Assistance system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an assistance system (1) for a motor vehicle (20), comprising a parking sensor arrangement (2), an acoustic system (5) for a vehicle interior (21), and a control unit (10). The control unit (10) is configured to detect at least one parking space (30, 32, 34) by means of the parking sensor arrangement (2), to indicate this by means of an acoustic signal (A) by means of the acoustic system (5), and to determine a parking space direction (P1, P2, P3). In order to optimize the assistance provided to a driver when locating a parking space, the invention provides that the control unit (10) is configured to set, with reference to a listening position (25) within the vehicle interior (21), a virtual original direction (R1, R2, R3) of the acoustic signal (A), perceivable in the listening position (25), as a function of the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assistance system for a motor vehicle, having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Parking assistance systems are common in modern motor vehicles, particularly passenger cars. These use sensors to detect an existing parking space and alert the driver, for example with a graphic display and / or an acoustic signal. The parking space is automatically measured by the assistance system and compared with the dimensions of the vehicle. The assistance system can also support the driver by providing instructions when parking or, if necessary, even control the vehicle fully or partially autonomously during parking. Depending on the performance of the sensors, the parking space found may be some distance from the vehicle's current position. It is also possible that the situation is confusing in a parking lot, on the side of the road, or similar, or that the driver has to pay attention to moving traffic, pedestrians, or the like.In all of these cases, it can be difficult for the driver to easily locate the parking space found by the assistance system. The system may also find multiple parking spaces, forcing the driver to choose one of them. Systems are known that display the location of the parking space graphically on a screen. If there are multiple parking spaces, a recommendation for the most suitable parking space can also be displayed. However, reading the corresponding displays and comparing them with the vehicle's surroundings is a distraction for the driver.

[0003] DE 102 57 722 A1 discloses a parking aid for a vehicle, comprising a measuring unit for detecting parking spaces as the vehicle passes them, a memory unit for storing the properties of the parking spaces, and an output unit for outputting information about the parking spaces. Optionally, the information can also be output acoustically, in particular via a warning signal or voice output.

[0004] DE 10 2004 001 122 A1 discloses a method for providing information for parallel parking a vehicle relative to the roadway by determining the size and location of a parking space, determining the vehicle's position relative to the parking space, calculating a desired trajectory, and generating signals indicating the remaining distance to the vehicle's next stopping point. According to one embodiment, a desired steering direction to the right or left with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal axis is represented by acoustic signals emitted from a loudspeaker arranged in the right or left half of the vehicle relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

[0005] EP 1 686 007 A2 discloses a method for acoustically outputting information, particularly in a vehicle, wherein a degree of criticality of the information is determined. The acoustic output is performed by at least one polyphonic sound or a sound sequence, and the harmony of the sound or sound sequence is selected depending on the criticality of the information. In particular, information about the length of a parking space can be output, with the criticality of the information increasing as the length of the parking space decreases.

[0006] EP 2 130 736 B1 discloses an assistance system with environment recognition. This system displays a distance marker, a plurality of travel path estimate lines, and a plurality of reference distance lines on a monitor, wherein the travel path estimate lines and the reference distance lines are displayed as parking orientation. Furthermore, objects existing around the user in the predetermined area indicated by the distance marker are detected, and a special sound corresponding to the distance indicated by the distance marker is emitted.

[0007] EP 2 557 020 A2 discloses a method for assisting a driver of a vehicle during a parking maneuver. Environmental data characterizing the vehicle's surroundings are provided and evaluated with respect to at least one first object in the lateral vicinity of the vehicle, which indicates a potential parking space, and with respect to at least one second object outside the lateral vicinity of the vehicle, which confirms the presence of the parking space. The existing parking space is displayed, which can optionally be done acoustically.

[0008] EP 2 608 185 A1 discloses a method for providing a parking aid in a vehicle, in which at least one parking space in the surroundings of the vehicle is detected, and the surroundings of the vehicle with the at least one parking space are displayed using a graphic representation. At least two parking modes are defined, which differ in the type of parking in the parking spaces and / or the type of gap in the parking spaces, and one of the parking modes is selected, wherein the type of graphic representation of the surroundings and the parking space depends on the selected parking mode.

