DE102009021014A1 - Information transmitting device for free parking space, for use in vehicle, has device for searching free parking space, during vehicle movement and another device for wireless transmission of information about free parking space - Google Patents

Abstract

The information transmitting device has a device for searching free parking space, during the vehicle movement and another device for wireless transmission of information about free parking space. The information about the parking space is transmitted immediately, as the free parking spacer detects the information. An independent claim is included for a guidance system for free parking space, for use in a vehicle with an information receiving device.

Description

The The invention relates generally to a device for transmitting of information about free parking space and a system for Providing a guide to free parking.

Conventionally, a free parking space guidance system having an information transmitting unit and an information receiving unit is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2005-326956 disclosed. In the disclosure of Patent Literature 1, a vehicle (ie, the other vehicle) that parks in a parking garage transmits information about the free parking space surrounding it. That is, the information such as environment image information and also vehicle position / direction information is transmitted. Further, when another vehicle (ie, a subject vehicle or subject vehicle) receives the transmitted information, the free parking space is presented to a driver of the subject vehicle, for example. In this way, when a device for acquiring information about free parking space is arranged in each of the vehicles, a guide for free parking space for the vehicles is provided without using a dedicated device for the guidance to free parking space.

In However, only the free ones can be used in the above disclosure Parking spaces around the other vehicle around based the environment image information and the like derived from the other vehicle, be captured. Therefore, the coverage of vacancy rates or clearance detection narrow, if only a few vehicles equipped with the functionality described above are.

About that In addition, due to the acquisition and transfer of the Image information during the parking time the other vehicle the relevant equipment during the parking time in operation have, making the battery of the vehicle vulnerable to becomes a discharge. That is, switching on and operating The vehicle equipment may be in terms of battery power consumption not be realistic.

In In view of the foregoing and other problems, the invention provides a guidance system for free parking ready which achieves a wider range of coverage coverage without to increase the concern of a battery discharge.

In An aspect of the invention is an apparatus for transmitting of information about free parking space for wireless transmission of information about free parking space upon detection of a free parking space proposed. The device is for detecting of the free parking space while getting a vehicle in one Parking garage moved, and to transfer information about the detected free parking space near the vehicle arranged in the vehicle. The transmitted through the device Information includes at least position information of the free one Parking space.

Further can the information be received by another vehicle, with an information receiving device for receiving the transmitted Information is equipped. That of the information receiving device received information is used to guide to a position of the free parking space in the parking garage for the occupant of one other vehicle used.

In accordance detected with the guide system described above the vehicle moving in the parking garage the free parking space, while it is moving in the parking garage, and will the coverage of the clearance detection using only one vehicle increased. That is, a wide range or a long reach of a clearance detection cover becomes provided by only one vehicle. Furthermore, due to the System operating method that operates the system during the vehicle is moving, the concern of a battery discharge reduced.

The Invention is of course not on parks in buildings, such as an underground car park and / or a parking garage or a Parking garage, limited but includes the above also described features for a (not closed or ceilingless) open-air park, such as an open one Parking on a site or along a street or of streets.

Short Thus, a device according to the invention is described provided for transmitting information about free parking space, which is arranged in a vehicle, including: a facility for looking for a free parking space while the vehicle is moving in a parking garage; and a facility for wirelessly transmitting information about free parking space, which at least information about the free Parking space included, which was captured.

Prefers In this case, the information about free parking space is transmitted immediately, if (a) the free parking space has been detected, and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmitting information about free parking space as the parking garage is detected leaving.

Further is preferred if (a) the free parking space has been detected, and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmitting Information about free parking space as after the free parking space the information about free parking space was determined with the exception of information regarding the free parking space, which is to be used by the vehicle when the transfer was determined by the vehicle to use free parking space.

Furthermore is preferred if (a) the free parking space has been detected, and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmitting Information about free parking space than looking for the free parking space which transmits information about free parking space, when the vehicle of the detected parking space by a predetermined Distance away.

Advantageous is when the vehicle with the device for transmitting of information about free parking space after a parked Condition is determined as leaving a parking space, the information regarding the free parking space coming back from the vehicle is transmitted wirelessly.

Prefers is further provided that map data of an interior of the parking garage are; a current position of the vehicle with the Device for transmitting information about free parking space is acquired continuously; an estimated mistake the current position of the vehicle continuously calculated becomes; and the information about free parking space from the transmission is excluded, if a distance between the detected free parking space and a nearest corridor parallel to the covered parking space runs smaller than the detected Mistake is.

About that It is also preferred that: the information about free Parking space, due to the smallness of the distance compared to excluding the estimated error from the transmission is stored; a location of the vehicle after detection of the free parking space is stored up to a position that a correction of the current position by means of a Card matching process enabled; and the information about free parking space of the free parking space excluded from the transfer if the free parking space is based on the current Position after the correction and the location of the vehicle as of the gear is determined differently.

Advantageous is also that: a distance from the vehicle to the obstacle based on a detection result of the sensor continuously is determined; and the free parking space determined as existing if the width and depth of the free parking space on the Basis of the determined distance are within predetermined ranges.

Prefers is in such a device for transmitting information about free parking space, which also has a camera for imaging environments around the vehicle, includes the free parking space by analyzing recorded by the camera image captured.

