Method for outputting a starting area for a parking process of a motor vehicle, electronic computing device and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for outputting a starting area (4) for a parking process of a motor vehicle (1), wherein, for at least one determined parking space (5), a starting area (4) for the motor vehicle (1) is determined (V1) on a carriageway (3), from which starting area the motor vehicle (1) can be parked into the parking space (5), and the starting area (4) is output (V2) in the driver's field of vision in superimposition with the carriageway (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for outputting a starting area for a parking process of a motor vehicle, an electronic computing device for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle.

[0002] A parking assistance device is known from patent document DE 11 2016 005 614 T5. This device includes an imager and a display unit. The imager records images of the vehicle's environment, and the display unit presents a guidance image to guide the vehicle from its initial parking position to its target parking position. Furthermore, the parking assistance device includes a parking assistance generation unit that generates parking guidance information. This information, based on basic information including the imager's imaging results, the initial parking position, and the target parking position, shows the parking path. Additionally, the device includes a driving area determination unit that determines the driving area the vehicle can navigate based on the parking information. Finally, the device includes a display control unit that generates an image on the display unit that displays the driving area along with the guidance image based on the parking guidance information.

[0003] Furthermore, a motor vehicle with a positioning module is known from patent document DE 10 2019 208 788 A1, which is used to determine the position of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes a communication interface for reading parking space information, wherein the parking space information includes the location of the parking space and advantageously includes the size of the parking space. The motor vehicle includes a tracking module for determining the position of the parking space relative to the position of the motor vehicle, and an image generator for determining the position of a virtual image component representing the parking space on a perspective display based on the position of the parking space relative to the position of the motor vehicle.

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a solution that enables the driver to be brought to a particularly advantageous starting position for the parking process in a particularly easy manner.

[0005] This technical problem is solved by the technical solution of the independent claim according to the present invention. Other feasible designs of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the specification, and the drawings.

[0006] This invention relates to a method for outputting a starting area for a parking process of a motor vehicle. The method specifies that, for at least one defined parking space (or vacant parking space), a starting area for a motor vehicle is determined on the roadway, from which the motor vehicle can be parked in the parking space in one go (or without interruption). This means that the starting area for the motor vehicle is determined by an electronic computing device based on sensor data, wherein the motor vehicle can be parked in the parking space in one go while located within the starting area. The method also specifies that the starting area is output in the driver's field of vision in a manner superimposed (or overlapped) with the roadway. This means that the starting area is displayed on the actual roadway. Therefore, the starting area is not displayed on the mapping of the roadway on the display device. Thus, for the motor vehicle driver, the starting area appears to be directly demarcated on the roadway within the motor vehicle's environment. Consequently, the motor vehicle driver can particularly easily estimate which section of road the motor vehicle needs to traverse to be positioned within the starting area. In this method, the motor vehicle driver can particularly easily see where the starting area is located within the motor vehicle's environment. Therefore, drivers of motor vehicles receive particularly good support when driving towards the starting area and parking their vehicles in the starting area.

[0007] In another embodiment of the invention, the starting area is projected onto the windshield of the vehicle via augmented reality and output within the driver's field of vision (or visible range). Thus, the starting area can be adapted to the driver's field of vision through augmented reality. Therefore, the driver can easily identify the starting area for the vehicle while focusing their gaze on the roadway ahead. This avoids the output of the starting area causing the driver's attention to deviate from the road where the vehicle is located.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, the field of view is determined based on the driver's determined eye height and determined observation direction. In other words, it determines how the driver's eyes are oriented, how the driver's viewing angle towards the vehicle's environment is oriented, and / or how the driver's head and / or eye position is oriented relative to a starting area, wherein the starting area is output into the field of view based on the driver's determined eye height and determined observation direction. This allows for particularly good perception of the starting area by the driver.

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, the starting area is output to the driver's field of vision via a laser beam projected onto the roadway. In other words, the vehicle may include a laser device that can illuminate the roadway with a laser beam within the defined starting area. The starting area can be marked on the roadway using the laser beam. With the starting area marked by the laser beam, the driver of the vehicle can particularly easily estimate the relative position of the vehicle to the starting area, thereby making it particularly easy and accurate to drive the vehicle into the starting area.

