parking space is combined with its area to produce the volume. Thus, if, for example, the ceiling element is away from the upper side of the vehicle, a larger volume of the parking space is obtained, which is greater than the standard volume. As a result, the time period for continuing the parking operation during operation of the drive unit or the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is longer in a permissible manner (due to the detection of the actual volume of the parking space).

[0031] The data set that at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space can be stored at least temporarily in a storage device for at least one further control process in which the control device controls the drive unit. The storage device can have a vehicle-side storage unit and / or a vehicle-external storage unit (e.g. a storage unit of a cloud server device).

[0032] Accordingly, the data set is provided to the parking assistance system by means of the storage device when the data set is generated and stored for the first time. This is particularly advantageous for users who use the same parking space, such as a personally assigned parking space, repeatedly, for example every day. Thus, the corresponding generation of at least a data set for further driving into the corresponding parking space is eliminated in an advantageous manner. Instead, the parking assistance system calls up the data set from the storage device or the storage device sends the data set to the parking assistance system, so that the drive unit is controlled or actuated by means of the control device according to the stored data set. In this way, the method is particularly effective, because the parking assistance system is operated in a particularly energy-saving manner and the vehicle equipped with the parking assistance system can therefore be operated in a particularly fuel-efficient and low-emission manner. It has proven to be particularly advantageous to store a plurality of data sets by means of the storage device, wherein the respective data set is associated with exactly one parking space from the plurality of parking spaces. If the user informs the parking assistance system, for example by means of a key input, in which parking space he intends to park the vehicle, the data set correspondingly associated with exactly this parking space is taken into account for controlling the drive unit.

[0033] In order to more reliably determine whether the actual volume of the parking space is greater than a predefined standard volume, a further embodiment of the method provides that when the vehicle enters the parking space, the sensor device at least partially detects the parking space and the corresponding sensor data generated are stored (at least until further entry). For example, it can be provided that the parking space is used for the first time, that is, it is not necessary for the method to have a vehicle already in the parking space. Thus, when a user exits a vehicle that is parked for the first time in the parking space, the respective parking space can already be spatially characterized at least partially in order to determine whether the predefined standard volume is to be entered into the data set or the actually larger standard volume determined when the parking space is detected is to be entered into the data set for the operation of the parking assistance system.

[0034] The method is therefore particularly safe since it works reliably even in environments that are unfamiliar to the user and the user can focus primarily on the new environment rather than having to rush to continue the parking maneuver in order to avoid deactivating the drive unit of the vehicle by means of the parking assistance system.

[0035] This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the sensor system of the vehicle has only a few sensors, for example only at the front or only at the rear of the vehicle. It can therefore be provided in particular that when a vehicle first enters a parking space, the vehicle is at least partially spatially characterized as described here. When re-entering or driving into the parking space, the parking space is then at least partially detected again, so that the parking space is then further characterized. For example, the same elements and / or the same structural elements can be detected by means of the sensor system from a different angle than when entering previously, so that, for example, the height of the parking space can be determined more accurately. In this case, for example, the following information can be provided to the parking assistance system by means of an operating action of the user: the same parking space as when entering previously is approaching and the vehicle is intended to be parked in this parking space.

[0036] This means, with respect to the volume, that during the movement of the parking assistance system, the volume is determined more and more accurately with each repeated approach into the same parking space.

[0037] As an alternative or in addition to partially detecting the parking space when entering the parking space, it can be provided that the sensor device at least partially detects the parking space when the vehicle is exiting the parking space and that the corresponding sensor data generated are stored at least until the vehicle is exited again. If the parking assistance system is activated for the first time, for example, when the vehicle is exiting the parking space, for example based on a user request, the parking assistance system can already be at least partially detected by means of the sensor device when exiting the parking space. If the vehicle returns to the parking space that has already been at least partially detected and correspondingly at least partially spatially characterized and the user activates the parking assistance system, it is already determined that the time period for continuing the parking operation is determined by means of an actual volume that is greater than a predefined standard volume, so that the user has more time to continue the parking operation when leaving the vehicle in an advantageous manner.

[0038] This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the sensor system of the motor vehicle has only a few sensors. It can therefore be provided that the motor vehicle is at least partially spatially characterized when it is driven out of the parking space for the first time. Then, when driving out of the parking space again or when driving out, the parking space is again at least partially detected, so that the parking space is then further characterized. In particular, the same elements and / or the same structural elements can be detected by means of the sensor system from a different angle than when the vehicle was previously driven out, so that, for example, the height of the parking space can be determined more accurately.

[0039] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the volume of the parking space can be determined more accurately by taking into account both the sensor data generated when exiting and the sensor data generated when entering for the same parking space. When entering and exiting again, the stored data are advantageously verified based on the current sensor data in order to be able to take into account changes in the parking space relative to the stored data. This is because, for example, elements and / or objects may have been brought into the parking space and parked there during the time when the vehicle was not in the parking space.

[0040] In the context of storing a data set for at least one further control process, provision can be made in particular for the sensor device to first detect, for example, during further entry into the parking space and / or during further exit from the parking space, whether the parking space or at least one given situation in the parking space changes between entry and further entry, or between exit and further exit, or between exit and entry, or between exit and entry, or between exit and entry. If this is not the case, the data set stored by means of the storage device, in particular the volume stored in the data set in each case, can be used to determine a maximum permissible time period between starting the drive unit and continuing the parking operation.