[0009] Given the current state of the art, driver assistance in finding a parking space still has room for improvement. In particular, intuitive assistance that distracts the driver as little as possible is desirable.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of optimising the support provided to a driver when finding a parking space.

[0011] According to the invention, the object is achieved by an assistance system having the features of claim 1, wherein the subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0012] It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

[0013] The invention provides an assistance system for a motor vehicle. The term “motor vehicle” in the narrower sense refers to a road vehicle, i.e. a vehicle suitable and registered for road traffic. In particular, this can be a car, a truck or a bus. There are no restrictions whatsoever with regard to the drive of the motor vehicle; it can, for example, be powered by an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline, diesel, LPG, hydrogen or another gas as fuel. Alternatively or additionally, an electric motor can be provided, which can be supplied with energy, for example, by a battery unit and / or a fuel cell. Preferably, the motor vehicle has at least two axles, each with two wheels, although deviations from this are also conceivable. The motor vehicle can be steerable by a driver at least temporarily.However, it can also be configured to drive autonomously, at least temporarily, without driver control. The assistance system serves to support one or more occupants of the vehicle, especially a driver. It can also be referred to as a parking assistance system.

[0014] The assistance system comprises a parking sensor arrangement, an acoustic system for a vehicle interior, and a control unit. The parking sensor arrangement has at least one sensor, which can also be referred to as a parking sensor. This is usually a contactless sensor, e.g., an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a lidar sensor, or a radar sensor. A combination of different sensors is also conceivable. The acoustic system is intended for the vehicle interior and can be arranged at least partially within the vehicle interior or adjacent thereto. It is configured to generate sound. In addition to at least one element for generating sound, it can also have at least one element for influencing sound. The latter can, for example, be configured to scatter, focus, reflect, or the like sound. The control unit can perform control functions as well as evaluation functions.It does not have to be exclusively assigned to the assistance system. For example, it could be an on-board computer of the motor vehicle that is also associated with other systems of the motor vehicle. The term "unit" should not be interpreted to mean that all parts of the control unit must be physically connected and / or arranged in one location. It can also comprise a plurality of elements or sub-units that can be connected to one another, for example, by data lines. The control unit can also be referred to as a monitoring unit. It usually comprises hardware components, but its functions can be implemented at least partially in software. The control unit is connected to both the parking sensor arrangement and the acoustic system in a signal-transmitting manner. The connection can be wired, in particular, but a wireless connection is also possible.

[0015] The control unit is configured to detect at least one parking space using the parking sensor arrangement, to indicate this by means of an acoustic signal using the acoustic system, and to determine a parking space direction. The control unit receives sensor signals or sensor values ​​from the parking sensor arrangement and can use these to detect whether a parking space exists. In this context, the term “parking space” refers to an area which, in terms of its dimensions, is at least large enough to park the motor vehicle there. The parking space should ideally be larger than the dimensions of the motor vehicle, for example to enable the motor vehicle to maneuver into it or to permit the vehicle doors to be opened. The parking space can be characterized by a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, which, when the motor vehicle is parked, correspond to a longitudinal axis (X-axis) and a transverse axis (Y-axis).It goes without saying that the parking space must be open on at least one side in at least one of the directions to enable parking. When the control unit has detected a parking space, it indicates this via the acoustic system with an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal can be generated immediately after the parking space is detected or with a certain time delay. With regard to the type of acoustic signal, various options exist within the scope of the invention. It can be a single, continuous tone or a sequence of tones spaced apart in time. The acoustic signal can contain one or more frequencies, whereby the frequency can also be changed over time, corresponding to a tone that becomes higher or lower over time. Finally, the acoustic signal can also include a voice output containing information that is immediately understandable for the occupant, e.g. "Parking space found" or the like.