One Inventive guide system for free Parking space includes the device for transmitting Information about free parking space according to one of the preceding Claims; and an information receiving apparatus that in another vehicle with the device for transmission of information about free parking is arranged to receive the information about free parking space passing through the device to transmit information about free parking space and to guide an occupant of the other vehicle a free parking space in a parking garage based on the received information about free parking space.

Prefers includes such a leadership system for free Parking space arranged in the parking garage equipment for receiving the information about free parking space passing through the device to transmit information about free parking space and to store the received information about free parking space, wherein the resource is the stored information about free parking space at a predetermined time after receipt the information about free parking space in the direction of a Inside the parking garage emits.

Advantageous here is that: the information about free parking space, that transmitted by the device for transmitting information about free parking space was transferred, in addition to the vacancy of the parking space and the position of the parking space at least a size of the parking space and / or one through includes the parking space acceptable type of vehicle; and the information receiving device the basis of the received information about free parking space determines whether the vehicle with the information receiving device by the received information about free parking space can use the specified free parking space.

It is also preferable that: the information receiving apparatus continuously receives the free parking space information transmitted from the free parking space information transmitting apparatus, and continuously updates a database based on the received information updated free parking space; the information receiving apparatus calculates an availability priority of each of a plurality of free parking spaces based on the free parking space information stored in the database; and the information receiving apparatus determines, from the plurality of free parking spaces based on the availability priority, a free parking space to which the vehicle is guided.

Prefers is further that: the device for transmitting information about free parking space from another device for transferring transmitted information about free parking space Receiving information about free parking space; the device for transmitting information about free parking space a database for free parking on the basis of generated information about free parking space generated; the Device for transmitting information about free parking space Information on occupied parking space to Viewing the usage of parking space wirelessly transmits, if the device for transmitting information about free Parking space detects that in the database about free Parking space actually occupied as a freely identified parking space is; and when the information receiving device transmits the information about occupied parking space, the information receiving device the database for free parking on the basis of updated information about occupied parking space updated.

moreover it is preferred that: when the relevant information receiving device determines that the vehicle with the relevant information receiving device parked in a free parking space in the database for is stored free parking space, the relevant information receiving device Parking space usage information announcing the use of the free parking space transfers; and if the concerned Information receiving device, the parking space usage information receives from another information receiving device, the subject information receiving device the database for free parking space based on the received parking space usage information updated.

Prefers in addition, that: the information receiving device equipped with map data of an interior of the parking garage; and the information receiving device based on the map data inside the parking garage determines whether the received information about free parking refers to a parking space or a corridor.

Advantageous in that: the information receiving device is a direction guide to lead in the direction of the free parking space through the received information about free parking space specified is provided.

After all It is preferable that: the information receiving device transmits a parking space reservation information to announce that the vehicle is in the free parking space if the information receiving device stores an operation for Reserve free parking space by the occupant of the vehicle Providing a guide to the free parking space for captured the occupant; and the information receiving device Parking space regarding the parking space reservation information from the use in the guide, if the parking space reservation information of another information receiving device is received.

Aims, Features and advantages of the invention are the following detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings better removable. Show it:

1 10 is a block diagram showing a structure of a free parking space management system and other vehicle components in an embodiment of the invention;

2 a block diagram of a construction of a device for transmitting information about free parking space in the embodiment of the invention;

3 a block diagram of a structure of an information receiving apparatus in the embodiment of the invention;

4 a flowchart of a part of a detection function start processing for detecting a free parking space, which is performed by a free space detection unit;

5 a flowchart of a free parking space detection processing;

6 a representation of a detection method for free parking space;

7 a flowchart of a transmission determination processing;

8th a flowchart of processing performed by a service start determination unit;

9 a flowchart of processing performed by a received information processing unit;

10 a flow chart of a processing performed by an availability priority calculation unit;

11 a representation of a free parking space in a parking garage; and

12 a representation of a comparison of two cases in which information about free parking space is transmitted and not transmitted.

below An embodiment of the invention is with reference described on the drawing. In the present embodiment several vehicles are used to describe a situation in which these vehicles each with a guide device are equipped for free parking space, both as a Device for transmitting information about free parking space as well as an information receiving device serves. Furthermore, the multiple units of this guide device For free parking, organize it as a guide system for free parking space as in the appended claims serve.

1 FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a structure of a main part of a vehicle having the above free parking space guiding device. FIG. What 1 As far as each of electronic control unit (ECU) is concerned 1 to 5 a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM) and other components equipped with a communication capability for mutual transmission and reception of Signals over a vehicle local area network (a vehicle LAN) 13 , More practically, a support control ECU detects 1 a free parking space while the vehicle is traveling with the free parking guide device in a parking lot, and performs processing for transferring information about free parking space and for receiving the information about free parking space and performing guidance processing for guiding the vehicle a free parking space or parking space through.

A communication unit 10 is a wireless radio that allows vehicle-to-vehicle communication in a multi-hundred meter communication area between vehicles across the parking lot, ie, for example, between the vehicles that are respectively on opposite sides in / on the parking lot. When a free parking space is detected, free parking space information about the free parking space is received from the communication unit 10 transfer. Further, the parking space information transmitted from other vehicles is received from the communication unit 10 receive.

The display unit 11 is arranged at a position that can be viewed from a driver's seat in a vehicle compartment, and displays the position of the free parking space graphically using a geometric figure or in literal form using text controlled by the ECU 1 at. Further, a speaker alerts 12 the driver vocally by sound, controlled by the ECU 1 , for example about the position of the free parking space.