[0010] In another embodiment of the invention, the starting area is specified as a planar region representing the defined boundary of the roadway. This allows the driver to easily see how far the starting area extends along the roadway or how the vehicle should be positioned to be fully within the starting area. Consequently, the driver receives particularly good support when maneuvering the vehicle into the starting area.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, as a supplement to the starting area, the surface to be traversed during the parking process of a motor vehicle, starting from the starting area and moving into the parking space, is output. Here, the surface to be traversed can be represented by the trajectory that the motor vehicle needs to traverse from the starting area into the parking space. By showing the surface to be traversed from the starting area to the parking space, the driver can estimate whether a collision with an object will occur during the process of the motor vehicle parking from the starting area. In particular, the starting area can be determined in this way by the vehicle's electronic computing device, so that no collision between the motor vehicle and an object occurs on the surface to be traversed during a single parking maneuver. This significantly reduces the risk of accidents when parking a motor vehicle.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, a symbol is output superimposed on the parking space in the driver's field of vision. This symbol represents the predetermined expected orientation of the vehicle in the parking space in order to park the vehicle in one pass from the starting area. Here, the symbol can represent and present the vehicle in its expected parking position. Therefore, for example, a mapping of the vehicle in the parking space can be displayed as a symbol. With this symbol, the driver can easily identify how the vehicle is oriented in the parking space after performing the parking process from the starting area. Furthermore, the driver can identify from the symbol whether the vehicle should be parked in a forward parking process or a reverse parking process in order to park in the parking space in one pass from the starting area.

[0013] In particular, it can be specified that the symbol is output as a hologram superimposed on the parking space in the driver's field of vision. Thus, if the hologram represents a mapping of the vehicle, the driver can particularly easily estimate the three-dimensional extension of the vehicle's state as it is parked in the parking space.

[0014] Relatedly, it can also be stipulated that the symbol representing the orientation of the vehicle in the parking space is adjusted according to the received user input, and the determined starting area is adjusted according to the adjusted orientation represented by the adjusted symbol. In other words, the driver can adjust the specified orientation of the vehicle in the parking space through user input, for example, by the driver changing, in particular rotating, the orientation of the symbol displayed in the parking space. Thus, the driver can, for example, preset that he wants to park the vehicle forward rather than reverse into the parking space. Therefore, the display of the vehicle in the parking space can be adjusted by the driver to adjust the planned orientation of the vehicle in the parking space. The determined starting area is adapted to the adjusted orientation of the vehicle in the parking space to achieve a one-shot parking maneuver, in which case the vehicle is positioned in the parking space with the orientation represented by the user input after the parking process is completed. Therefore, by adjusting the orientation of the symbol, the driver can set the final position of the vehicle in the parking space after the parking process is completed. This allows the parking process to be particularly well adapted to the driver's wishes.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the starting area is determined based on at least one identified obstacle in the parking space environment and / or the width and / or length and / or orientation of the parking space. By determining the starting area based on at least one identified obstacle in the parking space environment, it can be ensured that the risk of collision between the vehicle and the obstacle is kept particularly low when parking the vehicle in one go from the determined starting area. Determining the starting area based on the width and / or length and / or orientation of the parking space, such as whether it is a longitudinal or lateral parking space, enables the vehicle to be parked in the parking space with a particularly high probability from its position in the starting area when it is located in the starting area. This enables a particularly simple parking maneuver for parking a vehicle in the parking space from the starting area.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, when the vehicle is located in the starting area, it is moved into the parking space by assisted parking or manual parking. During the parking process of the vehicle moving from the starting area into the parking space, in the case of assisted parking, the vehicle can be laterally controlled at least by the vehicle's control equipment, and if necessary, the vehicle's control equipment can also perform longitudinal control. Alternatively, the driver can manually park the vehicle from the starting area, particularly in one pass, into the parking space. Assisted parking provides particularly good support for the driver when parking the vehicle. When manually parking the vehicle, displaying the starting area provides particularly good support for the driver in one pass.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, a starting area is defined for each parking space, and all defined starting areas are output as a summed total area. Therefore, the starting area can be displayed as a total area for multiple parking spaces, wherein when a vehicle is located in the starting area, it can be parked into at least one of these parking spaces at once. Thus, drivers can readily determine where their vehicle should be positioned on the driveway, particularly within the total area, to facilitate parking in one of these parking spaces, especially by parking the vehicle in one go.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, a parking space is selected from multiple parking spaces based on received user input, and a starting area is determined and output for the selected parking space. In other words, multiple parking spaces in the vehicle's environment can be determined by the vehicle's electronic computing device. These multiple determined parking spaces can be output to, and in particular displayed to, the driver, making them readily available. Through user input, the driver can select the parking space from these multiple determined spaces where the vehicle should be parked. A starting area can be determined for the selected parking space by the electronic computing device, and subsequently, the output of that starting area is triggered. Thus, the driver receives particularly good support when parking the vehicle in one of multiple parking spaces.