[0016] The control unit is also configured to determine a parking space direction. This is generally a direction in which the parking space is located. More precisely, it is a direction in which the parking space is located relative to the motor vehicle. Generally, this can be a direction in which at least one point or sub-area of ​​the parking space is located as viewed from a point or sub-area of ​​the motor vehicle. The parking space direction can be specified in degrees, for example, where 0° could correspond to a direction along the longitudinal axis straight ahead in front of the motor vehicle, 90° along the transverse axis to the right of the vehicle, etc. Other units are also conceivable, which the control unit may only use internally. The determination of the parking space direction can be based on a determination of a parking space position. The parking space position describes a position of the parking space relative to the motor vehicle.

[0017] According to the invention, the control unit is configured to set, relative to a listening position within the vehicle interior, a virtual direction of origin of the acoustic signal perceivable in the listening position as a function of the parking space direction. The listening position within the vehicle interior can be defined more or less precisely and can, under certain circumstances, also be referred to as the listening area. The listening position can be defined three-dimensionally; however, a two-dimensional definition with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the motor vehicle is generally sufficient. It corresponds to the position of an occupant for whom the acoustic signal is assumed to be relevant. The listening position can either be predetermined in advance or it can be determined situation-dependently, in particular by the control unit. The control unit is configured to set the virtual direction of origin of the acoustic signal.The term "virtual origin direction" refers to the direction from which the acoustic signal appears to be coming to a listener in the listening position—that is, the direction in which they would locate the origin of the acoustic signal. In some situations, this may correspond to the actual direction of the source, i.e., the source position; generally, however, the acoustic system merely creates the impression that the acoustic signal originates from this direction. This is indicated by the term "virtual." In the following, the term "origin direction" can also be used simply, which is synonymous with the term "virtual origin direction."

[0018] The virtual origin direction is set depending on the parking space direction. Generally, this means that different origin directions are set for different parking space directions. However, this does not mean that every change in the parking space direction also corresponds to a change in the origin direction. At the very least, two parking space directions that differ by at least a certain angular amount (e.g., 10°, 20°, or 45°, or possibly more) should result in different settings of the origin direction. Thus, the origin direction always contains information about the parking space direction. It goes without saying that there should preferably be an intuitively understandable connection between the two directions. In any case, an occupant, especially the driver, can not only recognize the presence of a parking space based on the acoustic signal, but is also assisted in locating it.Since this is done with the acoustic signal, the occupant does not have to read a screen or other display and can instead focus their attention on the vehicle's surroundings. It goes without saying that in addition to the acoustic signal, the assistance system can also use a graphic display to inform the occupant(s) about the presence, position, and / or creation of a parking space.

[0019] In some embodiments, the relationship between the direction of origin and the direction of the parking space can be rather loose or approximate. For example, it would be conceivable for the direction of origin to be set to the right or left of the listening position if the parking space is located to the right or left of the motor vehicle. Equally, the direction of origin could simply indicate whether the parking space is in front of or behind the motor vehicle. A rough division into quadrants (front left, front right, rear left, rear right) would also be conceivable. However, a preferred embodiment provides that the control unit is configured to set the direction of origin such that it deviates from the direction of the parking space by a maximum of 45°, preferably a maximum of 20°, more preferably a maximum of 10°. This provides a person at the listening position with comparatively precise orientation with regard to the direction of the parking space.It is understood that the deviation of the original direction from the parking space direction depends on various factors, e.g. the accuracy with which the parking space direction and the listening position are determined, or the accuracy (e.g. step size in degrees) with which the original direction can be set.

[0020] Particularly in a vehicle that is at least temporarily autonomous, a person for whom the direction of the parking space is relevant may be located in different areas of the vehicle interior. If the motor vehicle is not driving autonomously, the driver is usually the person who should be informed about the direction of the parking space. Therefore, it is preferable for the listening position to correspond to an assumed driving position of a driver. The driver position can, under certain circumstances, be determined using sensors. However, it would also be conceivable for the position of a driver's seat to be assumed as the driver's position by default. The driver position can be defined more or less precisely. Ideally, the position of the driver's head should be used as the basis. This can also depend on the specific settings of an adjustable driver's seat, which can be taken into account when determining the driver position / listening position.