[0041] If, on the other hand, at least one given condition in the parking space or in the parking space changes, for example, another object or element has been parked in the parking space or an object or element has been removed from the parking space, this is detected by the sensor system. Based on this, the parking space is then detected—as described above—in order to determine the maximum permissible time period between starting the drive unit and continuing the parking operation.

[0042] In another embodiment of the method, position data can be provided to the control device by means of a navigation system of the vehicle, in particular a satellite navigation system, which position data are added to the data set for controlling the drive unit by means of the control device. The navigation system can be a navigation system that is actually arranged in the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the parking assistance system can include a separate navigation system that is different from the navigation system that is actually arranged in the vehicle. Thus, for example, it can be determined based on the current position of the vehicle whether the vehicle is parked outdoors. In addition, it can be determined based on the route data whether the vehicle should be parked outdoors. In addition, it can be determined based on the route data whether the vehicle has just driven through a route that is expected to end at a parking space that has been used before. In addition, a plausibility check can be performed, for example, when it is determined based on the sensor device that the vehicle is outdoors in the parking space, and the satellite navigation system of the vehicle does not receive satellite signals, which indicates that the vehicle is not outdoors. Then, for example, it can be decided by means of the control device whether the sensor signal or the position data is given priority in order to determine the time period for continuing the parking operation. Accordingly, the method is thus even more reliable, because in the event of a malfunction of the sensor device, the danger of the assumed volume of the parking space being too large is prevented.

[0043] Furthermore, the method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle is even safer and more reliable if additional data characterizing whether the parking space is outdoors is provided to the control device by means of a server device, wherein the additional data is added to the data set for controlling the drive unit by means of the control device. The parking space can be considered to be outdoors when it is arranged in a building, the side walls of which are mostly open. Such parking spaces can typically be found on the ground level of a parking building. In addition, an outdoor parking space is understood to be an uncovered parking space. In other words, an outdoor parking space is in particular an uncovered parking lot or a parking space arranged in a building, the side walls of which are mostly designed to be open.

[0044] Therefore, in order to determine whether the parking space is outdoors, backend data, such as map data, satellite images, group data, etc., can be provided to a server device, for example, sent to the server device. In this case, the data can be provided to the server device by a plurality of vehicles (group data) or other information sources (such as map providers). The server device can be designed, for example, as the cloud server device or another cloud server device, wherein the backend data are stored by means of the cloud server device (which can also be referred to as the backend). Ideally, the backend data has a predetermined minimum actual value, for example no older than one day. In this case, the backend data can be derived in particular from vehicle-to-vehicle and / or vehicle-to-infrastructure data communications.

[0045] The additional data also includes information about whether the car is parked or should be parked outdoors. With the help of the server device, based on the backend data and the current position of the car, it is determined in interaction: whether the car is parked outdoors or should be parked outdoors, that is, whether the parking space is outdoors. Therefore, additional data is created based on the result of this determination. Here, the current position of the car is transmitted to the server device or another cloud server device. This can be, in particular, a trigger event directed to the backend, based on which it is determined with the help of the server device or the backend based on the backend data and the current position of the car whether the car is outdoors. In addition, the trigger event can be constructed as an activation of the parking assistance system. The backend then provides the additional data to the control device. Advantageously, it is determined based on the backend data in the server device or other cloud server devices whether the car is outdoors at the current position of the car.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the backend data is provided to a parking assistance system by means of the backend, and the parking assistance system determines whether the vehicle is parked outdoors or should be parked outdoors, in particular by means of a control device arranged in the vehicle. The current position of the vehicle can then be provided, for example, by a navigation system.

[0047] The parking space can thus be characterized more accurately, whereby the maximum permissible time period between activation of the parking assistance system and continuation of the parking operation can be determined more accurately.

[0048] It has also proven to be advantageous to provide the control device with operation duration data by means of a timing device, which operation duration data characterizes the operation duration of the drive unit, which is assigned to a corresponding operating state of the drive unit, and to add the operation duration data to a data set for controlling the drive unit by means of the control device. This means that the first operation duration data is associated with the ignition operating state of the internal combustion engine, and the second operation duration data is associated with the shutdown operating state of the internal combustion engine. In other words, the timing device detects a first duration during which the internal combustion engine is in the ignition operating state and / or a second duration during which the internal combustion engine is in the shutdown operating state. The timing device provides the corresponding duration in the form of operation duration data to the control device, which controls the drive unit, in particular the internal combustion engine, by means of the data set comprising the operation duration data.

[0049] In conjunction with further vehicle data (engine type, displacement, current consumption, fuel type, engine temperature, temperature in the intake system, external temperature, etc.), in particular the control device infers the exhaust gas flow (exhaust gas quantity per time) and / or the exhaust gas quality or exhaust gas composition, thereby determining a remaining time period still available in a permissible manner for continuing the parking operation by the user before the exhaust gas concentration in the volume of the parking space exceeds a threshold value, taking into account the determined volume of the parking space. In particular, the threshold value is selected such that the user can reset or restart the detection of the first time period at least once, for example due to a new operating action, without the risk of an exhaust gas concentration in the parking space being unhealthy.