[0019] The present invention also relates to an electronic computing device for a motor vehicle, the electronic computing device being configured to execute a method already described regarding the output of a starting area for a parking process of a motor vehicle according to the present invention. To this end, the electronic computing device may be configured to, for at least one determined parking space, determine a starting area for the motor vehicle on the driveway, from which the motor vehicle can be parked in the parking space in one go. Furthermore, the electronic computing device may be configured to trigger an output of the starting area superimposed on the driveway in the driver's field of vision.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having the electronic computing device already described with respect to the electronic computing device according to the invention. The advantages and advantageous extensions of the method according to the invention should be considered as advantages and advantageous extensions of both the electronic computing device and the motor vehicle, and vice versa.

[0021] Other features of the invention can be seen from and derived from the following drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the specification, as well as the features and combinations of features shown separately in and / or in the drawings, can be used not only in the combinations given separately, but also in other different combinations or individually, as long as they do not depart from the scope of the invention.

[0022] In the attached diagram:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic view of the environment of a motor vehicle, viewed from the driver's area, is shown, in which multiple parking spaces are available for use by motor vehicles. The starting area for initiating the parking process is shown superimposed on the roadway in the driver's field of vision.

[0024] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a method for outputting the starting area for the parking process of a motor vehicle.

[0025] In the accompanying drawings, elements that are identical or have the same function are given the same reference numerals.

[0026] exist Figure 1The diagram shows a view of the environment 2 of vehicle 1 from the driver's cabin of vehicle 1. Here, the viewing direction is specifically from the driver's area towards the driveway 3 in the environment 2, which is located in front of vehicle 1 along the direction of travel. On the driveway 3, a starting area 4 is marked in the driver's field of vision, from which the parking process of vehicle 1 can begin to enter the parking space 5 assigned to the starting area 4. The starting area 4 is projected into the driver's field of vision through the windshield of vehicle 1 using augmented reality. Furthermore, a surface 6 on the driveway 3, which vehicle 1 will pass through during the parking process from the starting area 4 into the parking space 5, is also marked in the driver's field of vision.

[0027] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrates a method for outputting a starting area for the parking process of motor vehicle 1. This method can be executed by the electronic computing device of motor vehicle 1. In the method, in a first method step V1, for at least one determined parking space 5, a starting area 4 for motor vehicle 1 is determined on the driveway 3. From this starting area 4, motor vehicle 1 can be parked directly into the parking space 5. In a second method step V2, the determined starting area 4 is output superimposed on the driveway 3 to the driver's field of vision of motor vehicle 1. Here, as an alternative to augmented reality display, the starting area can be directly marked on the driveway 3 by a laser device using a laser beam. In this example, the starting area 4 is output as a demarcated planar area on the driveway 3 in the driver's field of vision of motor vehicle 1. Figure 1 As can be seen, as a supplement to the starting area 4, the surface 6 that the vehicle 1 is about to pass through during the parking process from the starting area 4 into the parking space 5 can be output to the driver's field of vision in a way that is superimposed on the roadway 3.

[0028] The driver's field of vision for vehicle 1 can be determined specifically based on the driver's eye height and observation direction. This can be achieved by monitoring the driver's area of ​​vehicle 1 using a driver observation camera, allowing the driver's eye height and observation direction to be determined from the image data recorded by the camera. To prevent vehicle 1 from colliding with obstacles during parking, the starting area 4 can be determined based on at least one identified obstacle in the environment 2 of vehicle 1 or the environment of parking space 5. Alternatively or additionally, the starting area 4 can also be determined based on the length and / or width and / or orientation of parking space 5.

[0029] If multiple possible parking spaces 5 for motor vehicle 1 are determined, specifically by the electronic computing device of motor vehicle 1, then the parking space 5 designated as the target parking space for motor vehicle 1 can be selected based on user input received from the driver, whereby the user input represents the selection of one of the multiple determined parking spaces 5. Based on the target parking space determined from the multiple parking spaces 5, a starting area 4 for the selected target parking space can be determined and output. Alternatively or additionally, a separate starting area 4 can be determined for all parking spaces 5 determined in environment 2, and each starting area 4 can be output superimposed on the driveway 3 in the driver's field of vision. For this purpose, all determined starting areas 4 for the determined parking spaces 5 can be output as a summed total area.

[0030] Once vehicle 1 is in the starting area 4, it can be parked from the starting area 4 into the parking space 5 belonging to the starting area 4 in one go through assisted or manual parking.