[0021] Various acoustic methods are conceivable for influencing the direction of origin. For example, the scattering and / or reflection of sound waves within the vehicle interior can be dynamically changed. According to a preferred embodiment, the acoustic system has a plurality of sound generators, wherein the control unit is configured to set the direction of origin by individually adjusting the output volume of the acoustic signal at the individual sound generators. The term “sound generator” here refers to any component that can generate and emit sound in a controllable manner. In particular, the sound generators can be loudspeakers. These can, for example, belong to an infotainment system of the motor vehicle. The sound generators have different positions within the vehicle interior. In particular, at least two sound generators can be spaced from one another with respect to the longitudinal axis and / or the transverse axis of the motor vehicle.They are advantageously arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle interior. Although a rough direction indication is possible, for example, with two sound generators, it is preferred that the acoustic system has at least four sound generators which are spaced apart in pairs along the longitudinal axis and / or the transverse axis. This means that these can be arranged at the front left and right and at the rear left and right within the vehicle interior. The output volume of the respective sound generator is individually adjusted by the control unit. If the output volume of at least one front sound generator is increased compared to the output volume of at least one rear sound generator, this shifts the original direction forward. If the output volume of at least one right sound generator is increased compared to the output volume of at least one left sound generator, this shifts the original direction to the right.By using a specific ratio of output volumes, a specific direction of origin can be represented with high accuracy.

[0022] The listening position can be predetermined for the control unit. For example, the driver's position can be assumed to be unchangeable due to the configuration of the motor vehicle. It would also be conceivable to identify the listening position based on settings made by the user. For example, the setting of an infotainment system (in particular the balance) could be used to determine whether a listener (driver, front passenger, etc.) is on the left or right side of the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred that the control unit is configured to determine the listening position using an interior sensor arrangement assigned to the vehicle interior. The interior sensor arrangement has at least one sensor that can detect within the vehicle interior and, in particular, can itself be arranged in or at least adjacent to the vehicle interior.One possibility would be seat occupancy sensors, which can be used to determine the position of one or more occupants. It would also be conceivable to detect occupants without contact, e.g. optically, using interior cameras, radar, lidar or ultrasound. Different sensors or detection methods can also be combined. For example, the listening position relative to the vehicle's transverse axis can be determined by the fixed position of the driver's seat. The relevant position of the driver's head can be approximately estimated from the current position of the seat relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, the adjustment of the backrest and / or other parameters. These can either be detected directly, provided they are made using actuators. Additionally or alternatively, such settings can also be detected by sensors, which can be referred to as position sensors.

[0023] On the motor vehicle side, different areas or points can be used as a reference to determine the direction of the parking space. For example, the parking space direction could be determined in relation to a central position of the motor vehicle with regard to the longitudinal and transverse axes. Information that is particularly easy to understand intuitively is obtained if the control unit is set up to determine the parking space direction in relation to the listening position. In other words, it determines the direction in which the parking space is located as seen from the listening position. If the direction of origin and the parking space direction match sufficiently, the occupant in the listening position hears the acoustic signal from approximately or exactly the direction in which they can see the parking space, provided it is not currently obscured.

[0024] If the parking space is relatively far from the motor vehicle, it can be viewed as a whole as approximately "point-like," so that the entire parking space can be approximately assigned a single parking space direction. As soon as the distance to the parking space is smaller, e.g., less than five times or less than three times the length of the parking space, different points or areas of the parking space can be differentiated with regard to their direction. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the parking space direction as the direction of a reference point in the parking space. Various options are available for positioning the reference point within the parking space. This can be located centrally in the parking space, although it is understood that a mathematically and geometrically exact determination of a center of the parking space is hardly feasible or sensible. This meansThe reference point can be considered "central" if, for example, it is located within a central fifth or a central tenth of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the parking space. Alternatively, the reference point can be offset forward with respect to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. The "direction of travel" is the direction in which the front of the vehicle points when the motor vehicle is parked in the parking space. Based on the current orientation of the motor vehicle, the control unit can deduce the orientation in which the driver will presumably park the motor vehicle. In particular, the orientation that deviates from the current orientation of the vehicle by less than 90° can be assumed. In most motor vehicles, the forward-offset arrangement of the reference point corresponds to the position of the driver when the motor vehicle is parked. This means:The driver can receive intuitively understandable feedback, particularly in the final phase of the parking maneuver, about how the vehicle is positioned in relation to the intended parking position. While offset in the direction of travel means a shift in the longitudinal direction of the parking space, a shift in the transverse direction is also conceivable. For example, if necessary in addition to a longitudinal shift, the reference point can be offset laterally from an approach side of the vehicle. "Laterally" here means in the transverse direction of the parking space. The approach side is the side in the transverse direction from which the vehicle approaches the parking space. If the parking space is on the side of the road, the approach side faces the roadway.