An engine ECU 2 is an electronic control unit which determines an engine speed (not shown) based on a speed sensor 21 recorded vehicle speed and other conditions. Furthermore, the ECU transfers 2 a signal relating to the speed sensor 21 detected vehicle speed over the vehicle LAN 13 to a navigation ECU 4 ,

A brake ECU 3 is an electronic control unit which includes a brake actuator (not shown) based on a steering sensor 31 detected steering angle and one by a yaw rate sensor 32 detected yaw rate controls. Furthermore, the ECU transfers 3 a signal that passes through the steering sensor 31 indicates detected steering angle (ie, a steering angle signal), and a signal indicative of that detected by the yaw rate sensor 32 detected yaw rate indicates (ie, a yaw rate signal) over the vehicle LAN 13 to the navigation ECU 4 ,

The navigation ECU 4 continuously and sequentially detects a current position and a current direction of the vehicle on the basis of the above-mentioned speed signal, the steering angle signal and the yaw rate signal, and a GPS antenna 41 Global Positioning System (GPS) received by GPS satellites.

A hard disk drive (HDD) 9 on which digital road map data is stored is with the navigation ECU 4 connected. The navigation ECU 4 continuously determines the current vehicle position by using both an autonomous navigation method and an electronic navigation method. That is, while the autonomous navigation method, the current position based on a swept by the vehicle path, which consists of the speed signal, the steering angle signal, the yaw rate signal and The like determined with reference to the above digital road map data used for the correction, the electronic navigation method determines the current position based on the electric wave from the GPS satellite. That is, the current vehicle position and the traveling direction of the vehicle are derived by a hybrid navigation method of the above two methods. Further, in the above digital road map data, map data of an inside of a parking garage is stored. That is, when a map of the interior of a parking garage is available, the map data and the path traveled by the vehicle itself are tuned to each other for the travel of the vehicle in the parking garage for the purpose of correcting the current position and direction of the vehicle. In the parking garage, due to the narrowness of aisles and right-and-left lanes of the vehicle in the garage, the autonomous navigation method may be preferably used to detect the present position. As a result, it is possible to detect the position of the free parking space with sufficiently high accuracy.

A sonar or radar ECU 5 detects an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle on the basis of the signal from first to fourth sonar or sound measurement sensors 51 to 54 , In the parking garage, the sonar ECU is also recorded 5 whether other vehicles park in the parking spaces. The first to fourth sound sensors 51 to 54 are arranged for emitting ultrasound directed into the vicinity of the vehicle and for receiving its reflection at predetermined positions of the vehicle (for example, at the front and the rear end on both side members of the vehicle).

Next, the construction of the apparatus for transmitting information about free parking space will be described with reference to FIG 2 As described in 2 10, the apparatus for transmitting information about free parking space includes the assistance control ECU 1 , the sonar ECU 5 , the sound sensors 51 to 54 , the navigation ECU 4 , and the communication unit 10 , Further, the assistance control ECU 1 in terms of the apparatus for transmitting information about free parking space, with a free space detection unit 101 a free space position calculation unit 102 , a database for recorded free space (DB) 103 , and a transmission determination unit 104 fitted.

The free space detection unit 101 detects an empty parking space in the parking garage by using the information from the sonar ECU 5 if based on the information from the navigation ECU 4 it is determined that the vehicle is retracted with the device in the parking garage.

The free space calculation unit 102 calculates the position of the free parking space, which through the free space detection unit 101 is detected. Then, on the basis of an operation result, the database for free parking DB 103 updated, which stores the position of the free parking space, which was detected by the vehicle, which is equipped with the device while the vehicle is moving in the parking garage.

The transmission determination unit 104 transmits the information showing the free parking space stored in the database for detected free parking space DB 103 is stored to other vehicles in the vicinity if a condition for the transmission of information about free parking space (one of steps S72, S74 and S75 in FIG 7 which are yet to be described) is met. In addition, the in the above units, that is, in the free space detection unit 101 , the free space position calculation unit 102 , and the transmission determination unit 104 , processing performed later explained in detail with reference to flowcharts.

Next, the structure of the information receiving apparatus for receiving the free parking space information will be explained with reference to FIG 3 described. As in 3 is shown, the information receiving apparatus includes the assistance control ECU 1 , the navigation ECU 4 , the communication unit 10 , the display unit 11 , and the speaker 12 , Further, the assistance control ECU includes 1 as the information receiving device, a service start determination unit 111 a processing unit for received information 112 , a database for received information (DB) 113 an availability priority calculation unit 114 , a database for free parking space (DB) 115 , and a driver assist generation unit 116 ,

The service start determination unit 111 determines, based on continuously determining whether the vehicle is currently in a parking garage, that the vehicle is retracted with the device in the parking garage, and starts a parking space guidance service, if this is determined. The parking space management service is a processing performed by the received information processing unit 112 , the availability priority calculation unit 114 and the driver assistance generation unit 116 which units will be described below, respectively.

The received information processing unit 112 stores received information in the received information database 113 every time the information passes through the communication unit 10 Will be received. The received information includes the information about free parking space, and by comparing the contents in the two databases 113 and 115 become the contents of the database 115 by the received information processing unit 112 with the contents of the database 113 updated if the contents in the two databases are not identical.