[0050] The detection of the second time period is used in particular to determine how long the internal combustion engine or the drive unit was switched off before the drive unit was restarted by the parking assistance system. Since combustion exhaust gases may still be present in the air or in the volume of the parking space from the previous ignited operating state, the maximum time period still available to the user in a permissible manner for continuing the parking operation is shorter than the maximum time period when only the (actual) volume of the parking space is taken into account.

[0051] The time period can therefore be determined particularly accurately by means of the control device, since not only the volume or the volume dimension of the parking space is determined by means of the control device, but also at least the first time period is provided to the control device.

[0052] The invention also relates to a parking assistance system for a motor vehicle for controlling a drive unit of the motor vehicle, the parking assistance system having a sensor device, by means of which a parking space for the motor vehicle can be at least partially detected and corresponding sensor data can be generated. In addition, the parking assistance system has a control device, to which corresponding sensor data can be provided, wherein a data set can be generated by means of the sensor device, which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space. Correspondingly, the drive unit can be controlled by means of the control device as a function of the data set. In order to configure the parking operation of the motor vehicle particularly advantageously, according to the invention, it is provided in the parking assistance system that the volume dimensions of the parking space can be determined by means of the control device as a function of the sensor data and can be added to the data record for controlling the drive unit.

[0053] This means that the control device of the parking assistance system is designed to carry out the method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle or an advantageous embodiment thereof. The method is described above.

[0054] Finally, the invention relates to a motor vehicle which is equipped with a parking assistance system, in particular a parking assistance system as described above.

[0055] The present invention also includes developments of the parking assistance system according to the present invention and of the motor vehicle according to the present invention, each of which has the features already described in conjunction with the development of the method according to the present invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the parking assistance system according to the present invention or of the motor vehicle according to the present invention will not be described again here.

[0056] The invention also includes combinations of features of the described embodiments.

[0057] Embodiments of the present invention are described below. In the accompanying drawings:

[0058] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a car parked in a parking space with a parking assistance system;

[0059] Figure 2 A method diagram in the form of a flow chart is shown for illustrating a method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle, wherein elements from a preceding parking process are not taken into account; and

[0060] Figure 3 A method diagram in the form of a flow chart is shown for illustrating a method for controlling a drive unit of a motor vehicle, wherein elements from a preceding parking process are taken into account.

[0061] The embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the described components of the embodiment are each independently conceivable features of the present invention, which also independently constitute the present invention and are therefore also considered as components of the present invention individually or in a combination different from the combination shown. In addition, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by other already described features of the present invention.

[0062] In the figures, functionally identical elements are respectively provided with the same reference symbols.

[0063] Figure 1 A motor vehicle 2 with a parking assistance system 3 parked in a parking space 1 is shown in a schematic diagram. The motor vehicle 2, which is designed in particular as a passenger car, has a drive unit 4, which in turn has at least one internal combustion engine 5. The motor vehicle 2 can be driven in and against the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle 2 by means of the internal combustion engine 5. In addition, the drive unit 4 has a steering device and a braking device, so that the motor vehicle 2 can be guided longitudinally and transversely by means of the drive unit 4. The corresponding longitudinal driving force and / or the corresponding transverse guiding force generated by the drive unit 4 of the motor vehicle 2 in this example act on a first axle 6 of the motor vehicle 2. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the internal combustion engine 5, the steering device and / or the braking device of the drive unit 4 act on a second axle 7 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0064] The drive unit 4 is in particular designed to be at least semi-automatic or fully automatic, so that the vehicle 2 can be driven or operated at least semi-automatically by means of the drive unit 4. Thus, in the present example, the vehicle 2 can be driven partially autonomously at least in its parking operation. This should be understood to mean that during the partially autonomous or autonomous ferry operation of the vehicle 2, the drive unit 4 at least partially removes the longitudinal and / or transverse guidance from the human driver of the vehicle 2.

[0065] The parking assistance system 3 also has a sensor device 8, which has at least one sensor 9 or a plurality of sensors 9. The respective sensor 9 is in particular a sensor 9 used in the motor vehicle 2. This means that the respective sensor 9 can be part of another assistance system of the motor vehicle 2, whereby the respective sensor 9 then has a multifunctionality. For example, at least one of the sensors 9 of the sensor device 8 can be part of a distance measuring system of the motor vehicle 2.

[0066] The parking space 1 is in particular a parking lot, on which or in which a motor vehicle 2 can be parked as required. This means that the parking space 1 or the parking lot has or is a floor 10, the width, depth and clear height of which are dimensioned such that a motor vehicle 2 can be routinely moved into the parking space 1 and then moved out again without damaging structural elements 11 of the parking space 1 and / or of the motor vehicle 2. The parking space 1 or the parking lot is adjacent to a lane of moving traffic, for example. In order to delimit the parking lot or the parking space 1 from the lane of moving traffic and / or from at least one further, in particular directly adjacent parking lot, a delimiting device can be used. The delimiting device can have markings, signs, (in particular lowered) curbs, further floor coverings of the floor of the parking space, etc., on the road surface between the parking space and the lane of moving traffic and / or between the parking space and the directly adjacent parking space.

