Illumination method and illumination system for a remote-controlled parking maneuver
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMarc Roeber, Florian Vieten, John R. Van Wiemeersch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remote-controlled vehicle parking system provides illumination in the area of a user during a parking maneuver. After initiation of a remote-controlled parking maneuver by the user, an illumination device is activated for bringing about at least one of the following illumination processes during a remote-controlled parking maneuver at night or in low-light situations: (i) the illumination of the ground surface around the user; (ii) the illumination of the user themselves; and (iii) the projection of a warning symbol onto the ground surface to draw attention to the user.
Claims20
A method of providing illumination during a remote- controlled parking maneuver of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- detecting initiation of a remote-controlled parking maneuver for the vehicle by a user;
- sensing an ambient light brightness;
- comparing the sensed ambient light brightness to a threshold;
- if the sensed ambient light brightness is less than the threshold, then activating an illumination device during a remote-controlled parking maneuver to perform at least one of (i) illuminating a ground surface around the user, (ii) illuminating the user themself, and (iii) projecting a warning symbol onto the ground surface to draw attention to the user;
- and
- wherein the illumination device is integrated into a mobile device carried by the user.
An illumination system for producing illumination during a remote-controlled parking maneuver for a vehicle, comprising:
- an illumination device;
- a sensor configured to sense an ambient light brightness;
- a controller configured for (A) detecting an initiation of a remote-controlled parking maneuver by a user, (B) comparing the sensed ambient light brightness to a threshold and, (C) if the initiation of a remote-controlled parking maneuver for the vehicle is detected and the sensed ambient light brightness is less than the threshold, then activating the illumination device in order to perform at least one of (i) illuminating a ground surface around the user, (ii) illuminating the user themself, and (iii) projecting a warning symbol onto the ground surface to draw attention to the user;
- an external sensor system of the vehicle for locating the user;
- wherein the controller is further configured for monitoring further movement of the user around the vehicle using the external sensor system;
- and
- wherein the activated illumination device illuminates the ground surface around the user, illuminates the user themselves, or projects the warning symbol according to a located position of the user.
A method of providing illumination during a remote-controlled parking maneuver of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- detecting initiation of a remote-controlled parking maneuver for the vehicle by a user;
- sensing an ambient light brightness;
- comparing the sensed ambient light brightness to a threshold;
- if the sensed ambient light brightness is less than the threshold, then activating an illumination device during a remote-controlled parking maneuver to perform at least one of (i) illuminating a ground surface around the user, (ii) illuminating the user themself, and (iii) projecting a warning symbol onto the ground surface to draw attention to the user;
- and
- wherein the illumination device is worn on a body of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.