# US 2014/0156148 A1 · Parking assist apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156148 A1 - Document ID: US20140156148A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/123,608 - Filed: 2012-06-08 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-23 - Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masahiko Kikuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156148A1 ## CPC - B62D 15/027: {Parking aids, e.g. instruction means} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B62D 15/028: {Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically} - B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically} - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 2360/139: Clusters of instrument input devices - B60K 2360/173: Reversing assist - B60K 2360/174: Economic driving - B60Y 2300/00: Purposes or special features of road vehicle drive control systems - G08G 1/168: {Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space} - Y02T 10/84: Data processing systems or methods, management, administration - 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) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A parking assist apparatus includes a mode selector switch, a plurality of direction switches and a parking pattern selecting unit. The mode selector switch selects one of a first mode of assisting parking and a second mode of executing a function other than parking assist. The direction switches includes a pair of right and left direction switches that are disposed on the right and left and a pair of front and rear direction switches that are disposed at the front and rear. In a case in which the first mode is selected, when one of the right and left direction switches is operated, a right or left parking pattern associated with the right or left position is selected, and when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated, an adjacent or parallel parking pattern associated with the front or rear position is selected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A parking assist apparatus comprising: a mode selector switch for selecting one of a first mode of executing a parking assist function to a vehicle based on a prescribed parking mode and a second mode of executing a function of the vehicle other than the first mode; a plurality of direction switches including a pair of right and left direction switches disposed on the right and left and a pair of front and rear direction switches disposed at the front and rear; and a parking pattern selecting unit that determines a parking direction associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines an arrangement of parking the vehicle that is adjacent parking or parallel parking associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select a parking pattern based on the parking direction and the arrangement of parking the vehicle that have been determined in a case in which the first mode is selected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction switches include a pair of right and left direction switches in which contact points are disposed on the right and left and a pair of front and rear direction switches in which contact points are disposed at the front and rear, in a case in which the first mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is right when the right contact point of the right and left direction switches is operated, determines that the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent when the front contact point of the front and rear direction switches is operated, and selects a right adjacent parking pattern based on the right parking direction and the adjacent arrangement, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is right when the right contact point of the right and left direction switches is operated, determines that the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel when the rear contact point of the front and rear direction switches is operated, and selects a right parallel parking pattern based on the right parking direction and the parallel arrangement, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is left when the left contact point of the right and left direction switches is operated, determines that the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent when the front contact point of the front and rear direction switches is operated, and selects a left adjacent parking pattern based on the left parking direction and the adjacent arrangement, and the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is left when the left contact point of the right and left direction switches is operated, determines that the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel when the rear contact point of the front and rear direction switches is operated, and selects a left parallel parking pattern based on the left parking direction and the parallel arrangement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction switches include a right front switch disposed in a right front position with respect to a prescribed reference point, a right rear switch disposed in a right rear position with respect to the prescribed reference point, a left front switch disposed in a left front position with respect to the prescribed reference point, and a left rear switch disposed in a left rear position with respect to the prescribed reference point, in a case in which the first mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is right and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent and selects a right adjacent parking pattern when the right front switch is operated, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is right and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel and selects a right parallel parking pattern when the right rear switch is operated, the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is left and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent and selects a left adjacent parking pattern when the left front switch is operated, and the parking pattern selecting unit determines that the parking direction is left and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel and selects a left parallel parking pattern when the left rear switch is operated. ### Claim 4 A parking assist apparatus comprising: a mode selector switch for selecting one of a first mode of executing a parking assist function to a vehicle based on a prescribed parking mode and a second mode of executing a function of the vehicle other than the first mode; a plurality of direction switches including a right front switch disposed in a right front position with respect to a prescribed reference point, a right rear switch disposed in a right rear position with respect to the prescribed reference point, a left front switch disposed in a left front position with respect to the prescribed reference point, and a left rear switch disposed in a left rear position with respect to the prescribed reference point; and a parking pattern selecting unit that determines a parking direction based on the right or left position of the direction switches and determines an arrangement of parking the vehicle that is adjacent parking or parallel parking based the front or rear position of the direction switches so as to select a parking pattern based on the parking direction and the arrangement of parking the vehicle that have been determined in a case in which the first mode is selected, wherein the parking pattern selecting unit selects a right adjacent parking pattern based on a determination that the parking direction is right and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent when the right front switch is operated, the parking pattern selecting unit selects a right parallel parking pattern based on a determination that the parking direction is right and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel when the right rear switch is operated, the parking pattern selecting unit selects a left adjacent parking pattern based on a determination that the parking direction is left and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is adjacent when the left front switch is operated, and the parking pattern selecting unit selects a left parallel parking pattern based on a determination that the parking direction is left and the arrangement of parking the vehicle is parallel when the left rear switch is operated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door mirror drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door mirror associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines a driving direction to incline the door mirror forward or rearward associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the driving direction of the operation target door mirror in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of driving a door mirror of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door window drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door window associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines an opening operation or a closing operation of the door window associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the opening operation or the closing operation of the operation target door window in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of opening or closing a door window of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a door mirror drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door mirror associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines a driving direction to incline the door mirror forward or rearward associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the driving direction of the operation target door mirror in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of driving a door mirror of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a door window drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door window associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines an opening operation or a closing operation of the door window associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the opening operation or the closing operation of the operation target door window in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of opening or closing a door window of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a door mirror drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door mirror associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines a driving direction to incline the door mirror forward or rearward associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the driving direction of the operation target door mirror in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of driving a door mirror of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a door window drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door window associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines an opening operation or a closing operation of the door window associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the opening operation or the closing operation of the operation target door window in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of opening or closing a door window of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a door mirror drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door mirror associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines a driving direction to incline the door mirror forward or rearward associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the driving direction of the operation target door mirror in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of driving a door mirror of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The parking assist apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a door window drive unit that determines a right or left operation target door window associated with the right or left position of the right and left direction switches when one of the right and left direction switches is operated and determines an opening operation or a closing operation of the door window associated with the front or rear position of the front and rear direction switches when one of the front and rear direction switches is operated so as to select the opening operation or the closing operation of the operation target door window in a case in which the second mode is selected by operating the mode selector switch, and the second mode executing a function of opening or closing a door window of the vehicle.