[0067] The parking space 1 or parking lot can be part of a parking facility, which can be designed, for example, as a parking building (especially including a plurality of parking levels). The parking building comprises a plurality of parking spaces 1 or parking lots, which are delimited from one another so that each parking lot in the parking lot is designed to accommodate the motor vehicle as soon as the motor vehicle is conventionally driven into the parking space.

[0068] In addition, a parking facility can be an outdoor parking area, for example a parking area constructed in at least one street in an urban area. The parking area then includes a plurality of parking spaces or parking lots, on / in which parking and / or parking can be allowed or prohibited for certain traffic participants.

[0069] Furthermore, the parking space 1 can be formed in the interior of a garage. The garage can be, in particular, an individual garage, wherein the parking space then has structural elements 11 directly adjacent to the floor 10 of the parking space 1, which define the individual garage in that the parking space 1 is surrounded (in particular all-round) by means of the structural elements 11. At least one of the four vertical structural elements 11 is then designed as a door element or gate element, which in the closed state closes the parking space 1 from the surroundings of the parking space 1 and in the open state opens the parking space 1 to the surroundings, so that the parking space 1 can be driven into or out of the parking space 1 in a conventional manner by means of the motor vehicle 2.

[0070] The corresponding parking space or parking lot can be designed transversely, obliquely or perpendicularly to the driving direction of the traffic on the roadway. In other words, the car 2 driving from the roadway into the corresponding parking space 1 can be driven into the parking lot or parking space 1 transversely, obliquely or perpendicularly to the driving direction (backward or forward).

[0071] The parking assistance system 3 further comprises a control device 12, by means of which the drive unit 4 can be controlled or actuated. In the method for controlling the drive unit 4 of the motor vehicle 2, which is carried out by means of the parking assistance system 3, the sensor device 8 or the sensor 9 at least partially detects the parking space 1 of the motor vehicle 2. Based on this detection, the sensor device 8 generates sensor data 13, which the sensor device 8 then provides to the control device 12 wirelessly and / or by wire. For example, it can be provided that the sensor device 8 sends the sensor data 13 to the control device 12. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the control device 12 retrieves the sensor data 13 from the sensor device 8. By means of the control device 12, in particular by means of a computer device of the control device 12, a data record 14 is created, which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space 1. This means that the data set 14 can, for example, include data about the width and / or depth of the parking space 1 or the parking lot. In addition, data about the height 15 of the motor vehicle 2 are provided to the control device 12, so that the volume dimensions of the parking space 1 are determined by means of the control device 12 and added to the data set 14.

[0072] The control device 12 is designed to at least partially control or actuate the drive unit 4. This means that in the method the drive unit 4 is controlled by means of the control device 12 as a function of the data set 14. For example, a control signal is generated by means of the control device 12, which is provided or sent to the drive unit 4, in particular the internal combustion engine 5. In other words, if the data set 14 includes the volume dimensions of the parking space 1, this means that the control device 12 controls the drive unit 4 or the internal combustion engine 5 as a function of the volume dimensions of the parking space 1 in which the motor vehicle 1 is parked or parked.

[0073] Since the internal combustion engine 5 emits combustion exhaust gases in the combustion operating state, the volume of air or the air in the volume of the parking space 1 is always further charged during the combustion operating state until (as long as the internal combustion engine 5 is not switched off in the meantime) the air is so heavily charged with combustion exhaust gases that there is a risk of illness and / or injury to persons in the parking space 1. The period of time for which the internal combustion engine 5 can be operated in the combustion operating state before the concentration of combustion exhaust gases in the parking space 1 becomes too high depends critically on the volume of the parking space 1.

[0074] In the present example, the motor vehicle 2 has a mobile terminal 16, by means of which the passenger compartment and / or the driving operation of the motor vehicle 2 can be unlocked or locked. For example, the mobile terminal 16 can be a key element of the motor vehicle 2, such as an ignition key. Alternatively or additionally, the terminal 16 can be a mobile computer device, which is wirelessly coupled or can be coupled to an electronic unit of the motor vehicle 2. The mobile computer unit and thus the terminal 16 can be designed, for example, as a smartphone, which has a computer program (“App”), by means of which the driving drive and / or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2 can be unlocked and locked.

[0075] As already described at the beginning, in the method for controlling the drive unit 4 of the motor vehicle 2, it is provided that the user of the motor vehicle 2 can switch the motor vehicle 2 into parking operation. In particular, the user of the motor vehicle 2 can switch or convert the motor vehicle into parking operation by means of the terminal 16. For this purpose, the user operates an operating element on the terminal 16, such as a key or a corresponding operating surface of a graphical user interface of a computer program or App. Since the mobile terminal 16 is wirelessly connected to the electronic unit of the motor vehicle 2 and thus wirelessly connected to the parking assistance system 3 of the motor vehicle 2, switching or converting the motor vehicle 2 into parking operation means that the parking assistance system 3 is activated, so that the control device 12 activates the drive unit 4, in particular the internal combustion engine 5, that is, switches to the ignition operating state as long as the internal combustion engine 5 is previously in the off operating state. This means that even when the internal combustion engine 5 of the motor vehicle 2 is already in the ignition operating state, the user can start or activate the parking operation of the motor vehicle 2 by means of the terminal 16.

