Vehicle Parking Assist for Automated Charging Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles face difficulties in convenient and efficient electric power transmission and reception between the vehicle and a ground apparatus, making it troublesome for drivers to charge the vehicle, especially when parking and aligning with charging stations.
Innovation Solution
A parking assist device and method that integrates a control device within the vehicle to facilitate easy charging by aligning the vehicle with a ground apparatus, using a combination of cameras, sensors, and a touch display for target parking position selection, and automatic steering, while also managing power distribution and charging through inverters and a booster converter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver manually connects the external charger to the vehicle using a charge cable, then the vehicle can be charged, but the charging process becomes troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service charging by automatically aligning the vehicle with the charging station and establishing the electrical connection without driver intervention. The control device autonomously calculates the parking path, controls the steering system to position the vehicle, and manages the connector engagement, transforming manual charging into an automated self-service process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating the optimal parking path and positioning the vehicle in advance before the charging connection is established. The control device computes the required steering angles and movement trajectory beforehand, ensuring the vehicle is correctly positioned prior to connector engagement, thereby streamlining the overall charging process
2Ease of operation
If the driver parks the vehicle near a fixed charger, then charging is possible, but the driver must be careful to park at an appropriate position
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the vehicle's position relative to the charging station and adjusting the parking path calculations accordingly. The control device receives input from sensors and cameras to detect the charger location, computes the optimal positioning, and provides real-time guidance to ensure accurate alignment, thereby simplifying the parking operation while maintaining precision
3Extent of automation
If automatic parking assist control is implemented, then the vehicle can be automatically guided to target position, but the system requires multiple sensors and control components
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves multiple functions by integrating parking path calculation, steering control, and charging connection management into a single unified system. This multi-functional approach enables automatic parking assist while reducing the need for separate dedicated components, thereby achieving high automation levels without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the parking assist function with the charging control function into an integrated process. The same control device that manages the hybrid vehicle's powertrain also handles the automatic parking and charging connection, consolidating multiple functions into a unified control architecture that reduces overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables straightforward and automated charging by accurately aligning the vehicle with charging stations, reducing driver effort and improving the convenience of hybrid vehicle charging, thus promoting the adoption of hybrid vehicles by simplifying the charging process.
Implementation Method 1
a booster converter arranged in the vehicle and increasing a voltage from the battery
Implementation Method 2
an inverter and an electric motor driven by the inverter
Data Source
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AI summary
A parking assist device has a touch display (58) including a display unit for displaying a situation around a vehicle and an input unit for entering a target parking position of a vehicle, and also has a control device (60) performing parking assist control by calculating a path according to the target parking position. The control device (60) further performs, under a predetermined condition, assist control for position alignment of a vehicle-side power transmission/reception unit placed on the vehicle with an apparatus-side power transmission/reception unit of an apparatus placed on a ground. Preferably, the parking assist device further has a back monitor camera (53) for taking an image of a surrounding situation of the vehicle. When an identifier indicating the apparatus-side power transmission/reception unit is present in the vicinity of the target parking position in the taken surrounding situation, the control device (60) recognizes the position of the identifier and performs the position alignment assist control.