[0025] In principle, the assistance system could give a one-time acoustic warning about a parking space. It would also be conceivable for the warning to be repeated, whereby the original direction remains unchanged. This may be sufficient depending on the situation, for example if the motor vehicle is not moving or is moving very little. A preferred embodiment, however, provides that the control unit is set up to update the original direction if the direction of the parking space changes. This means that the control unit is set up to detect a change in the direction of the parking space. This can be done by detecting the parking space again. It would also be possible, however, to calculate the current position of the parking space from the original position and the movement of the motor vehicle that has occurred in the meantime, from which the current direction of the parking space can be deduced.A person in the listening position can hear the direction of origin changing as the vehicle moves. This can potentially make locating the parking space even easier compared to a stationary acoustic signal.

[0026] The position of the respective parking space can be characterized by direction and distance. In some situations, a direction indication is sufficient for orientation; in other situations, a distance indication can at least be helpful, e.g., if the parking space is further away and / or is currently obscured. In a further possible embodiment, the control unit can be configured to adjust the acoustic signal depending on the distance to the parking space. The parking space distance can be defined as the distance between any point in the parking space and any point on the motor vehicle. In particular, the above-mentioned reference point in the parking space and / or the listening position can be used as a basis. There are various options for the distance-dependent setting.For example, the overall volume of the acoustic signal could be adjusted, with the overall volume increasing as the distance to the parking space decreases. It would also be conceivable to adjust the pitch of the acoustic signal, e.g., so that the pitch increases as the distance to the parking space decreases. Another possibility would be for the acoustic signal to consist of a series of temporally separated individual tones, with the time interval between the individual tones also decreasing as the distance to the parking space decreases. It would also be conceivable for the acoustic signal to include a voice output that provides information about the specific distance to the parking space.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment, the control unit is configured to recognize a plurality of parking spaces and to indicate each parking space by means of at least one acoustic signal. This means that in a situation in which several parking spaces are present, these can be recognized and indicated acoustically. The control unit determines a parking space direction assigned to each parking space and, if applicable, a parking space distance. Each parking space can be assigned its own acoustic signal, or a single acoustic signal can be generated which contains partial signals for each parking space. The acoustic signals or partial signals can be emitted wholly or partially simultaneously, although this can sometimes be confusing. Alternatively, they can also be emitted alternately in time, which makes them easier to perceive individually. Of course, the same listening position should be used for all signals.

[0028] Further advantageous details and effects of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of a motor vehicle with an assistance system according to the invention and part of a parking space; Fig. 2-4 schematic top views of the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 on a street with multiple parking spaces; Fig. 5 a schematic plan view of the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 in a parking lot with one parking space; and Fig. 6-7 schematic plan views corresponding to a section of Fig. 2.

[0029] In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 20, in this case a passenger car. A longitudinal axis X, a transverse axis Y, and a direction of travel F of the motor vehicle 20 are shown. The motor vehicle 20 has a vehicle interior 21 in which a driver's seat 22, a passenger seat 23, and a rear seat 24 are arranged. Four sound generators 6 to 9 of an acoustic system 5 are mounted within the vehicle interior 21 and configured to generate an acoustic signal A. A plurality of parking sensors 3 of a parking sensor arrangement 2 are integrated into an exterior of the motor vehicle 20. These can be, for example, ultrasonic, radar, and / or lidar sensors. The parking sensor arrangement 2 and the acoustic system 5 are connected to a control unit 10 by data lines (not shown) and, together with these parts, form an assistance system 1 according to the invention. The control unit 10 is also connected to an interior sensor arrangement 27, for examplea camera with which at least part of the vehicle interior 21 can be monitored.