[0076] Here, the user of motor vehicle 2 has already exited the passenger compartment of motor vehicle 2 and is therefore in parking space 1, wherein the user is surrounded by the volume of parking space 1 and therefore breathes the air in parking space 1 or in the volume of parking space 1. Now, in order to prevent the exhaust gas concentration in parking space 1 from becoming too high after the parking operation of motor vehicle 2 has begun, i.e. after the internal combustion engine 5 has been operated in the ignition operating state, the control device 12 controls the drive unit 4 based on the data set, i.e. as a function of the volume of parking space 1, after a certain duration or after a certain period of time, so that the internal combustion engine 5 switches from the ignition operating state to the shut-off operating state. Because in the shut-off operating state, the internal combustion engine 5 does not emit new exhaust gas into the volume / air of parking space 1.

[0077] The aforementioned height 15 of the motor vehicle 2 is in particular a standard height of a corresponding motor vehicle model of the motor vehicle 2. In order to now determine the volume of the parking space 1 more precisely, at least one height 17 of at least one structural element 11 of the parking space 1 is detected by means of the sensor device 8 or by means of the sensor 9, corresponding sensor data 13 are generated and provided to the control device 12. The height 17 can be, for example, the clear height between the structural element 11 including the floor 10 and the structural element 11 designed as a roof element 18. Alternatively or in addition, the width of the parking space 1 can be detected, that is, the width of two structural elements 11 arranged parallel to each other and opposite each other, which are each designed, for example, as a wall element. In particular, when the motor vehicle 2 is already parked in the parking space 1, the depth 19 of the parking space 1 can also be detected by means of the sensor device 8, and then the corresponding data set 14 can be provided to the control device 12, so that the volume of the parking space 1 can be determined particularly accurately.

[0078] Furthermore, it may happen that an element 20 is arranged in the parking space 1, which element reduces the volume of the parking space 1 defined by the structural element 11. In the method, it is then provided that the element 20 is detected by means of the sensor device 8 and characterized with respect to the respective element height 21. It is further provided that the element 20 is detected by means of the sensor device 8 and characterized with respect to its element width, so that at least one element volume of the respective element 20 can be estimated / roughly determined by means of the control device 12. At least estimable or roughly determinable in this case means that the element depth of the respective element 20 of the sensor device 8 or sensor 9 can remain hidden. However, the respective element volume can be estimated or roughly determined if the control device 12 has data on the depth 19 of the parking space 1.

[0079] In the present example, the motor vehicle 2 also has a storage device 22, which can in particular be part of the control device 12. In other words, it can be provided that the control device 12 includes a memory device 22. The data set 14 is stored by means of the storage device 22 for at least further reuse of the data set. This means that the control device 12 then controls the drive unit 4 as a function of the data set 14 stored by means of the storage device 22. For example, it can be provided that the volume of the parking space 1 is determined for the first time according to the method and the corresponding data are recorded in the data set 14, after which the data set 14 is stored by means of the storage device 22. If the parking space 1 is now exited by means of the motor vehicle 2 and the travel is possibly completed by means of the motor vehicle 2, the drive unit 4 can be actuated or controlled by means of the control device 12 as a function of the stored data set 14 when the motor vehicle 2 returns to the same parking space 1.

[0080] The storage device 22, which includes and / or is formed by a data memory, is also used in the method to further, i.e. more accurately, characterize the parking space 1 when the motor vehicle 2 is repeatedly driven into or parked. Since it is not absolutely necessary for the method that the motor vehicle 2 is already arranged or parked in the parking space 1, the parking space 1 can already be detected when the motor vehicle 2 is driven into the parking space 1. In other words, it can be provided that the parking space 1 is detected by means of the sensor device 8 when the motor vehicle 2 is driven into the parking space 1. In particular, if the motor vehicle 2 is equipped with only a few sensors 9, it can be provided that when the motor vehicle 2 first drives into the parking space 1, the corresponding first sensor data 13 generated are provided to the control device 12. These first sensor data are then stored in the storage device 22. When driving in further, i.e., during another parking process of the motor vehicle 2 in the parking space 1, further corresponding sensor data generated are provided to the control device 12 by means of the sensor device 8 or by means of the sensors 9 and stored in the storage device 22. For example, it may be provided that the control device 12 creates the data set 14 by calling up both the first sensor data 13 and the further sensor data 13 from the storage device 22 and entering the data set 14. For example, the first sensor data and the further sensor data may form the data set 14 together.

[0081] Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made to detect or partially detect parking space 1 by means of sensor system 8 when motor vehicle 2 is driven out of parking space 1 . This allows the volume of parking space 1 to be determined more accurately.

