Object classification method, parking assistance method, and parking assistance system

An object classification method for classifying an object during a parking operation involving movement of a vehicle toward the object, comprising:

• (a) ascertaining a first characteristic quantity from a variation of a first signal received by a distance-measuring sensor in the vehicle;
• (b) ascertaining a second characteristic quantity from a variation of a second signal received by the distance-measuring sensor;
• (c) ascertaining a distance traveled by the vehicle between step (a) and step (b);
• (d) ascertaining a predictive quantity from the ascertained first characteristic quantity, wherein the predictive quantity is associated with the distance ascertained in step (c);
• (e) comparing the predictive quantity with the second characteristic quantity ascertained in step (b);
• and
• (f) generating an object classification signal associated with the object, wherein the object classification signal has a first state if the predictive quantity is less than the second characteristic quantity or a second state if the predictive quantity is greater than or equal to the second characteristic quantity.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having program codes which, when executed on a computer, control a method of classifying an object during a parking operation involving movement of a vehicle toward the object, the method comprising:

• (a) ascertaining a first characteristic quantity from a variation of a first signal received by a distance-measuring sensor in the vehicle;
• (b) ascertaining a second characteristic quantity from a variation of a second signal received by the distance-measuring sensor;
• (c) ascertaining a distance traveled by the vehicle between step (a) and step (b);
• (d) ascertaining a predictive quantity from the ascertained first characteristic quantity, wherein the predictive quantity is associated with the distance ascertained in step (c);
• (e) comparing the predictive quantity with the second characteristic quantity ascertained in step (b);
• and
• (f) generating an object classification signal associated with the object, wherein the object classification signal has a first state if the predictive quantity is less than the second characteristic quantity or a second state if the predictive quantity is greater than or equal to the second characteristic quantity.

A parking assistance system for aiding a parking operation of a vehicle involving movement of the vehicle toward an object, comprising:

• a distance-measuring sensor configured to periodically transmit a signal from the vehicle toward the object and receive a reflected signal from the object;
• and
• a program-controlled device configured to:
• ascertain a first characteristic quantity from a variation of a first signal received by the distance-measuring sensor;
• ascertains a second characteristic quantity from a variation of a second signal received by the distance-measuring sensor;
• ascertain a distance traveled by the vehicle between the points in time when the first and the second characteristic quantities are ascertained;
• ascertain a predictive quantity from the first ascertained characteristic quantity, wherein the predictive quantity is associated with the ascertained distance traveled by the vehicle;
• compares the predictive quantity with the second characteristic quantity;
• and
• generate an object classification signal associated with the object, wherein the object classification signal has a first state if the predictive quantity is less than the second characteristic quantity or a second state if the predictive quantity is greater than or equal to the second characteristic quantity.