The availability priority calculation unit 114 calculates the following four items based on the in the database for free parking DB 115 stored information about free parking space. That is, (1) the free parking space is "parkable", that is, the free parking space is sufficiently large for parking the subject vehicle equipped with the device, (2) the simplicity of parking with a view to maneuvering the concerned one Vehicle or the like, (3) an estimated time to complete the parking, and (4) the possibility of parking. Then the calculation unit calculates 114 on the basis of the calculation results of the above four elements (1) to (4), the availability priority. In other words, the availability priority is a management priority provided by the driver assistance generation unit 116 is used as an index for selecting a particular parking space from the plurality of free parking spaces and guiding the driver to that particular free parking space.

The driver assistance unit 116 shows on the display unit 11 a guide display for guiding the vehicle to the free parking space, which is the highest by the availability priority calculation unit 114 calculated availability priority, and controls the speaker 12 for an output of a guidance voice for guiding the vehicle to the free parking space. Furthermore, the service start determination unit determines 111 , the received information processing unit 112 , and the availability priority calculation unit 114 later described in detail with reference to flowcharts.

Next, the processing of the assistance control ECU 1 using the above-mentioned clearance detection unit 101 , the free space position calculation unit 102 , and the transmission determination unit 104 That is, the functional units serving in combination as the apparatus for transmitting information about free parking space will be described with reference to a flowchart and the like.

4 Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a detection function start processing constituting the first half of the processing performed by the clearance detection unit 101 is carried out. First, in a step S41, the process acquires the current position of the vehicle from the navigation ECU 4 and then in a step S42, the map of the vicinity of the current vehicle position already acquired in step S41 is acquired from the navigation ECU 4 acquired.

In a step S43, the process determines whether the vehicle is traveling in a parking garage or not. More practically, based on the present position and the map respectively acquired in steps S41 and S42, the process determines whether the current position is in the parking garage or not, and also whether the vehicle is currently moving or not. When the process comes to an affirmative determination, the process proceeds to a step S44 and starts performing the function of detecting free parking space. On the other hand, the process of 4 upon receiving a negative determination in step S43 of FIG 4 yourself. In this case, the process of 4 restarted after a predetermined period of time.

When the free parking space detection function is determined to be started in step S44, the free parking space detection process in FIG 5 carried out. In 5 In step S51, the process first determines whether there is a parking space in the vicinity of the vehicle or not. This determination will be made on the basis of the navigation ECU 4 purchased parking garage card. That is, the process determines if the current position of the vehicle is on the garage card.

If the determination in step S51 is negative, the process exits from 5 In addition, because the process of 4 is repeated periodically as mentioned above, this to the process of 5 if the current vehicle position is determined to be in the parking garage. Therefore, even if the determination in step S51 is a negative determination, the process in FIG 5 carried out again as long as the vehicle position is in the parking garage.

If the determination in step S51 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S52, and performs the process of determining free parking space during the progress in the garage. In the process are under the sonars or sensors 51 to 54 the sonars or sensors that face the parking space used under the control of the sonar ECU 5 To capture obstacles. The detection result is then obtained for detecting the free parking space.

The free parking space is determined using, for example, one in Japanese Patent Document JP-A-H04-30300 disclosed method, or a method according to the Japanese Patent Document JP-A-H09-180100 , or a method according to the Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2002-170103 , as well as other publicly known procedures. More practically expressed, as in 6A 10, the vehicle performing the process of detecting the free parking space becomes an obstacle in the direction of the parking space as it travels. This obstacle detection becomes an in 6B obtained detection result. The representation in 6A is an example of the fact that there is a free parking space. In this example, a space longer than a length of a vehicle is continuously detected for a width longer than a vehicle width. The space (ie, a detected distance to the obstacle) with the length (for example, the depth in 6B ) and the width each longer than a vehicle is considered the free

Parking space determined. Moreover, the process in step S51 and step S52 becomes that of the clearance detection unit 101 considered process performed.

Then, the process performed in steps S53 to S55 is the processing by the clearance position calculating unit 102 , That is, in step S53, the process determines whether or not free parking space is detected as a result of the detection processing in step S52. The process of 5 terminates itself if the determination in step S53 is negative. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S54 and performs processing for calculating a position of free parking space.

The process in step S54 uses a relative position of the free parking space relative to the subject vehicle and that in step S41 of FIG 4 obtained current position of the subject vehicle for calculating coordinates of the detected in step S52 free parking space. Further, the direction of the free parking space is also calculated on the basis of the direction of the subject vehicle at the time of detecting the free parking space.

Then, in step S55, the process records the position (ie, the coordinates) and the direction of the free parking space calculated in step S54 in the detected free parking space database DB 103 on. Because, as described above, the process of 5 is repeated, while the vehicle is moving in the garage, the information on the free parking spaces, which were detected during locomotion, in the database for detected free parking spaces DB 103 accumulated.

If the process of 5 Once finished, the in 7 shown transmission determination processing performed. The process in 7 is the processing by the transmission determination unit 104 , That is, in a step S71, the process refers to the detected free parking space database DB 103 and determines if there is a free parking space or not. If the above determination results in a negative result, the process exits from 7 even.

• (1) Falls das Fahrzeug nach einer bestimmten Zeit seit der Einfahrt in die Garage erneut beginnt, sich fortzubewegen, wird das Fahrzeug als die Garage verlassend ermittelt.
• (2) Falls der Motor in der Parkgarage gestartet wird, bestimmt dies, dass das Fahrzeug die Garage verlässt.
• (3) Falls ein Ziel eines Führungskurses auf einen Ort festgelegt wird, der außerhalb der Garage existiert, während sich das Fahrzeug in der Garage befindet, bestimmt dies, dass das Fahrzeug die Garage verlässt.