[0082] In the present example, the motor vehicle 2 has a navigation system 23, in particular a satellite navigation system. The navigation system 23 provides position data 24 to the control device 12, which adds the position data to the data set 14 for controlling the drive unit 4 or the internal combustion engine 5. Based on the position data 24, it can be determined, for example, whether the motor vehicle 2 is located in a building structure 25 or is placed or parked outdoors. This is because if the motor vehicle 2 is parked outdoors, that is, if the parking space 1 is outdoors and is therefore not completely surrounded by the structural elements 11, the volume is particularly large, so that the drive unit 4 can be used for a particularly long period of time for parking operation of the motor vehicle 2. Since the combustion exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine 5 can flow out of the parking space 1, there is no or only a particularly small risk that the combustion exhaust gas concentration in the parking space 1 assumes a concentration that is dangerous for the user of the motor vehicle 2.

[0083] Furthermore, a server device, in particular a cloud server device 26, is provided, which provides the control device 12 with additional data 27, so that the control device 12 adds the additional data 27 to the data set 14 for controlling the drive unit 4. The additional data 27 may be, for example, map data, satellite images, group data, etc. The additional data 27 are stored by means of the cloud server device 26 (which may also be referred to as a backend) and are provided to the control device 12, in particular as required. For this purpose, the cloud server device 26 has a first data transmission element 28, which corresponds to a data transmission element 29 on the vehicle side. Since the cloud server device 26 and the vehicle 2 are spatially separated from each other, the data transmission elements 28, 29 are each designed for wirelessly sending or receiving the additional data 27. By keeping the additional data 27 particularly up-to-date, for example not older than one day, in particular by means of the cloud server device 26, it is possible to determine particularly reliably whether the vehicle 2 is parked or should be parked in a parking space 1 that is surrounded on all sides, for example by the structural elements 11.

[0084] In particular, it can be determined with the aid of the position data 24 and / or the additional data 27 whether the motor vehicle 2 is traveling in the direction of an already characterized and / or detected parking space 1, i.e., whether the motor vehicle 2 intends to park in a parking space 1, wherein a data set 14 characterizing the respective parking space 1 is already stored in the storage device 22. In this case, it is also provided that a plurality of parking spaces 1 are detected with the aid of the parking assistance system 3, and data records 14 corresponding to the respective parking spaces 1 are created and in particular stored in the storage device 22. In other words, it is provided that a first parking space 1 is detected and a corresponding data record 14 spatially characterizing the first parking space 1 is created and stored in the storage device 22. If the motor vehicle 2 leaves the first parking space 1 and drives towards another parking space 1, or the motor vehicle 2 is parked in another parking space 1, the other parking space 1 is detected with the aid of the parking assistance system 3, and a data record 14 assigned to the other parking space 1 is created and spatially characterizing the other parking space 1 and is likewise stored in the storage device 22. In interaction with the position data 24 and / or the additional data 27, it can then be determined at which parking space 1 the motor vehicles 2, in particular with respective, mutually different volumes, are to be parked. Thus, when reaching the respective parking space 1, it can already be determined for how long the internal combustion engine 5 can be operated in a combustion operating state until the exhaust gas concentration in the respective volume becomes harmful to the health of the occupants of the motor vehicle 2.

[0085] Furthermore, a timing device 30 is provided, which measures how long the internal combustion engine 5 has been running in the burning operating state. Furthermore, the timing device 30 is designed to measure how long the internal combustion engine 5 has been running in the switched-off operating state. In particular, the timing device 30 measures how long the internal combustion engine 5 has been running in the burning operating state when the motor vehicle 2 has completely entered the parking space 1. Based on the respectively measured duration, the timing device 30 generates corresponding operating duration data 31, which are supplied to the control device 12, so that the control device 12 adds the operating duration data 31 to the data set 14 for controlling the drive unit 4 or the internal combustion engine 5.

[0086] To explain the method for controlling a drive unit 4 of a motor vehicle 2, Figure 2A method diagram in the form of a flow chart is shown, wherein elements 11, 20 from a previous parking operation are not taken into account in the method. In step 32, the parking assistance system 3 is activated, whereby the motor vehicle 2 is switched into parking operation. In this case, the drive unit 4, in particular the internal combustion engine 5, is started by means of the parking assistance system 3, in particular by means of the control device 12. Thus, if the internal combustion engine 5 is in the switched-off operating state, the internal combustion engine 5 is switched into the fired operating state by means of the control device 12. If the internal combustion engine 5 is already in the fired operating state when the parking assistance system 3 is activated, the start of the internal combustion engine 5 is cancelled.

[0087] In step 33 of the method, parking space 1 is at least partially detected, ie, elements 11, 20 are detected in the vehicle surroundings of motor vehicle 2. For this purpose, sensor system 8 of motor vehicle 2 is used.

[0088] In step 34 , the elements 11 , 20 located in the vehicle's surroundings are highly classified.

[0089] Furthermore, in step 35 the horizontal distance to the nearest high element 11 , 20 in the vehicle surroundings of motor vehicle 2 is determined.

[0090] In a further step 36 , which can be carried out in particular simultaneously with step 35 , the vertical distance to elements 11 , 20 which are arranged above vehicle 2 , for example fastened, for example suspended from structural element 11 which is designed as ceiling element 18 , is determined.

[0091] The results from steps 35 and 36 , ie the corresponding sensor data 13 , then flow into step 37 .

