Abstract:
A method for finding a parking space for a first motor vehicle includes determining a required minimum length of the parking space on which the first motor vehicle is parkable, scanning a length of the adjacent parking space through the second motor vehicle, and driving the first motor vehicle to the adjacent parking space bounded by the second motor vehicle when the length of the adjacent parking space corresponds to at least the minimum length. Related transmission devices and control systems are also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a parking assist system. More particularly, the invention relates to a technique for finding a suitable parking space for a motor vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Along a street, parking lanes are provided, on which motor vehicles may be parked in succession. If individual parking spaces are marked, an area of pre-defined length is available for each motor vehicle. This is typically measured in such a manner that an average motor vehicle is able to park in the parking space. If the parking spaces are not individually marked, gaps of various lengths may arise between the parked motor vehicles. For a newly incoming motor vehicle, prior to a parking operation, it is typical that there must be a check of whether the length of such a parking space is sufficient or not for parking the motor vehicle. Therefore, finding a parking space for the motor vehicle that is long enough may take a long time, and traffic on the street may be hindered by the motor vehicle. 
         [0003]    DE 10 2011 112 149 A1 relates to a parking operation of a motor vehicle in a parking space that is carried out at least semi-autonomously. DE 10 2012 201 495 A1 proposes deciding, on the basis of determinations of two or three dimensions, whether or not a motor vehicle fits into a parking space. DE 10 2012 202 175 A1 relates to a control device for automatically parking a motor vehicle. Each of DE 10 2013 212 318 A1 and DE 10 2013 005 302 A1 relates to methods for carrying out an automated parking operation of a motor vehicle in a parking space. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Exemplary aspects of the invention simplify the finding a parking space between two motor vehicles, whereas the length of the parking space is sufficient for enabling the parking a third motor vehicle. 
         [0005]    A method for finding a parking space for a first motor vehicle, whereas the parking space is bounded on one side by a second motor vehicle, includes determining a required minimum length of a parking space on which the first motor vehicle is able to park, of scanning, through the second motor vehicle, a length of the adjacent parking space; and of driving the first motor vehicle to the parking space bounded by the second motor vehicle, if the length of such parking space corresponds to at least the minimum length. 
         [0006]    The length of the parking space can be determined by the second motor vehicle by a sensor that may already be installed in the second motor vehicle for another purpose. For example, the sensor may include an ultrasonic range finder, a radar range finder or Lidar range finder or a camera. Thereby, the dimensions of the parking space adjacent to the second motor vehicle can be determined easily and securely. The free parking space may be adjacent to the front and/or rear of the second motor vehicle, and the second motor vehicle may be equipped in the rear or front with sensors for scanning the dimensions of the parking space. The first motor vehicle may, based on the information of the second motor vehicle, easily obtain an indication as to whether or not the parking space at the second motor vehicle is sufficiently large, or a signal that is sufficiently large for driving the first motor vehicle to a different parking space. Searching for a parking space for the first motor vehicle may take less time. In doing so, flowing traffic may be subject to a lower disruption. 
         [0007]    It is particularly preferred that the lengths and positions of a multiple number of parking spaces that are each bounded by a second motor vehicle are collected, that those parking spaces, the lengths of which correspond to at least the specified minimum length, are selected, and that the first motor vehicle is guided to one of the selected parking spaces. The benefits of the method may be even greater, the more second motor vehicles participate in the process. 
         [0008]    Preferably, among the selected parking spaces, a further sub-selection is made, in order to enable a parking of the first vehicle that is as economical as possible, from both its point of view and from a higher-level system view. For this purpose, different selection strategies may be pursued; these may also be combined with one another. 
         [0009]    In one variant, the parking space to which the first motor vehicle is guided is determined on the basis of a current position of the first motor vehicle. The first motor vehicle may be guided, for example, to the nearest parking space. In doing so, for example, the traffic lane driven on by the first motor vehicle or the direction of travel that it is using may be taken into account. Thus, complicated or complex maneuvers may be spared, such that flowing traffic can be less impaired by the search for a parking space of the first motor vehicle. 
         [0010]    In a second variant, the parking space to which the first motor vehicle is guided is determined in such a manner that the length of the parking space exceeds the minimum length as little as possible. This may prevent, for example, a large parking space from being occupied by a small first motor vehicle, by which, under certain circumstances, a further, larger first motor vehicle cannot find a suitable parking space or one that is nearby. Thereby, the general parking efficiency may be increased. 