[0031] In Fig. 1 also shows part of a parking space 30. The control unit 10 is configured to detect this parking space 30 using the parking sensor arrangement 2. It then generates an acoustic signal A using the acoustic system 5. This signal indicates the presence of the parking space 30 to an occupant (not shown) of the motor vehicle 20. In addition, however, the acoustic signal A contains further information. From the determined position of the parking space 30 relative to the motor vehicle 20, the control unit determines a parking space direction P1 and a parking space distance. By individually adjusting the output volume of the acoustic signal A at the individual sound generators 6 to 9, the control unit 10 influences a virtual origin direction R1 of the acoustic signal A. This is the direction from which the acoustic signal A appears to come to an occupant when they are in a listening position 25.The listening position 25 should correspond to the position of the driver's head and can be determined using the interior sensor arrangement 27. Additionally or alternatively, the listening position can also be determined, for example, at least approximately from the current position of the driver's seat 22, including the position of its backrest.

[0032] The parking space direction P1 is determined in relation to the detected listening position 25. The control unit 10 sets the original direction R1 so that it deviates by a maximum of 10° from the parking space direction P1. Accordingly, the driver in the listening position 25 hears the acoustic signal A at least approximately from the same direction in which the parking space 30 is located from his perspective. Qualitatively, this is determined according to the situation in Fig. 1, in which the direction of origin R1 is at the front right, the acoustic signal A is generated only via a front left sound generator 6 and a front right sound generator 7, with the volume of the front right sound generator 7 being higher than that of the front left sound generator 6. Additionally, the acoustic signal A can be adjusted depending on the distance to the parking space. For example, a pitch, overall volume, or a time interval between individual tones can be changed depending on the distance. A voice output can also be provided indicating the specific distance.

[0033] Fig. 2 to 4 each show the motor vehicle 20 on a road with other vehicles 40 parked on the side, with a total of three parking spaces 30, 32, 34. In Fig. 2, the parking space 30 is still slightly in front of the motor vehicle in the direction of travel F, which is approaching an approach side N of the parking space 30. As in Fig. 2 to 4, a reference point 31, 33, 35 can be defined for each parking space 30, 32, 34, which is arranged centrally in the respective parking space 30, 32, 34 with respect to a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction Q. The control unit 10 defines the respective reference point 31, 33, 35 after it has discovered the parking space 30, 32, 34 and determined its dimensions. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 this is only the case for parking space 30. In Fig. 2 to 7, the respective parking space direction P1, P2, P3 is determined as the direction between the listening position 25 and the reference point 31, 33, 35. The respective parking space direction P1, P2, P3 is thus assigned to the respective reference point 31, 33, 35, i.e., that of the respective parking space 30, 32, 34, and the respective original direction R1, R2, or R3 can be distinguished. Fig. Figure 3 shows a situation in which the motor vehicle 20 has advanced further in the direction of travel F, so that the parking space direction P1 changes. This is registered by the control unit 10, and the original direction R1 is adjusted accordingly. For this purpose, the volume of the left front sound generator 6 is reduced, while that of the rear right sound generator 9 is increased. Fig. 4, the motor vehicle 20 has moved further forward, so that the parking space 30 is located to the right behind it. Again, the original direction R1 associated with the respective parking space 30 is adjusted by reducing the volume of the left front sound generator 6 to zero, reducing the volume of the right front sound generator 7, and further increasing the volume of the rear right sound generator 9. If, as in Fig. Once parking space 32 and parking space 34 have been detected and measured, as indicated in Figure 4, a parking space direction P2 and a parking space direction P3 are determined for them. Acoustic signal A is supplemented accordingly, meaning that a separate acoustic signal is generated for each parking space 30, 32, and 34. If these acoustic signals are generated simultaneously, they are superimposed at each sound generator 6 to 9, corresponding to the volume levels determined for the respective original direction R1, R2, or R3. Alternatively, the acoustic signals A corresponding to the individual parking spaces 30, 32, and 34 can also be generated alternately in time.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5 shows a situation in a parking lot, where a parking space 30 is again present between several vehicles 40. In this case, the approach side N is arranged at the end with respect to the longitudinal direction L, while in Fig. 2 to 4 is arranged at the end with respect to the transverse direction Q. Particularly in a parking lot with a large number of parked vehicles 40, the parking space 30 may be difficult for the driver to detect or keep an eye on. Pedestrians in the parking lot may also require special attention from the driver.

