# US 11,440,586 B2 · Motor vehicle parking assistance system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,586 B2 - Document ID: US11440586B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/927,631 - Filed: 2018-03-21 - Published: 2018-09-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-22 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Frank Peter Engels; Muhammad Adeel Awan; Oliver Nehls; Otto Hofmann; Goetz-Phillipp Wegner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440586B2 ## CPC - B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically} - B60W 30/06: Automatic manoeuvring for parking - B60T 2201/10: Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems - B60W 2540/18: Steering angle - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES ## Abstract A method for assisting entry or exit of a motor vehicle into and from a parking space. The motor vehicle equipped with a steering wheel and at least one steering servomotor capable of applying a steering angle steered wheels of the motor vehicle. A control unit actuates the steering servomotor for carrying out an automatic parking process, in which case, during the parking process there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steered wheels and the steering wheel does not move. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for parking a vehicle comprising: a motor vehicle equipped with a steering wheel and at least one steering servomotor with which a steering angle can be applied to a steered wheel of the motor vehicle; a control unit actuating the steering servomotor for carrying out an automatic parking process wherein during the automatic parking process there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steered wheel; and the steering wheel remains stationary and oriented in a central position during the automatic parking process. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein any mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steered wheel is disconnected before the automatic parking process is carried out. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic parking process is aborted if interaction of a driver with the steering wheel is detected by a sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic parking process is aborted if a sensor detects a driver applied torque to the steering wheel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic parking process is aborted if a sensor detects a driver applied steering wheel rotational torque whose rotational direction is opposed to the steering direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic parking process continues as long as a driver keeps the steering wheel above a specific steering wheel angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the control unit bases the automatic parking process on a target position, and when a steering torque is applied to the steering wheel by a driver said target position is shifted in the direction of the steering torque by the control unit. ### Claim 8 A system for parking a motor vehicle comprising: a steering wheel and a steering servomotor applying a steering angle to a steered wheel of the motor vehicle; said steering wheel and said steered wheel having no mechanical connection between them; and a control unit actuating the steering servomotor for carrying out an automatic parking process wherein said steering wheel returns to a central position and remains stationary during the automatic parking process. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 including a decoupling element between said steering wheel and said steered wheel to decouple any mechanical connection between said steering wheel and said steered wheel prior to the automatic parking process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 including a sensor detecting any interaction between a driver and the steering wheel said sensor, and sending an interaction signal to said control unit; and said control unit aborting the automatic parking process upon receiving said interaction signal from said sensor.