Patent ID: 12209448

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure in some embodiments seeks to provide a method and apparatus capable of improving vehicle user's convenience by figuring out the space around the vehicle and moving the vehicle to secure a space for use of a trunk.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, like reference numerals preferably designate like elements, although the elements are shown in different drawings. Further, in the following description of some embodiments, a detailed description of related known components and functions, when considered to obscure the subject of the present disclosure, are omitted for the purpose of clarity and for brevity.

Additionally, various terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like, are used solely for the purpose of differentiating one component from others but not to imply or suggest the substances, the order or sequence of the components. Throughout this specification, when parts “include” or “comprise” a component, they are meant to further include other components, not excluding thereof unless there is a particular description contrary thereto. The terms such as “unit,” “module,” and the like refer to units for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

When a component, device, element, or the like of the present disclosure is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, or the like, the component, device, or element should be considered herein as being “configured to” meet that purpose or to perform that operation or function.

It is understood that the term “trunk” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of cargo space of a vehicle such as a trunk, front trunk, i.e., frunk, and the like.

FIG.1is a block diagram of a vehicle10according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.1, the vehicle10may include an input unit100, a sensing unit110, a display unit120, a driving unit130, a communication unit140, a storage150, and a control unit160, in whole or in part. Not all blocks shown inFIG.1are requisite components, and some blocks included in the vehicle10may be added, changed, or deleted in another embodiment. The respective components may be implemented as hardware or software or as a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, the function of each component may be implemented by software, and the function by software for each component may be implemented to be executed by at least one or more microprocessors.

The respective components may exchange signals via an internal communication system (not shown). The signals may include data. The internal communication system may use at least one communication protocol (e.g., CAN, LIN, FlexRay, MOST, Ethernet).

The apparatus for controlling a vehicle according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes one or more of a device, a unit, and logic installed in the vehicle10. For example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may include all or some of the communication unit140, the control unit160, and the storage150.

The input unit100may be configured to receive a user input for trunk use. For example, the input unit100may be configured to receive a trunk use request and/or a trunk use termination request from a user. The input unit100may be implemented as, for example, at least one of one or more buttons, a jog dial, and a touchpad. The input unit100may be implemented as a touch display or the like in combination with the display unit120.

The sensing unit110may be configured to recognize the surrounding situation of the vehicle10. For example, the vehicle10may use the sensing unit110to detect obstacles about the vehicle10, such as another vehicle or a wall. The sensing unit110may be implemented as, for example, at least one of an image sensor, a radar, a lidar, and an ultrasonic sensor.

In some embodiments, when the vehicle10is configured to be responsive to the user approaching the vehicle10, or responsive to the user making a certain motion to provide a smart tailgate function that automatically opens the trunk door (e.g., tailgate or trunk lid), the sensing unit110may further include a sensor for detecting the user's approach or the certain motion. Upon detecting a user's approach or a certain motion generated by the user, the sensing unit110may be configured to transmit a trunk use request to the control unit160.

The display unit120may be configured to visually provide the user with information about the behavior of the vehicle10. The display unit120may be implemented as a display disposed in one area of the vehicle10, such as a seat, an audio video navigation (AVN), a head-up display (HUD), a graphical user interface (GUI), and/or a cluster. The display unit120may be implemented as a touch display or the like in combination with the input unit100.

The driving unit130may be configured to control the operation of various devices related to the behavior of the vehicle10, such as starting, steering, braking, speed changing or shifting, and opening and closing of the trunk door of the vehicle10. For example, the driving unit130may include all or some of a driving unit as a power source, a driving unit for the steering unit, a driving unit for the brake unit, and a driving unit for the trunk door. The driving unit130may include one or more processors. According to embodiments, components of the driving unit130may each include an individual processor. The driving unit130may be operated under the control of the control unit160.

The present application does not reiterate the method of controlling, by the driving unit130, the operation of various units and devices related to the behavior of the vehicle10, such as starting, steering, braking, shifting, and opening and closing of the trunk door of the vehicle10because the method is commonly known in this technical field.

The communication unit140may be configured to communicate with at least one external device of the vehicle10. According to embodiments, the communication unit140may be configured to perform wired/wireless communications with a terminal12. The terminal12may be implemented as an electronic device possessed by the user of the vehicle10, such as a smart key, a smartphone, a smart watch, and a tablet, among others.

The communication unit140may be configured to receive a user's input about trunk use from the terminal12. For example, the communication unit140may be configured to receive a trunk use request and/or a trunk use termination request from the terminal12and transmit it to the control unit160.

The communication unit140may be configured to transmit information on the behavior of the vehicle10to the terminal12. For example, the communication unit140may be configured to receive information on the behavior of the vehicle10from the control unit160and transmit it to the terminal12.