[0031] To inform the driver of vehicle 1 of the expected orientation of vehicle 1 after a single parking maneuver from starting area 4 into parking space 5, a symbol can be output superimposed on the parking space 5 in the driver's field of vision, whereby the symbol represents the expected orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5. Specifically, a hologram of vehicle 1 can be output as the symbol. Additional user input from the driver of vehicle 1 can be received via the input device of vehicle 1 or a mobile electronic terminal device, representing a change in the desired orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5. Due to the receipt of this additional user input, the symbol representing the orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5 can be adjusted accordingly. It is also stipulated that the starting area 4 assigned to parking space 5 is adjusted based on the adjusted expected orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5. Therefore, a starting area 4 designated for the driver's desired orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5 can be output, from which vehicle 1 can be parked into parking space 5 in one go, and with the final orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5 preset by the driver's additional user input.

[0032] The vehicle 1 may include an augmented reality output device, through which the starting area 4 can be projected into the windshield of the vehicle 1 and into the driver's field of vision via so-called augmented reality.

[0033] The described method is based on the understanding that the performance of the assisted parking system largely depends on the starting position from which the vehicle 1 enters the corresponding parking space 5. Here, the longitudinal and lateral distances of the vehicle 1 relative to the parking space 5, as well as its lateral distance relative to stationary objects, such as other parked vehicles, are crucial. Under ideal conditions, the parking assistance device can execute a parking process from the starting position without any corrective actions or repositioning of the vehicle 1, thereby ensuring that the vehicle 1 is smoothly and precisely parked into the designated parking space 5.

[0034] In this method, the optimal starting area for vehicle 1 is projected onto the ground plane in front of the possible parking space 5, particularly through augmented reality projection onto the windshield of vehicle 1 or through laser projection onto the road ahead. Thus, the starting area 4 and the calculated surface 6 to be traversed are displayed in the driver's field of vision, from which vehicle 1 can be parked directly into parking space 5. Vehicle 1 traverses this surface as it moves from the starting area 4 into parking space 5, thus visualizing the planned trajectory and target position of vehicle 1. Furthermore, a three-dimensional hologram of vehicle 1 in parking space 5 can be displayed, making it appear to the driver that vehicle 1 is already parked in parking space 5. Therefore, the driver can easily identify the expected orientation of vehicle 1 in parking space 5 after the parking process.

[0035] In summary, this invention demonstrates how augmented reality can be used to display the starting region 4 for a motor vehicle 1.

[0036] List of reference numerals

[0037] 1 Motor vehicles

[0038] 2 Environment

[0039] 3. Carriageway

[0040] 4. Starting Area

[0041] 5 parking spaces

[0042] 6. The surface to be driven over

[0043] The corresponding method steps from V1 to V2

Claims

1. A method for outputting a starting region (4) for a parking process of a motor vehicle (1), wherein, - For at least one defined parking space (5), a starting area (4) for motor vehicles (1) is defined (V1) on the driveway (3), from which motor vehicles (1) can be parked into the parking space (5) in one go. - Output the starting region (4) (V2) in the driver's field of vision in a manner superimposed on the roadway (3). - Output a symbol, which is superimposed as a hologram on the parking space (5) in the driver's field of vision, the hologram representing a mapping of the vehicle (1), wherein, in order to park the vehicle (1) in the parking space (5) from the starting area (4) in one go, the symbol represents the determined expected orientation of the vehicle (1) in the parking space (5). - The symbol representing the orientation of the motor vehicle (1) in the parking space (5) is adjusted according to the received user input, and the determined starting area (4) is adjusted according to the adjusted orientation represented by the adjusted symbol.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The starting area (4) is output to the driver's field of vision by being projected onto the windshield of the motor vehicle (1) via augmented reality.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The field of vision is determined based on the eye height and the direction of observation determined by the driver of the motor vehicle (1).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The starting area (4) is output to the driver's field of vision by a laser beam projected onto the roadway (3).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The starting region (4) is output as a planar region that serves as the defined boundary of the roadway (3).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, As a supplement to the starting area (4), the output is the surface (6) to be driven through during the parking process of the motor vehicle (1) from the starting area (4) into the parking space (5).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The starting area (4) is determined based on at least one identified obstacle in the environment of the parking space (5) and / or the width and / or length and / or orientation of the parking space (5).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, When the motor vehicle (1) is in the starting area (4), the motor vehicle (1) is moved into the parking space (5) by assisted parking or by manual parking.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, For different parking spaces (5), determine their respective starting areas (4), and output the total area as a sum of all determined starting areas.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Based on the received user input, select one parking space (5) from multiple parking spaces (5) and determine and output the starting area (4) for the selected parking space (5).

11. An electronic computing device for a motor vehicle (1), the electronic computing device being configured to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A motor vehicle (1) having an electronic computing device according to claim 11.

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