On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to a step S72, and determines whether the subject vehicle is leaving the parking garage or not. For example, the criteria for determining whether the vehicle is leaving the garage may be specified as the following three items (1) to (3) individually. This means,

• (1) If the vehicle restarts after a certain time since entering the garage, the vehicle is determined to be leaving the garage.
• (2) If the engine is started in the parking garage, it determines that the vehicle is leaving the garage.
• (3) If a goal of a leading course is set to a place that exists outside the garage while the vehicle is in the garage, it determines that the vehicle is leaving the garage.

The process proceeds to step S76 immediately after an affirmative determination in step S72, and transmits the free parking space DB detected in the database 103 stored information about free parking space. That is, if the vehicle is detected as leaving the garage, the information about the free space is transmitted.

On the other hand, if the process in step S72 is the negative determination, it is considered that the vehicle is looking for a free parking space. Therefore, the process proceeds to a step S73. Then, in step S73, the process acquires the current position from the navigation ECU 4 , Further, in a step S74, the process determines whether the vehicle has entered the parking space or not. The criterion of identification may be, for example, that the ignition switch is turned off, or that the vehicle position does not move for a certain period of time. The period of non-movement of the vehicle may be, for example, three minutes or more. If the process in step S74 results in an affirmative determination, the parking space occupied by the subject vehicle is determined on the basis of the current vehicle position acquired in step S73, and the corresponding space is acquired from the detected free parking space database DB 103 cleared before proceeding to a step S76. The process then transfers in the database DB in step S76 103 stored information about free parking space.

If the process results in a negative determination in step S74, the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, the distance from the free parking space stored immediately before in step S55 is calculated to the vehicle, and determines whether this is a sufficient distance to consider that the vehicle is away from the free parking space (for example, 100 meters from the free space in this case). If the determination is affirmative, the process considers this to be such that the vehicle will no longer park in the free parking space stored immediately before step S55, and proceeds to step S76 to obtain the information on free parking space in the database DB 103 transferred to. On the other hand, if the process is determined to be negative in step S75, then the process of 7 itself without performing the step S76.

Moreover, the timing for transmitting the information about free parking space in step S76 may be in accordance with vehicle conditions such as the vehicle position, the driving situation, or the circumstance situation as in FIG Japanese Patent Document 3805923 disclosed, determined, or may be determined as an instant after the occurrence in step S76.

Furthermore, while the processes in the 4 . 5 and 7 During the movement of the vehicle in the garage to be carried out, find a separate process application. That is, if the vehicle can be detected in a parked state as leaving the garage, the parking position of the vehicle can be directly transmitted as the information on free parking space.

If the vehicle leaves the garage or is not on the Based on the history of the vehicle. More accurate is expressed after a certain period of parking after the entrance to the garage to start moving again Vehicle as the garage is determined leaving. Alternatively, then, when the engine is started in the garage, the vehicle as the Parking to be determined. Furthermore, if an outside lying place is set as a target while the Vehicle is in the garage, the vehicle as a moving away or to be determined.

Further, in steps S54 and S55 in FIG 5 calculated and recorded the position and direction of the free parking space. In addition, the length (depth) and the width of the free space can be recorded. Furthermore, the type of free space can be recorded. The type of free space is, for example, a parking space intended for the physically handicapped, a parking space intended for a smaller vehicle, an unmarked parking space not belonging to any of the foregoing two types, or the like. The parking space type can be determined by, for example, a method that images a pattern on the ground surface of the parking space and recognizes the picked up pattern. Alternatively, the kind information may be transmitted from an information transmitting device in the vicinity of the parking space.

Next, the processing by the service start determination unit becomes 111 , the received information processing unit 112 , and the availability priority calculation unit 114 with reference to flowcharts as a structure of processes in the assistance control ECU 1 which serve as an information receiving device.

8th Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the actions performed by the service start determination unit 111 is carried out. This processing is repeatedly performed at fixed intervals. First, in a step S81, the process acquires the current position from the navigation ECU 4 and then, in a step S82, the map of the vicinity of the current position already acquired in step S81 is acquired from the navigation ECU 4 acquired.

Then, in step S83, the process determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling in the parking garage. More practically, on the basis of the current position and the environment map acquired in steps S81 and S82, it is determined whether or not the present position of the vehicle is included in the parking garage, and also determines whether the vehicle is currently traveling. If step S83 results in the affirmative determination, the process proceeds to step S84 to wait for reception of information. If in this case the information transmission device is arranged in the parking garage, it can be determined that the position of the driving who has received information from this information transmission device in the garage in the parking garage. Further, the process may proceed to step S84 to wait for receipt of information based on the operation of a specific switch by the driver instructing the state of waiting for information.

When waiting for the receipt of information, those in the 9 and 10 shown processes performed. On the other hand, the process of 8th itself if step S83 results in the negative determination. In this case, after a certain period of time, the process of 8th restarted.

9 Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing by the received information processing unit 112 shows. First, in step S91, the process determines whether or not there is received information. The received information includes those in step S76 of FIG 7 transmitted information about free parking space, and parking space usage information to be described later.