The storage150may be configured to store various programs and data for implementing the vehicle control method according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the storage150may be configured to store a program for the operation of the control unit160, and it may temporarily store data input/output to the control unit160.

The control unit160may be configured to interwork with the input unit100, sensing unit110, display unit120, driving unit130, communication unit140, and storage150to perform calculations and controls for securing the space for trunk utilization. In addition, the control unit160may be implemented as one or more processors. For example, the control unit160may be implemented as an electronic control unit (ECU), a micro controller unit (MCU) or any other sub-controller installed in the vehicle10.

The control unit160may be configured to obtain the parking status information of the vehicle10in response to the trunk use request. The control unit160may be further configured to control, based on the parking status information of the vehicle10, the vehicle10to behave or move to secure a space for utilizing the trunk. Furthermore, the control unit160may be configured to open the door of the trunk in response to securing the space for use of the trunk.

The control unit160may be configured to recognize a trunk use request and a trunk use termination request based on information received from the input unit100, sensing unit110, and/or communication unit140.

For example, in response to receiving a first input of the user through the input unit100or the communication unit140, the control unit160may be configured to recognize it as a trunk use request. Likewise, in response to receiving the user's second input, the control unit160may be configured to recognize it as a trunk use termination request.

As another example, the control unit160may be configured to operate based on the image or signal received from the sensing unit110to be responsive to a detection of the user's approach or a first motion for recognizing it as a trunk use request. The control unit160may be further configured to operate based on the image or signal received from the sensing unit110to be responsive to a detection of the user's distancing or a second motion for recognizing it as a request to terminate trunk use.

The method by which the control unit160recognizes the trunk use request and/or the trunk use termination request is not limited to the above-described example. Further, the control unit160may use various methods that can be implemented in the vehicle10to recognize a trunk use request and/or a trunk use termination request.

The control unit160may be configured to obtain, based on the image or signal received from the sensing unit110, the parking status information of the vehicle10. To obtain the parking status information of the vehicle10, the control unit160may be configured to detect one or more obstacles (e.g., other vehicles, walls, or objects) around the vehicle10. The control unit160may be configured to detect the presence of an obstacle, the size of the obstacle, a distance from the obstacle, and the like. The control unit160may be configured to determine the parking type (e.g., parallel parking or perpendicular parking) of the vehicle10as the parking status information of the vehicle10.

The present application does not reiterate and is not limited to a particular method of detecting an obstacle around the vehicle10or determining the parking type of the vehicle10based on the image or signal received from the sensing unit110because such a method is commonly known in the field of image recognition and/or signal processing.

The control unit160may be configured to determine, based on the image or signal received from the sensing unit110, whether it is good to open or close the trunk door, and whether it is convenient for the user to enter the trunk and/or load and unload goods into/from the trunk. To this end, the control unit160may be configured to determine whether a space is secured for use of the trunk around the vehicle10. The space for using the trunk may include a space for opening a door of the trunk, a space for the user to enter the trunk side of the vehicle10, and a space for loading and unloading goods into/from the trunk. The trunk side of the vehicle10may be, but is not limited to, a rear of the vehicle10or a front of the vehicle10.

According to embodiments, the control unit160compares the distance to the obstacle with a preset reference distance to determine whether the trunk door may be opened or closed well, whether the user can conveniently enter the trunk side of the vehicle10, and/or whether the user can conveniently load and unload goods.

According to embodiments, the control unit160may be configured to define a first minimum space required to open the door of the trunk, a second minimum space required for the user to enter the trunk side of the vehicle10, and a third minimum space necessary for loading and unloading goods. Then, based on whether an obstacle is detected in the first to third minimum spaces, the control unit160may be configured to determine whether the trunk door may be opened or closed well (e.g., sufficiently), whether the user can conveniently enter the trunk side of the vehicle10, and/or whether the user can conveniently load and unload goods into and out of the trunk.

The control unit160may be configured to determine whether an obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk. In response to determining that an obstacle around the vehicle10disables or impedes any one or more of opening/closing of the trunk door, the user's entry into the trunk side of the vehicle10, and/or loading and unloading the trunk, the control unit160may be configured to conclude that the obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk.

In response to concluding that the obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk, the control unit160may be configured to control the vehicle10to move to secure a space for trunk use. For example, the control unit160may be configured to change the parking position and/or posture of the vehicle10to secure a space for trunk use.

According to embodiments, the control unit160may be configured to determine a parking position and/or posture (hereinafter, a target parking state) capable of securing a space for use of the trunk. The control unit160may be configured to generate a trajectory for moving the vehicle10from the current parking position and/or posture (hereinafter, original parking state) to the target parking state while avoiding obstacles around the vehicle10.