         [0011]    In an additional embodiment, the second motor vehicle, which bounds the parking space to which the first motor vehicle is to be guided, emits an indication at the parking space directly to the first motor vehicle. The indication is given particularly wirelessly, for example, optically, acoustically or electromagnetically. Thereby, infrastructure located between the motor vehicles may be spared. 
         [0012]    In addition, means of signaling that are already arranged on board the second motor vehicle may be used. It is particularly preferred that the indication is issued to the parking space by a rear light, a brake light, a reverse light, a flashing light, a parking light or a rear fog light that is mounted on the outside of the second motor vehicle. Thereby, a signaling that is silent and energy-saving and possibly reaches several hundred meters may be transmitted directly from the second motor vehicle to the first motor vehicle. The disturbance of persons in the area of motor vehicles can be minimized. For different indications, different signals can be emitted by one or more of the specified lights. Thereby, on an ad hoc basis, a similar system can be constructed, as this is known from parking garages where free parking spaces are indicated by lights mounted on the parking spaces. 
         [0013]    A computer program product includes program code for carrying out the described method, if the computer program product is run on a processing device or stored on a computer-readable data carrier. 
         [0014]    A device for a first motor vehicle is configured for the wireless transmission of a parking space request. Thereby, the parking space request includes an indication for a minimum length of a parking space on which the first motor vehicle is able to park. The minimum length can be determined in particular from the motor vehicle length, the motor vehicle width and/or a minimum turning radius of the motor vehicle. The minimum length can be determined empirically or by calculation. In one embodiment, the minimum length may also include a security or convenience distance that increases the geometrically required minimum length. Typically, the minimum length is determined only once, such that the device can be simply constructed. In particular, the device may be connected to a communication system that is already provided on board the first motor vehicle, for example, for cell phone or Internet data. 
         [0015]    A device for a second motor vehicle includes a receiver for receiving a parking space request, which includes a minimum length of a parking space, on which a first motor vehicle is able to park, a sensor for scanning the length of a parking space adjacent to the second motor vehicle and a signaling device in order to lead the first motor vehicle to the parking space, if the length of the parking space corresponds to at least the minimum length. The device may in particular make use of a distance meter already installed on board the second motor vehicle, with which the length of the parking space can be determined. The signaling device may also be connected to an information or communication system of the second motor vehicle. 
         [0016]    In various embodiments, the devices of the first and second motor vehicles can communicate with each other directly or with an interposed control device that is configured in particular to determine first motor vehicles and parking spaces that are suitable for one another. 
         [0017]    A control device includes a first receiving device for receiving a parking space request of a first motor vehicle, whereas the parking space request includes a position of the first motor vehicle and a minimum length of a parking space on which the first motor vehicle is able to park, a second receiving device for receiving a position and a length of a parking space that is bounded by a second motor vehicle, and a transmitting device for transmitting a signal in order to lead the first motor vehicle to the parking space bounded by the second motor vehicle, if the length of the parking space corresponds to at least the minimum length. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, in particular, a memory device may be provided in order to store, in particular, positions and lengths of a multiple number of parking spaces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Exemplary aspects of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  a parking situation with two first and a multiple number of second number motor vehicles; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  a system with a first and a second motor vehicle along with a control device are shown. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a parking situation  100  with two first motor vehicles  105  and a multiple number of second motor vehicles  110 . Motor vehicles  105 ,  110  may be parked on a parking lane  115 . The parking lane  115  may be formed in particular along a street. Preferably, on the parking lane  115 , there is no specification of the length limitations for individual parking spaces  120  that are configured for parking a motor vehicle  105 ,  110 . In general, the length of a parking space  120  is bounded by the length of a second motor vehicle  110  parked in the parking space  120 , if the parking space  120  occupied. Typically, a free parking space  120  has a length that is defined between a parked second motor vehicle  110  and a boundary or an additional parked second motor vehicle  110 . 
         [0024]    On the parking lane  115 , a multiple number of second motor vehicles  110  are parked, by which a multiple number of free parking spaces  120  and a multiple number of occupied parking spaces  120  arise. Next to the parking lane  115 , two exemplary first motor vehicles  105  are shown, each of which is searching for a parking space  120  that is sufficiently large to park the respective first motor vehicle  105  on it. In this present example, a small first motor vehicle  105  (above) and a large first motor vehicle  105  (below) are shown. In each case, next to the first motor vehicle  105 , there is a free parking space  120 , whereas the size or length of the parking space  120  corresponds to the first motor vehicle  105  that is also shown. 