The determination in step S91 leads to self-termination of the process of 9 if it is determined to be negative. However, if step S84 of 8th is performed, the process of 9 restarted. On the other hand, the determination in step S91 results in the recording of the received information in the received information DB 113 in a step S92 if it is determined to be affirmative in step S91.

Then, in step S93, the process determines by comparing the received information with the recorded contents in the free parking database DB 115 whether the contents of the received information from the recorded content in the database for free parking DB 115 differ. The determination leads to the termination of the processing of 9 if the determination is negative. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S94, and the process exits after performing a content update in the free parking database DB 115 on the basis of the received information with regard to the processing of 9 even.

10 is a flowchart showing the processing by the availability priority calculation unit 114 shows. The process calculates for each of the free parking spaces in the database for free parking DB 115 recorded, the availability priority. That means that in 10 shown process is applied to all free parking spaces, which in the database for free parking DB 115 are recorded.

In a step S101, the process determines on the basis of the free parking space DB in the database 115 stored information about free parking space and the pre-stored information about the vehicle, whether it is possible for the vehicle to park in the free parking space or not. More specifically, when the type information is not stored together with the length and the width of the parking space in the information on the free parking space, the availability of the free space is determined by comparing the space size of the free parking space with the vehicle size. That is, if the room size is larger than the vehicle size, it is determined to be available. If the kind information is included in the information about free parking space, for determining the availability of the parking space, the kind information of the parking space is compared with the kind information of the vehicle.

If step S101 results in a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S106 and sets the availability priority to zero. On the other hand, if step S101 results in the affirmative determination, the process proceeds to step S102 to get the current position and the parking garage map from the navigation ECU 4 to acquire. Then, in a step S103, the process based on the current position and the parking garage map acquired in step S102 calculates a course distance to the free parking space.

Then In a step S104, the positions of other vehicles in the garage procured or acquired. The positions of other vehicles can by receiving position information from other vehicles or by transmitting a request for the vehicle positions purchased on other vehicles. That is, if it is the vehicle concerned in the waiting for the information reception State, the position information can be configured is transferred to the surrounding vehicles on the other side of the vehicle to be able to enter, that is, can through the concerned Vehicle to be received. On the other hand, if the surrounding Vehicles are in the waiting state for receiving information, can the request for the position information to this surrounding vehicles.

Then, in step S105, the process calculates the availability priority of the free parking space. The availability priority is based on determinations of the following factors, that is, the ease of parking, the ge estimated time to finish parking the vehicle, and the possibility of parking, charged. More practically, these factors are used in an equation used to calculate the availability priority.

Further The simplicity of parking is based on the difference between the room size of the free parking space and the size of the vehicle. The estimated Time for parking is based on the train distance determined in step S103. The possibility parking is based on the positions of other vehicles, acquired in step S104, determined. That is, the possibility parking is calculated by respectively calculating the travel or rail distances other vehicles to the free parking space and by comparing the Track distance of the vehicle in question and the distance to the track the other vehicles.

After performing the processing of 10 for all free parking spaces for calculating the availability priority, the driver assistance generation unit notifies 116 a driver on the free parking space with the highest availability priority. For example, the unit controls 116 the display unit 11 to display the parking garage card showing the free parking space as in 11 shown, and simultaneously gives a voice guide from the speaker 12 which may sound like "receiving information about the free parking space left".

After the visual and / or linguistic guidance, the support control ECU transmits 1 to the other vehicles, the parking space usage information indicating that the subject vehicle is using the parking space if the assistance control ECU 1 based on the parking garage card and the current position of the vehicle detects that the driver has controlled the vehicle so that it enters the free parking space. The vehicle that has received the parking space information updates the free parking database DB 115 as explained using the process in FIG 9 ,

Alternatively, when the driver operates a key or a switch to reserve the free parking space after the guidance, the assistance control ECU transmits 1 to the other vehicles a parking space reservation information indicating that the free parking space is reserved. The vehicle that has received the parking space reservation information does not notify the driver of the reserved parking space.

As in the present embodiment has been described, the free parking space is through the moving in the parking garage vehicle captures, allowing extended coverage of the capture free Parking space is achieved. Furthermore, the concern about a battery discharge is reduced, because the detection process is performed in the traveling vehicle becomes.

Even though the invention in conjunction with a preferred embodiment the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in full has been described, it should be noted that for the expert various changes and modifications will be announced.

To the Example becomes in the embodiment described above the free parking space detected by sonar or ultrasonic devices. The means that the recorded room size is determined and the size with the size of the vehicle is compared. The carriageway of the parking garage can however, by the method described above as a free one Room can be faulted. That means that due to the low Intensity of the GPS signal, or due to the low Compensation frequency in autonomous navigation at successive rectilinear locomotion or the like, the carriageway as the free parking space can be faulted, especially if the Garage card is not available and the detection accuracy the current vehicle position is insufficient.

Therefore can successively estimate the error of the recorded position the information about free parking space remain untransmitted if the distance from the free Space to the lane is less than the estimated Error.

The Estimation of the error can be on the duration of the time degraded reception condition of the GPS signal, or Can on the elapsed time since the correction of the current Vehicle position based in autonomous navigation. These criteria Both can be used at the same time. About that In addition, the deteriorated reception condition of the GPS signal assume that the GPS signal is less than three or four satellites can be received.

alternative is when the distance from the vehicle to the road aisle exceeds the error even if the absolute value of the Error is great, the information about free Transfer parking space. This is because of the free Parking space can be easily found if the vehicle is roughly in Direction to the free parking space is led, too if the exact location of the free parking space is not accurate.