The control unit160may generate control information for controlling one or more of starting, steering, braking, and shifting of the vehicle10to move the vehicle10to the target parking state. In addition, the control unit160may provide the generated control information to the driving unit130.

FIG.2AandFIG.2Billustrate a situation that needs a space to be secured for trunk use according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.2A, the control unit160may be configured to generate control information for moving the vehicle10forward in response to determining that a detected obstacle behind the vehicle10disables or impedes any one or more of the opening/closing of the trunk door, the user's entry into the trunk side of the vehicle10, and/or loading and unloading goods.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG.2B, the control unit160may be configured to generate control information for moving the vehicle10backward in response to determining that a detected obstacle in the front of the vehicle10disables or impedes any one or more of opening/closing of the trunk door, the user's entry into the trunk side of the vehicle10, and/or loading and unloading goods.

When the vehicle10is turned off, the control unit160may further generate control information for turning on the vehicle10to begin operation.

FIG.3illustrates a situation that needs a space to be secured for trunk use according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.3, when multiple vehicles are parked in a line, the control unit160cannot secure a space for trunk use by moving the vehicle10forward or backward. As such, the control unit160may be configured to move the vehicle10to the side through steering control to secure a space for trunk use in response to determining that an obstacle detected at one side of the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk and that another obstacle detected at another side of the vehicle10disables the vehicle10from moving straight. The one side and the other side of the vehicle10may be, but are not limited to, a rear of the vehicle10or a front of the vehicle10, respectively.

While controlling the behavior of the vehicle10, the control unit160may be configured to provide the user with information on the behavior of the vehicle10through the display unit120and/or the terminal12. For example, the control unit160may be configured to generate information for notifying the user of the control of the vehicle10to secure a space for trunk use and transmit the information to the display unit120and/or the communication unit140. As another example, the control unit160may be configured to render information on the expected behavior of the vehicle10(e.g., its route or turning direction) to be outputted to the display unit120and/or the terminal12.

The control unit160may be configured to control the driving unit130to open the door of the trunk. The control unit160may be configured to generate one or both of control information for unlocking the trunk door and control information for opening up the trunk door.

After the trunk use is terminated, the control unit160may be configured to control the vehicle10to move back to the original parking state. The control unit160may be configured to generate a trajectory for moving the vehicle10from the target parking state to the original parking state while avoiding obstacles around the vehicle10. In this case, the control unit160may be configured to use the reverse trajectory of the trajectory generated earlier for moving the vehicle10to the target parking state, among other methods available for this purpose.

FIG.4is a flowchart of a method of controlling a vehicle for convenient trunk use according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The vehicle controlling method shown inFIG.4may be performed by the control unit160and the vehicle controlling apparatus having the control unit160inFIGS.1-3, and hence reiterating details thereof are omitted.

The vehicle controlling apparatus recognizes the trunk use request (S400). For example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may recognize the trunk use request by detecting the request when received from the user through the input unit100and/or the terminal12or detecting the user's approach or a certain motion through the sensing unit110. The vehicle controlling apparatus may recognize the trunk use request regardless of whether the vehicle10is started or whether the user is in the vehicle10.

The vehicle controlling apparatus obtains the parking status information of the vehicle10(S410). The vehicle controlling apparatus may obtain parking status information of the vehicle10based on information obtained through the sensing unit110.

According to embodiments, the vehicle controlling apparatus detects an obstacle around the vehicle10for its parking status information, or it determines a parking type of the vehicle10(e.g., parallel parking and perpendicular parking, and the like).

According to embodiments, based on information obtained through the sensing unit110, the vehicle controlling apparatus determines whether an obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk. For example, with the vehicle10being in the current parking position and/or posture (hereinafter, original parking state), the vehicle controlling apparatus determines whether an obstacle around the vehicle10deprives the vehicle10of a space that needs to be secured for trunk use. If yes, the vehicle controlling apparatus may conclude that the obstacle around the vehicle10is preventing the use of the trunk. The space for using the trunk may include a space for opening a door of the trunk, a space for the user to enter the trunk side of the vehicle10, and a space for loading and unloading goods into and out of the trunk. The vehicle controlling apparatus may determine whether an obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk based on whether that obstacle leaves insufficient space for opening the trunk door, whether it impedes the user's easy access to the trunk side of the vehicle10, or whether it hinders the user's easy loading and unloading of the trunk.

The vehicle controlling apparatus determines whether the vehicle10needs to move in order to use the trunk (S420). In response to determining that an obstacle around the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk, the vehicle controlling apparatus may determine that the vehicle10needs to move for trunk use.

