Parking Assist Spatial Audio for Intuitive Space Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assist systems in motor vehicles often distract drivers by requiring them to read complex displays or listen to non-intuitive acoustic signals for locating parking spaces, especially when multiple spaces are available, making it difficult to focus on the vehicle's environment and traffic.
Innovation Solution
An assist system that uses a control unit to detect parking spaces with sensors, generate acoustic signals indicating their presence and direction relative to the vehicle, and adjust sound output to create a virtual sound origin that aligns with the parking space's direction, allowing drivers to intuitively locate spaces without visual distraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If graphic displays are used to show parking space position, then information about parking space location is provided, but driver attention is distracted from the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual graphic displays with an acoustic sound field system. Speakers arranged around the driver's head create three-dimensional acoustic cues that naturally indicate parking space direction and distance, eliminating the need for visual screen interaction and allowing the driver to maintain environmental awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an acoustic intermediary system that translates sensor data about parking spaces into intuitive sound field patterns. The acoustic signals serve as a mediator between the detection system and the driver, providing directional information through natural human spatial hearing without requiring visual attention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple parking spaces are detected and displayed, then the driver has more options, but the complexity of information processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different acoustic characteristics to represent different parking spaces. Each detected parking space generates acoustic signals with specific spatial characteristics (direction, distance, intensity) that allow the driver to intuitively distinguish between multiple options without complex displays or labels.
3Ease of operation
If acoustic signals are used to indicate parking spaces, then visual distraction is reduced, but the intuitiveness of direction indication must be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional visual displays to three-dimensional acoustic spatial representation. By utilizing the vertical and horizontal positioning of speakers around the driver's head, the system creates immersive spatial audio cues that naturally convey directional information about parking spaces in three-dimensional space.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an assist system (1) for a motor vehicle (20), having 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 designed to detect at least one parking space (30, 32, 34) by means of the parking sensor arrangement (2), to indicate this parking space via 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 to a driver in locating a parking space, it is provided according to the invention that the control unit (10) is designed to set a virtual direction of origin (R1, R2, R3) of the acoustic signal (A) that can be perceived in a listening position (25) within the vehicle interior (21), the virtual direction of origin being set relative to the listening position (25) and according to the parking space direction (P1, P2, P3).