Parking Space Boundary Detection Control Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parking systems face inaccuracies in determining front and rear parking space boundaries due to vehicle speed and angle of incidence of measuring beams, leading to potential safety concerns and the need for more precise measurement methods during the parking process.

Innovation Solution

A control device that utilizes multiple distance sensors, including radar, ultrasonic, and lateral sensors, to provide precise measurements of parking space boundaries, allowing for intuitive display of dimensions and guiding the vehicle into a parking space through instructions and automatic control, while informing the driver of measurement reliability and potential errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vehicle drives past the parking space at usual road traffic speed to quickly identify parking spaces, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision of parking space boundaries deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of parking space identificationVSAvoidprecision of front and rear boundary detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary rough measurement of parking space boundaries while the vehicle is moving at normal speed using available sensors. This preliminary action allows quick identification of potential parking spaces without requiring the vehicle to slow down specifically for measurement, thereby maintaining productivity while establishing initial boundary estimates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the driver about the reliability of boundary detection through visual indicators (line thickness, color coding). This feedback mechanism allows the driver to understand measurement uncertainty and adjust their parking maneuver accordingly, compensating for reduced measurement precision during high-speed passes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If multiple measuring systems are used to improve measurement precision of parking space boundaries, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of parking space boundary detectionVSAvoidnumber of measuring sensors and systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing multi-functional sensors already present in the vehicle (radar for collision warning, ultrasonic sensors for parking assistance) to perform multiple functions including parking space boundary detection. This approach improves measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware serves multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines data from multiple different sensor types (radar, ultrasonic, optical) to create a composite measurement result. By fusing information from heterogeneous sensing systems, the achievement superior measurement precision leverages the complementary strengths of each sensor type while avoiding the need for any single complex sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the system provides detailed information about measurement reliability and boundary detection quality, then reliability of the parking process is improved, but loss of information increases due to additional data processing and display requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver confidence in parking space boundary detectionVSAvoidprocessing overhead for reliability assessment and display
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses color coding (e.g., green, yellow, red) to indicate measurement reliability and boundary detection quality. This visual encoding conveys complex reliability information in an intuitive, easily interpretable format that requires minimal processing overhead while significantly improving driver confidence and understanding of detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides selective information about measurement reliability rather than overwhelming the driver with all possible data. By displaying only the most critical reliability indicators (such as detection confidence levels and boundary uncertainty), the system improves reliability perception without the excessive information processing burden of presenting all available measurement data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances driver safety by providing accurate and reliable detection of parking space boundaries, allowing for safer manual or automatic parking processes, and offering real-time feedback on measurement reliability and error margins.

Implementation Method 1

If another measuring system is available, particularly after the start of the parking procedure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

A control device that utilizes multiple distance sensors, including radar, ultrasonic, and lateral sensors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2203329B1Control device for a display device of a parking device, and representation method
Publication Date: 2014.10.01 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2203329B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2203329B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a control device (10) for a display device (14) of a parking device, with an interface (19) to a first detection device (11) for detecting a parking space (41) when driving laterally past the parking space (41), with an interface (17, 18) to a second detection device (3, 5) for detecting a front boundary (42) and/or rear boundary (44) of a parking space when driving into the parking space, and with an interface (50) to the display device (14) for displaying the dimensions of the parking space (41) in the display device (14), wherein a representation of a front boundary (42) and/or of a rear boundary (44) of the parking space, which boundary was detected only by the first detection device (41), differs from a representation of a front boundary (42') and/or of a rear boundary (44') of the parking space, which boundary was detected by the second detection device (3, 5).