In response to determining that the vehicle10needs to move, the vehicle controlling apparatus controls the vehicle10to behave to secure a space for the trunk use based on the parking status information of the vehicle10(S430). To this end, the vehicle controlling apparatus may determine a parking position and/or posture for securing a space for trunk use (hereinafter, referred to as a target parking state). The vehicle controlling apparatus may generate a trajectory for moving the vehicle10from its original parking state to the target parking state while avoiding obstacles around the vehicle10. The vehicle controlling apparatus may control one or more of starting, steering, braking, and shifting of the vehicle10to move the vehicle10to the target parking state.

For example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may move the vehicle10straight to secure a space for trunk use in response to determining that an obstacle detected at the rear or front of the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk.

As another example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may control the steering of the vehicle10to secure a space for trunk use in response to determining that an obstacle detected at one side of the vehicle10prevents the use of the trunk and that another obstacle detected at another side of the vehicle10prevents moving the vehicle10forward or backward.

As yet another example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may control the steering of the vehicle10to secure a space for trunk use in response to determining that the parking type of the vehicle10is parallel parking.

The vehicle controlling apparatus provides the user with information on the behavior of the vehicle10while controlling the behavior of the vehicle10(S440). For example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may notify the user that the vehicle10is controlled to secure a space for trunk use through the display unit120and/or the terminal12.

When Step S420determines that the vehicle10needs no movement or when Step S430proceeds to secure the space for trunk use, the vehicle controlling apparatus opens the door of the trunk (S450).

The vehicle controlling apparatus recognizes a trunk use termination request (S460). For example, the vehicle controlling apparatus may recognize the trunk use termination request by receiving the same request from the user through the input unit100and/or the terminal12or by detecting the user's distancing from the trunk or certain motion through the sensing unit110.

In response to the trunk use termination request, the vehicle controlling apparatus returns the vehicle10to the original parking state (S470). To this end, the vehicle controlling apparatus may generate a trajectory for moving the vehicle10to the original parking position and/or posture while avoiding obstacles around the vehicle10.

When the user skips a separate trunk use termination request to get in the vehicle10immediately after using the trunk, the vehicle controlling apparatus may also skip the step of returning the vehicle10to the original parking state to unpark the vehicle right away.

AlthoughFIG.4presents the respective steps thereof as being sequentially performed, it merely instantiates the technical idea of some embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the pertinent art could incorporate various modifications, additions, and substitutions in practicing the present disclosure by changing the sequence of steps illustrated byFIG.4or by performing one or more of the steps thereof in parallel. Hence the steps inFIG.4are not limited to the illustrated chronological sequences.

Various implementations of the systems and methods described herein may be realized by digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuits, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or their combination. These various implementations can include those realized in one or more computer programs executable on a programmable system. The programmable system includes at least one programmable processor coupled to receive and transmit data and instructions from and to a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device The programmable processor may be a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor. Computer programs, also known as programs, software, software applications, or codes, contain instructions for a programmable processor and are stored in a “computer-readable recording medium.”

The computer-readable recording medium includes any types of recording devices on which data that can be read by a computer system are recordable. Examples of computer-readable recording medium include non-volatile or non-transitory media such as a ROM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, memory card, hard disk, optical/magnetic disk, storage devices, and the like. The computer-readable recording medium further includes transitory media such as data transmission medium. Further, the computer-readable recording medium can be distributed in computer systems connected via a network, wherein the computer-readable codes can be stored and executed in a distributed mode.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described herein can be realized by a programmable computer. In one example, the computer includes a programmable processor, a data storage system (including volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, or any other type of storage system or a combination thereof), and at least one communication interface. For example, the programmable computer may be one of a server, a network device, a set-top box, an embedded device, a computer expansion module, a personal computer, a laptop, a personal data assistant (PDA), a cloud computing system, and a mobile device.

As described above, according to some embodiments, the present disclosure can secure not only a space for opening a trunk door but also a space for allowing the user to enter the trunk side of the vehicle10as well as a space for the user to conveniently load and unload goods at the trunk, thereby preventing an awkward (e.g., inconvenient) situation in which the user has to load or unload goods through a half-open trunk door in a narrow space. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the present disclosure can control the vehicle10to be autonomously parked back to the original position after using the trunk to improve user convenience.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those having ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the idea and scope of the claimed disclosure. Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sake of brevity and clarity. The scope of the technical idea of the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited by the illustrations. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the scope of the claimed disclosure is not to be limited by the above explicitly described embodiments but by the claims and equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: vehicle12: terminal100: input unit110: sensing unit120: display unit130: driving unit140: communication unit150: storage160: control unit