12 Fig. 15 is an illustration of a comparison of two cases, that is, a case in which the information about free parking space is transmitted and a case in which the information is not transmitted. In 12 For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the positional error of a vehicle A and the positional error of a vehicle B are the same. As illustrated, even if the positional error areas cover the same area, the information about free parking space is not transmitted from the vehicle A when the distance from the vehicle A to the vehicle lane is small, and the information is transmitted from the vehicle B. when the distance from the vehicle B to the roadway is sufficiently large.

However, if the error becomes small due to, for example, the correction in the autonomous navigation, and the temporarily stored free parking space is determined to be different from the roadway, the information about the free parking space can be transmitted. This was true in the case of the vehicle A in 12 ,

Further may be that in each of the vehicles in the above embodiment Parkgaragenkarte described saved or secured be. That is, the transferring and / or the receiving vehicle, the information about free Exchange parking space, can be operated without the Own garage card.

If however, the transferring vehicle does not match the parking garage card equipped, the transferring vehicle can not determine by reference to the map whether the captured space is a free one Parking space or a lane is. Therefore, one of the two following Options used.

The first option is that the transferring vehicle transmits the information about free parking space, which also indicates that the free space is not there Whether it is a parking space or a Fahrbahngang acts. Then the receiving vehicle uses the Garage card to determine that the free space actually the free parking space or the traffic aisle is.

The second option is that the sensors in the transmitting Vehicle to be used in determining whether the room is the parking space or the lane aisle is. For example, the sonars will transmit at the Vehicle used to determine the length of the space, and may be a determined length that falls within an area exceeds a vehicle length and shorter than 5 meters is when the free parking space is detected, or can a recorded length over 5 meters as a carriageway be determined. In addition, the length can be over 5 meters can also be determined as the free parking space, in case the Width is within, for example, 3 meters.

Further For example, a camera may be used as the sensor described above become. If the camera is used, the free space of The camera can be captured as a picture, and can take the form of a white one Line in the image as an indication to determine that the free Space the parking space is to be used.

Further, if the receiving vehicle is not equipped with the parking garage card, the in 11 garage image display shown can not be performed. However, even if the parking garage card is not available, the direction of the free parking space relative to the receiving vehicle can be determined. Therefore, as the guide in the parking space, the direction of the free parking space relative to the receiving vehicle can be provided as a voice or voice output, or as a screen display. The voice output may sound something like "The free parking space is available at the front on the left side".

Further, in the above embodiment, the information about the free parking space is transmitted as soon as the free parking space is detected. However, the parking space usage information may be based on a continuous update of the database DB 103 alternatively using the information transmitted by the other vehicles to announce that the free parking space information in the detected parking space DB database is transmitted 103 is actually occupied. In this case, the parking space information received from the other vehicles is used to the free parking database DB 115 to update.

Further In the above embodiment, the information becomes directly from the transferring vehicle to the receiving one Transfer vehicle. The information can, however, by means of forwarded to a arranged in the parking garage device become. In this case, the information is first in deposited at the institution, and then at a given time broadcast in the garage. The specific time can be for example a regular interval with a fixed Interval, or a time of entry of the vehicle into the garage, or a time of receiving an information request be from the vehicle.

In the embodiment described above, only a free parking space with the highest availability priority reported as available. However, two or more rooms can be communicated simultaneously. The availability priority of these two or more rooms may also be communicated at the same time as providing information.

Furthermore, the sonars 51 to 54 of the embodiment described above are replaced by a radar.

Further The above embodiment uses the hybrid Navigation method, which is an electronic navigation method and an autonomous navigation method for detecting the position and the direction of the vehicle combined. For the vehicles in a covered or closed garage in a building or the like, which makes it difficult to receive the GPS signal, however, the autonomous navigation method can be exclusively for capturing the position and direction of the vehicle.

The Invention is after all not on parks in buildings, such as an underground car park and / or a parking garage or a Parking garage, limited, but also on one (not closed or ceilingless) open-air park, such as an open-plan Parking on a site or along a street or by road, applicable.

Such changes, Modifications and summarized schemes are considered within the subject of the invention as by the appended Claims defined lying to understand.

As thus described above, detects one in a vehicle arranged device for transmitting information about free parking space a free parking space in the vicinity of the vehicle, while the vehicle is moving in a parking garage, and gets information about the detected free parking space wirelessly transmitted through the device. The transferred Information is then transmitted through a in a receiving vehicle receive received information receiving device, and the received Information is used to a passenger in the receiving Vehicle to provide a guide to the free parking space. The combination of the device for transmitting information about free parking space and the information receiving device serves as a guidance system for free parking space, the one increased coverage of a parking space detection area without Increase the possibility of battery discharge in the Vehicle achieved.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - JP 2005-326956 A [0002]
• - JP 04-30300 A [0065]
• - JP 09-180100 [0065]
• - JP 2002-170103 A [0065]
• - JP 3805923 [0075]

Claims (18)