         [0025]    A first goal of the present invention includes providing a first motor vehicle  105  that is searching for a parking space an indication of a free parking space  120  that is sufficiently large or sufficiently long. A second goal of the present invention includes of, as much as possible, distributing a multiple number of first motor vehicles  105  to a multiple number of free parking spaces  120  in such a manner that both small and large first motor vehicles  105  find a parking space  120 . 
         [0026]    For this purpose, it is proposed that the first motor vehicle  105  determines the size of a parking space  120  on which the first motor vehicle  105  is able to park. In addition, one or more of the parked second motor vehicles  110  determines the size of the free parking spaces  120  adjacent to them. The information of the first motor vehicle  105  and the second motor vehicle  110  are then to be compared with one another, in order to initially determine, for an individual free parking space  120 , if the parking space  120  is sufficiently large for a given first motor vehicle  105 . Preferably, a multiple number of free parking spaces  120  is determined by second motor vehicles  110 , such that one or more parking spaces  120  that are sufficiently large or long for the given first motor vehicle  105  can be selected. It can then be displayed to the first motor vehicle  105  whether or not a parking space  120  that is nearby can be used for the first motor vehicle  105  for parking. Furthermore, the first motor vehicle  105  may be led to one of several potentially free parking spaces  120  that are suitable for parking the first motor vehicle  105 . 
         [0027]    For this purpose, different embodiments are possible, which will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a system  200  with a first motor vehicle  105  and a second motor vehicle  110  along with a control device  205 . In order to better describe the operation of the system  200 , the devices installed on board the motor vehicle  105 ,  110  will be initially briefly addressed. 
         [0029]    On board the first motor vehicle  105 , a first device  210  is arranged; the first device  210  preferably includes a processing device  215  and a transmitting device  220 . The processing device  215  may be connected to a positioning device  225 , which is configured to determine a current position of the first motor vehicle  105 . The positioning device  225  may in particular include a receiver for position signals of a satellite navigation system (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.). 
         [0030]    For example, in a manner controlled by the drive of the first motor vehicle  105 , the first device  210  may transmit a parking space request, which includes a minimum length of a parking space  120 , on which the first motor vehicle  105  is able to park. As will be described in greater detail below, the parking space request may include other parameters, in particular the current position of the first motor vehicle  105  determined by the positioning device  225 . The transmitting device  220  is preferably designed to be wireless, and may be realized by any known technique. 
         [0031]    On board the second motor vehicle  110 , a second device  230  is provided, which preferably also includes a processing device  215  and an optional positioning device  225 . In addition, the second device  230  is connected to a sensor  235 , which is configured to determine the size or length of a free parking space  120 , which is bounded by the second motor vehicle  110  and is adjacent to the second motor vehicle  110 . There may also be multiple sensors  235 , which, in an additional embodiment, point in different directions, particularly forwards and rearwards. Each sensor  235  may include, for example, a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor or a Lidar sensor. Combinations of different sensors  235  are also possible. 
         [0032]    The second device  230  is preferably also connected to a transmitting device  220 , which may be constructed in accordance with the transmitting device  220  on board the first motor vehicle  105 . Alternatively or in addition to transmitting device  220 , the processing device  215  of the second device  230  may be connected to a signal transmitter  240  on board the second motor vehicle  110 . The signal transmitter  240  may include, in particular, an optical signaling system on board the second motor vehicle  110 . In a preferred embodiment, the signaling system includes at least one of a rear light, a brake light, a reverse light, a flashing light, a parking light or a rear fog light. With the signal transmitter  240 , the processing device  215  may bring about an optical signal that can be perceived on board the first motor vehicle  105 , if the first motor vehicle  105  is located nearby. 
         [0033]    The control device  205 , which may be included within the system  200 , preferably includes an additional processing device  215  and a preferably wireless communication device  245 , which is particularly configured to communicate wirelessly with one of the transmitting devices  220 . In some embodiments, bidirectional communication, in particular between the control device  205  and the first device  210  on board the first motor vehicle  105 , may be supported. In this case, the transmitting device  220  of the first device  210  may also be designed to receive information. The control device  205  may also include a storage device  250 , which may serve for the temporary storage of parking space information that has been previously received, in particular from the second motor vehicles  110 . Outdated information can be automatically deleted from the storage device  250 . 
         [0034]    For the description of the system  200 , in a first variant thereof, it is assumed that the control device  205  is provided. 
