Assistant apparatus and method for a vehicle in reverse motion

An assistant apparatus for a vehicle in reverse motion comprising:

• a camera for taking a rearward image of the vehicle during the reverse motion,
• a detecting means for detecting a vehicle condition for reverse motion,
• a calculating means for calculating an estimated reverse motion locus based on the vehicle condition and vehicle characteristics, and
• a display showing a latest estimated reverse motion locus as a present locus and one of the estimated reverse motion locus at a specific timing as a target locus for a vehicle path for parking in a parking space, with both the current and the target loci being superimposed onto the rearward image for guiding the current locus to the target locus.

An assistant apparatus for a vehicle in reverse motion comprising:

• a camera for continuously taking a rearward image from the vehicle during the reverse motion,
• a detecting means for detecting a vehicle condition for reverse motion,
• a calculating means for calculating an estimated reverse motion locus based on the vehicle condition and vehicle characteristics, and
• a display showing the estimated reverse motion locus superimposed onto the rearward image,
• wherein one of the estimated reverse motion locus at a specific timing is fixed as a target locus for a vehicle path for parking in a parking space on the display, and the estimated reverse motion locus is continuously shown on the display while the target locus is shown on the display for guiding the current locus to the target locus even after the target locus is fixed.

An assistant method for a vehicle in reverse motion comprising:

• a first step for continuously taking a rearward image from the vehicle during the reverse motion,
• a second step for continuously detecting a vehicle condition of the reverse motion,
• a third step for continuously calculating an estimated reverse motion locus based on the vehicle condition and vehicle characteristics, and
• a fourth step for continuously showing the estimated reverse motion locus superimposed onto the rearward image,
• a fifth step for fixing one of the estimated reverse motion locus at a specific timing as a target locus for a vehicle path for parking in a parking space on the display, and
• a sixth step for further continuously showing the estimated reverse motion locus on the display while the target locus is shown on the display for guiding the current locus to the target locus even after the target locus is fixed.