Device for transmitting information about free parking space, which is arranged in a vehicle, characterized by: a device ( 10 . 51 - 54 ) to search for a free parking space while the vehicle is traveling in a parking garage; and a facility ( 10 ) for wirelessly transmitting free parking space information including at least information about the free parking space that has been detected. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to claim 1, characterized in that: the Transfer information about free parking immediately when (a) the free parking space has been detected, and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmitting information about free parking space as the parking garage is detected leaving. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that: if (a) the free parking space has been detected, and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmitting information about free parking space was found when looking for free parking space, the information about free parking space with the exception of information regarding of the free parking space to be used by the vehicle when the free parking space to be used by the vehicle has been determined. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized characterized in that: if (a) the free parking space is detected and (b) the vehicle with the device for transmission of information about free parking space than about the free parking space which information is transmitted via free parking space, when the vehicle of the detected parking space by a predetermined Distance away. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to one of claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized characterized in that: then when the vehicle with the device for transmitting information about free parking space ascertaining a parked state as leaving a parking space is the information regarding the free parking space, the from the vehicle is transmitted wirelessly becomes. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to one of claims 1, 2 and 5, characterized characterized in that: Map data of an interior of the parking garage are provided; a current position of the Vehicle with the device for transmitting information about free Parking space is acquired continuously; a valued Error of the current position of the vehicle continuously is calculated; and the information about free parking space is excluded from the transfer if a distance between the detected free parking space and one closest lying parallel to the detected free parking space, is less than the detected error. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to claim 6, characterized in that: the Information about free parking, due to the smallness of the distance compared to the estimated error of is removed, is stored; one Location of the vehicle after detection of the free parking space up to a position is saved, which is a correction of the current Position by means of a card matching process; and the Information about free parking space regarding the transfer of exempted free parking space if the free parking space is based on the current Position after the correction and the location of the vehicle as of the Gear is determined differently. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to one of claims 1, 2 and 5, further comprising a sensor ( 51 - 54 ) for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle, and characterized in that: a distance from the vehicle to the obstacle on the basis of a detection result of the sensor ( 51 - 54 ) is continuously determined; and determining the free parking space as existing when the width and the depth of the free parking space are within predetermined ranges based on the determined distance. Device for transmitting information about free parking space according to one of claims 1, 2, 5 and 8, further including a camera for imaging environments around it Vehicle, and characterized in that: the free parking space through Analyzing an image imaged by the camera is detected. A free parking space guidance system characterized by: the free parking space information transmitting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; and an information receiving device mounted in another vehicle with the device for transmission is arranged on information about free parking space for receiving the information about free parking space, which is transmitted by the device for transmitting information about free parking space, and for guiding an occupant of the other vehicle to a free parking space in a parking garage on the basis of received information about free parking space. Guiding system for free parking space according to claim 10, characterized by a arranged in the parking garage Resource for receiving the information about free Parking space through the device for transmitting Information about free parking space has been transferred, and for storing the received information about free Parking space, wherein the resource the stored information about free parking space at a predetermined time after receipt the information about free parking space in the direction of a Inside the parking garage emits. Guiding system for free parking space according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: the Information about free parking space passing through the device to transmit information about free parking space was in addition to the vacancy of the parking space and the Position of the parking space at least one size of Parking space and / or acceptable by the parking space type of vehicle includes; and the information receiving device on the Basis of received information about free parking space determines whether the vehicle with the information receiving device by the received information about free parking space can use the specified free parking space. Guiding system for free parking space according to claim 10 or 12, characterized in that: the Information receiving device continuously from the device for transmitting information about free parking space transmitted Receives information about free parking space and continuously updating a database based on the received information updated free parking space; the information receiving device an availability priority of each of several free parking on the basis of the database stored information about free parking space calculated; and the Information receiving device from the plurality of free parking spaces based on the availability priority determines a free parking space to which the vehicle led becomes Guiding system for free parking space according to claim 13, characterized in that: the device for transmitting information about free parking space that of another device for transmitting information about free parking space transmitted information about free Parking space receives; the device for transmitting of information about free parking space a database for free parking space based on the received information about generates free parking space; the device for transmitting of information about free parking information about used parking space to display the use of parking space transmits wirelessly, when the device for transmitting information about free parking space detects that in the database over Free parking space as a freely identified parking space actually is occupied; and when the information receiving device the Received information about occupied parking space, the information receiving device the database for free parking on the basis of updated information about occupied parking space updated. Guiding system for free parking space according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that: then, when the information receiving device in question detects that the vehicle with the relevant information receiving device parked in a free parking space in the database for is stored free parking space, the relevant information receiving device Parking space usage information announcing the use of the free parking space transfers; and if the information receiving device concerned, the parking space usage information receives from another information receiving device, the subject information receiving device the database for free parking space based on the received parking space usage information updated. Guiding system for free parking space according to one of claims 10, 12, 13 or 15, characterized that: the information receiving apparatus with map data of a Inside the parking garage is equipped; and the information receiving device determined on the basis of the map data of the interior of the parking garage, whether the received information about free parking space refers to a parking space or a corridor. Guiding system for free parking space according to one of claims 10, 12, 13 or 15, characterized that: the information receiving device is a directional guide to lead in the direction of the free parking space through the received information about free parking space specified is provided. Guiding system for free parking space according to one of claims 10, 12, 13 or 17, characterized that: the information receiving device transmits a parking space reservation information to announce that the vehicle is in the free parking space if the information receiving device stores an operation for Reserve free parking space by the occupant of the vehicle Providing a guide to the free parking space for the Inmates detected; and the information receiving device the Parking space with respect to the parking space reservation information of excludes use in the guide if the parking space reservation information is received from another information receiving device.