         [0035]    On board the second motor vehicle  110 , with the sensor  235 , the second device  230  determines the length of the free parking space  120  and, preferably with the positioning device  225 , the position of the second motor vehicle  110 . Such information is transmitted in a first communication device  255  to the control device  205 , and is optionally stored in the storage device  250 . This operation is preferably carried out for a multiple number of second motor vehicles  110 , each of which is adjacent to a parking space  120 , such that, on the part of the control device  205 , information regarding a multiple number of free parking spaces  120  is present. 
         [0036]    The first device  210  on board the first motor vehicle  105  emits, in particular in a manner controlled by a driver of the first motor vehicle  105 , a parking space request to the control device  205 , whereas the parking space request includes the minimum length of a parking space  120  on which the first motor vehicle  105  is able to park. The processing device  215  of the control device  205  then determines, on the basis of the information available to it, one or more free parking spaces  120  in the area of the first motor vehicle  105 , and transmits corresponding indications on the first motor vehicle  105 . The indications may include in particular the positions of the free parking spaces  120  or the second motor vehicles  110  adjacent to them. On the part of the first motor vehicle  105 , one of the parking spaces  120  may then be selected and driven to on the basis of the transmitted information. 
         [0037]    The processing device  205  may employ a heuristic to distribute free parking spaces  120  to first motor vehicles  105  searching for parking spaces. In one embodiment, through several parking space placements, the “waste” that arises if a short vehicle  105  is on a long parking space  120  is minimized. The waste may only be taken into account if it is too small to park an additional vehicle on it. Additionally or alternatively, it may be considered that a distance between a desired position of the first motor vehicle  105  and an allocated parking space  120  is minimized where possible or, through their average, a multiple number of allocations is minimized where possible. The desired position may be a planned target position or a current position of the first motor vehicle at the time of communicating with the processing device  105 . In place of a distance, an expected driving time of the first motor vehicle  105  can be taken into account, which is dependent on the distance. 
         [0038]    In a second variant, the control device  205  is not provided and, in a communication device  265 , the motor vehicles  105 ,  110  exchange information directly (C2C) or through a fixed infrastructure (C2I). Thereby, a processing of information that goes beyond its transport is not carried out on the part of the infrastructure. 
         [0039]    For each pair of the first motor vehicle  105  with a second motor vehicle  110  that can be reached with communications technology, there is a decision of whether the free parking space  120  adjacent to the second motor vehicle  110  is sufficiently large for the first motor vehicle  105 . Alternatively, such decision may be taken on board the first motor vehicle  105 , if the second motor vehicle  110  determines the size of free parking space  120  for the first motor vehicle  105 , or on the part of the second motor vehicle  110 , if the first motor vehicle  105  transmits its preferred minimum length to the second motor vehicle  110 . 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the first motor vehicle  105  transmits the minimum length of a parking space  120  that it can use to a multiple number of second motor vehicles  110  that are parked, in particular, on the same parking lane  115  or along the same street. At that point, each of the second motor vehicles  110  can determine whether the respective adjacent parking space  120  is sufficiently large for the first motor vehicle  105 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, a signaling of whether a parking space  120  is suitable or unsuitable for the first motor vehicle  105  is transmitted by light signals from the second motor vehicle  110  to the first motor vehicle  105 . For this purpose, it is preferred that signal lights, which can be mounted in particular on the vehicle rear of the second motor vehicle  110 , are accordingly controlled. Different light combinations may be activated, and each light may be switched on and off alternately with a predetermined frequency. In an exemplary embodiment, a free parking space  120  that is too small for the first motor vehicle  105  is signaled by the fact that a brake or tail light of the second motor vehicle  110  lights up red. A parking space  120  that is at least sufficiently large or, if applicable, too large may be signaled by turning on an indicator light on the second motor vehicle  110 . A free parking space  120  with a size or length that is optimally suited for the first motor vehicle  105  within a predetermined margin can be signaled by the activation of a white reverse light by the second motor vehicle  110 . 
         [0042]    Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
       Reference Signs 
       [0000]    
       
           100  Parking situation 
           105  First motor vehicle 
           110  Second motor vehicle 
           115  Parking lane 
           120  Parking space 
           200  System 
           205  Control device 
           210  First device 
           215  Processing device 
           220  Transmitting device 
           225  Positioning device 
           230  Second device 
           235  Sensor 
           240  Signal transmitter 
           245  Communication device 
           250  Storage device 
           255  Communication device 
           260  Communication device 
           265  Communication device