[0092] In step 37 of the method, the volume of the parking space 1 is determined in which the motor vehicle 2 is parked or is to be parked or has been parked. For this purpose, a worst-case scenario is assumed, that is, the volume of the parking space 1 that exists in the worst case is assumed. If, for example, an element 20 is located at a certain distance from a structural element 11 in the parking space 1, which structural element can be designed as a wall element, for calculating the volume of the respective element 20, the distance between the structural element 11 or the wall element and the side of the element 20 facing the structural element 11 is added, since it cannot be determined with the aid of the sensor device 8 or the sensor 9 whether the respective element 20 is spaced apart from the respective structural element 11 and / or how far the respective element 20 is located from the respective structural element 11 on the floor 10 of the parking space 1.

[0093] In step 38, a maximum permissible time period is determined—in particular with the aid of control device 12—during which internal combustion engine 5 can be operated in a combustion operating state without the concentration of combustion exhaust gases becoming too high in the volume of parking space 1. For this purpose, in particular further vehicle data 39 can be received, such as engine type 40, current consumption 41, fuel type 42, temperature 43 of the engine and / or exhaust system, external temperature 44, etc.

[0094] Furthermore, in step 38, i.e., in determining the permissible time period for the ignition operating state of the internal combustion engine 5, an environment type 45 of the environment of the vehicle 2 can be entered. For determining or ascertaining the environment type 45, the position data 24 are taken into account, which then flow directly, in particular in the form of data, into step 38, for example. Furthermore, it can be provided that the position data 24 determined by means of the navigation system 23 of the vehicle 2 are transmitted to a backend, i.e., to a cloud server device 26. In particular, both the position data 24 and the additional data 27 can be taken into account there for determining the environment type 45.

[0095] Thus, if the maximum permissible time period during which the internal combustion engine 5 can be operated in the combustion operating state is determined in step 38, this result is provided to step 46. In step 46, the duration during which the internal combustion engine 5 has been operated in the combustion operating state is determined, for example, by means of the timing device 30. For example, by means of the terminal 16, the user of the motor vehicle 2 can reset or restart the detection of the duration of the ignition operation at least once, for example, in order to continue the parking operation of the motor vehicle 2, by means of an operating action 47.

[0096] If the operating action 47 stops and the maximum permissible time period of the ignition operation of the internal combustion engine 5 has expired, the internal combustion engine 5 is controlled in step 48 by means of the control device 12 so that the internal combustion engine 5 switches from the ignition operation to the shutdown operation. In step 48, it can also be provided that after the internal combustion engine 5 is switched to the shutdown operating state, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2 and / or the driving operation of the motor vehicle 2 is blocked.

[0097] Figure 3 In order to illustrate a further embodiment of a method for controlling a drive unit 4 of a motor vehicle 2, a method diagram in the form of a flow chart is shown, wherein elements 11, 20 from a previous parking process are taken into account. Figure 3 The method and basis of the method diagram in Figure 2 The method diagram in the method diagram is distinguished.

[0098] Therefore, in the previous parking process 49, according to Figure 2. In contrast, after step 34, i.e. after the height classification of elements 11, 20, in step 50, the surroundings of the parking position are permanently stored. This means that, for example, by means of storage device 22, in step 50, a data set 14 representing parking space 1 is stored by means of storage device 22. Data set 14 then flows into steps 35 and 36 for further processing.

[0099] In step 32, drive unit 4, in particular internal combustion engine 5, is switched to an ignited operating state by means of the parking assistance system, if internal combustion engine 5 is not yet in an ignited operating state. Thereafter, elements 11, 20 in the surroundings of vehicle 2 are detected again in step 51, wherein step 51 is designed similarly to step 33. Thus, this takes place during the current parking process, whereas step 34 was carried out in the preceding or previous parking process 49.

[0100] After step 51, a new or repeated height classification of the elements 11, 20 in the surroundings of the vehicle 2 is performed in the current parking process—analogously to step 34 of the previous parking process 49. In the current parking process, the corresponding height data obtained as a result of step 52 are then used not only to determine the horizontal distance to the closest, high elements 11, 20 in the vehicle surroundings (i.e., step 35), but also to determine the vertical distance to the elements 11, 20 above the vehicle 2 (i.e., step 36).

[0101] Belong to according to Figure 3 The remaining steps of the method diagram correspond at least substantially to the steps of Figure 2 The steps of the method are described in FIG.

[0102] Overall, the present invention shows how a parking operation of a motor vehicle 2 can be designed particularly advantageously, ie particularly safely and particularly user-friendly.