[0035] Therefore, the acoustic, intuitively understandable indication of parking space 30 is particularly advantageous here.

[0036] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show examples in which the control unit 10 defines the reference point 31 in a different way than in Fig. 2 to 5. In Fig. 6, the reference point 31 is offset forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction L in the direction of travel F. In Fig. 7, the reference point 31 is arranged centrally with respect to the longitudinal direction L, but offset towards the approach side N with respect to the transverse direction Q. List of reference symbols: 1 assistance system 2 Parking sensor arrangement 3 parking sensors 5 Acoustic system 6-9 sound generators 10 Control unit 20 motor vehicles 21 Vehicle interior 22 Driver's seat 23 Passenger seat 24 rear seat 25 listening position 27 Interior sensor arrangement 30, 32, 34 parking space 31, 33, 35 reference point 40 vehicles A acoustic signal F Direction of travel L longitudinal direction N Approach side P1-P3 parking space direction Q transverse direction R1-R3 origin direction X Longitudinal axis Y transverse axis QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102 57 722 A1

[0003] DE 10 2004 001 122 A1

[0004] EP 1 686 007 A2

[0005] EP 2 130 736 B1

[0006] EP 2 557 020 A2

[0007] EP 2 608 185 A1

[0008]

Claims

[1] Assistance system (1) for a motor vehicle (20), comprising a parking sensor arrangement (2), an acoustic system (5) for a vehicle interior (21), and a control unit (10), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to detect at least one parking space (30, 32, 34) by means of the parking sensor arrangement (2), to indicate this by means of the acoustic system (5) by means of an acoustic signal (A), and to determine a parking space direction (P1, P2, P3), characterized by , that the control unit (10) is configured to set a virtual origin direction (R1, R2, R3) of the acoustic signal (A) perceptible at the listening position (25) within the vehicle interior (21) depending on the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3). [2] Assistance system according to claim 1, characterized by, that the control unit (10) is configured to adjust the original direction (R1, R2, R3) such that it deviates from the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3) by a maximum of 45°, preferably a maximum of 20°, more preferably a maximum of 10°. [3] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the listening position (25) corresponds to an assumed driver position of a driver. [4] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the acoustic system (5) has a plurality of sound emitters (6, 7, 8, 9) and the control unit (10) is designed to set the direction of origin (R1, R2, R3) by individually adjusting the output volume of the acoustic signal (A) at the individual sound emitters (10). [5] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the control unit (10) is configured to determine the listening position (25) by means of an interior sensor arrangement (27) assigned to the vehicle interior (21). [6] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit (10) is configured to determine the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3) with respect to the listening position (25). [7] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit (10) is configured to determine the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3) as the direction of a reference point (31, 33, 35) in the respective parking space (30, 32, 34), which is centrally located in the respective parking space (30, 32, 34), offset forward with respect to a direction of travel (F) of the motor vehicle (20) and / or offset laterally to an approach side (N) of the motor vehicle (20). [8] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the control unit (10) is configured to update the original direction (R1, R2, R3) when the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3) changes. [9] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit (10) is configured to adjust the acoustic signal (A) depending on the distance to the parking space. [10] Assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit (10) is configured to detect a plurality of parking spaces (30, 32, 34) and to indicate each parking space (30, 32, 34) by means of at least one acoustic signal (A).

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