Parking Control Device Operator Confirmation Obstacle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parking control systems incorrectly stop vehicles upon erroneous obstacle detection, leading to unnecessary interruptions.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method where the system notifies the operator of potential obstacles and requests confirmation, allowing the vehicle to continue moving if the detection is deemed erroneous, by calculating a parking route based on the operator's input regarding the obstacle's presence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle automatically stops when detecting an obstacle, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary stops from erroneous detection

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidparking process efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces feedback by notifying the operator of detected obstacles and requesting confirmation. The operator's response (affirmative or negative determination) feeds back into the control system, which then decides whether to stop or continue the parking process. This feedback loop resolves erroneous detections by allowing human verification before taking action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The operator serves as an intermediary between the obstacle detection system and the vehicle control system. When an obstacle is detected, the operator confirms or denies its presence, acting as a mediator that prevents automatic stops based on potentially erroneous detections while maintaining safety for genuine obstacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the vehicle stops upon detecting an obstacle, then measurement precision is improved by ensuring obstacle avoidance, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle detection accuracyVSAvoidparking process time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by notifying the operator of the detected obstacle before automatically stopping the vehicle. This preliminary notification allows the operator to verify the detection and confirm whether it is genuine or erroneous, preventing unnecessary time loss from false stops while maintaining the safety benefit of detecting potential obstacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic parking control is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to obstacle detection and verification systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking operation simplicityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device serves multiple functions: it informs the operator of detected obstacles, requests confirmation input, and provides feedback on the parking process status. By making the notification system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3643574B1Parking control method and parking control device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3643574B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3643574B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3643574B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The disclosure includes acquiring an operation command from an operator (M); detecting an obstacle (X) existing around a vehicle (V); when detecting the obstacle (X), notifying the operator (M) of existence of the obstacle (X) and requesting an input of an affirmative determination or a negative determination as to the existence of the obstacle (X); and when obtaining the affirmative input, parking the vehicle (V) in accordance with a control instruction for moving along a route calculated under a condition that the obstacle (X) exists.