[0103] Reference numerals list

[0104] 1 parking space

[0105] 2Car

[0106] 3 Parking Assist System

[0107] 4 drive units

[0108] 5 Internal combustion engine

[0109] 6First axis

[0110] 7 Second axis

[0111] 8Sensor device

[0112] 9 Sensors

[0113] 10 Ground

[0114] 11 Structural elements

[0115] 12 Control Devices

[0116] 13 Sensor Data

[0117] 14 Data Group

[0118] 15 Height

[0119] 18 Top cover element

[0120] 19 Depth

[0121] 20 Elements

[0122] 21 Component height

[0123] 22 Storage Devices

[0124] 23 Navigation System

[0125] 24 Location Data

[0126] 25 Building Structure

[0127] 26 Cloud Server

[0128] 27 Supplementary data

[0129] 28 Data transmission elements

[0130] 29 Data transmission element

[0131] 30 Timing Device

[0132] 31 Run duration data

[0133] 32 Steps

[0134] 33 Steps

[0135] 34 Steps

[0136] 35 Steps

[0137] 36 Steps

[0138] 37 Steps

[0139] 38 Steps

[0140] 39 Car Data

[0141] 40 Engine Type

[0142] 41 Current consumption

[0143] 42 Fuel Type

[0144] 43 Temperature

[0145] 44 External temperature

[0146] 45 Environment Type

[0147] 46 Steps

[0148] 47 Operations

[0149] 48 Steps

[0150] 49 Mooring process

[0151] 50 Steps

[0152] 51 Steps

[0153] 52 Steps

Claims

1. A method for controlling a drive unit (4, 5) of a motor vehicle (2), wherein: The drive unit is constructed as an internal combustion engine or includes an internal combustion engine, which discharges combustion exhaust gases through an exhaust device in a combustion operating state, and in a shut-off operating state of the internal combustion engine, no fluid inflow process, compression process, power process and / or exhaust process occurs in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein a sensor device (8, 9) at least partially detects a parking space (1) of a motor vehicle (2) and generates corresponding sensor data (13), which are provided to a control device (12), with the aid of which a data set (14) is established that at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space (1), characterized in that the volume of the parking space (1) is determined with the aid of the control device (12). The invention relates to a method for determining an exhaust gas flow rate and / or an exhaust gas mass or an exhaust gas composition by means of a control device in combination with other vehicle data, the other vehicle data comprising one or more of current consumption, engine temperature, temperature in the air intake system, and external temperature, thereby determining a remaining time period still available in a permissible manner for continuing parking operation by means of a user before the exhaust gas concentration in the volume of the parking space (1) exceeds a threshold value, so that the drive unit (4, 5) is controlled by means of the control device (12) according to the data set (14).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that At least one height (17, 21) of an element (11, 20) arranged in the parking space (1) is at least roughly determined using the sensor data by means of the control device (12) and a corresponding height dimension is added to a data set (14) for controlling the drive unit (4, 5).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The data set (14) which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space (1) is at least temporarily stored in a storage device (22) for at least one further control process in which the control device (12) controls the drive units (4, 5).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that When the motor vehicle (2) enters the parking space (1), the sensor system (8, 9) at least partially detects the parking space (1) and the corresponding sensor data (13) generated are stored at least until another entry.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the motor vehicle (2) is driven out of the parking space (1), the sensor system (8, 9) at least partially detects the parking space (1), and the corresponding sensor data (13) generated are stored at least until the next drive out.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Position data (24) are provided to the control device (12) by means of a navigation system (23) of the motor vehicle (2), and the control device (12) adds the position data to a data set (14) for controlling the drive unit (4, 5).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device (12) is provided with additional data (27) by means of a server device (26), which additional data characterize whether the parking space is outdoors, wherein the control device (12) then adds the additional data to a data set (14) for controlling the drive units (4, 5).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Operation duration data (31) are provided to the control device (12) by means of a timing device (30), the operation duration data characterizing the operation duration of the drive unit (4, 5) corresponding to the respective operating state of the drive unit (4, 5), and the operation duration data (31) are added to a data set (14) for controlling the drive unit (4, 5) by means of the control device (12).

9. A parking assistance system (3) for a motor vehicle (2), the parking assistance system being used to control a drive unit (4, 5) of the motor vehicle (2), the drive unit being configured as an internal combustion engine or comprising an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine discharging combustion exhaust gases via an exhaust device in a combustion operating state, and in a shut-off operating state of the internal combustion engine, no inflow process, compression process, power process and / or exhaust process of a fluid occurs in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, wherein: The parking assistance system comprises a sensor device (8, 9) by means of which a parking space (1) for the motor vehicle (2) can be at least partially detected and corresponding sensor data (13) can be generated, the parking assistance system comprises a control device (12) to which the corresponding sensor data (13) can be provided, wherein a data set (14) can be generated by means of the control device (12) which at least partially spatially characterizes the parking space (1), characterized in that the control device (12) can determine the volume size of the parking space (1) based on the sensor data (13) and add the volume size to a data set for controlling the parking space (1). The invention relates to a data set (14) of a drive unit (4, 5), wherein the exhaust gas flow and / or the exhaust gas mass or the exhaust gas composition are inferred by means of a control device in combination with other vehicle data, the other vehicle data including one or more of the engine type, displacement, current consumption, fuel type, engine temperature, temperature in the intake system, and external temperature, thereby determining a remaining time period that is still available in a permissible manner for continuing the parking operation by means of a user before the exhaust gas concentration in the volume of the parking space (1) exceeds a threshold value, so that the drive unit (4, 5) is controlled by means of the control device (12) according to the data set (14).

10. A motor vehicle (2) having a parking assistance system (3) designed according to claim 9.

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