# US 8,542,130 B2 · Integration of global positioning system and active parking assist functionalities > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,130 B2 - Document ID: US8542130B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/080,851 - Filed: 2011-04-06 - Published: 2012-10-11 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-06 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Erick Michael Lavoie - Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542130B2 ## CPC - B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically} - B60W 30/06: Automatic manoeuvring for parking - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - 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 ## Abstract A vehicle has a global positioning system and an active parking assist system. The global positioning system is configured for providing information designating a present location of the vehicle and for providing information designating configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle. The active parking assist system is configured to affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location. The active parking assist system is coupled to the global positioning system for acquiring the present location information therefrom and the target parking location information therefrom. The active parking assist system determines a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location dependent upon the present location information and the target parking location information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system to assist parking a vehicle, comprising: a global positioning system configured for providing information designating a present location of the vehicle and for providing information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle; an active parking assist system configured to affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location, wherein the active parking assist system is coupled to the global positioning system for acquiring the present location information therefrom and the target parking location information therefrom and wherein the active parking assist system determines a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location dependent upon the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information; the active parking assist system uses the present location information for determining that the target parking location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location; the active parking assist system activates a particular one of a plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information; the active parking assist system uses the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system; and the active parking assist system automatically omits parking locations that are not valid, provides a notification that a parking location is invalid and determines another instance of a target parking location. ### Claim 2 The system of claim wherein the active parking assist system makes the determination to implement: a parallel parking mode of operation in response to the target parking location information indicating that the configuration of the target parking location has a parallel parking configuration; and a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response to the target parking location information indicating that the configuration of the target parking location has a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the target parking location information designates that the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system determines that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration dependent upon the target parking location information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system determines that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration dependent upon the target parking location information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the active parking assist system uses the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system. ### Claim 7 A parking assist system for a vehicle, comprising: a signal interface for receiving information designating a present location of a vehicle and for receiving information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle; an information processing module configured for activating a type of assisted parking functionality dependent upon the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information, using the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system, automatically omitting parking locations that are not valid, providing a notification that a parking location is invalid, and determining another instance of a target parking location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein activating the type of assisted parking functionality includes determining if the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration or a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein activating the type of assisted parking functionality includes: activating a parallel parking mode of operation in response to the configuration of the target parking location being a parking location having a parallel parking configuration; and activating a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response to the configuration of the target parking location being a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein the information processing module is further configured for; using the present location information for determining that the target parking location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location; and automatically activating a particular one of a plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The parking assist system of claim 7 wherein the target parking location information designates that the configuration of the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 12 A controller having a set of instructions to carry out operations for: acquiring information designating a present location of a vehicle and information designating a configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle; determining a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affecting maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location, wherein determining the type of assisted parking functionality to implement is performed using the present location information and the configuration of the target parking location information using the configuration of the target parking location information for determining that the target parking location is a valid parking location dependent upon parking validity information applicable to a present instance of assisted parking functionality by the active parking assist system; providing a notification that a target parking location is invalid and determining another instance of a target parking location. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12 wherein determining the type of assisted parking functionality to implement includes determining if the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration or a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions are further configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for: activating a parallel parking mode of operation is required in response to determining that the configuration of the target parking location is a parking location having a parallel parking configuration; and activating a perpendicular parking mode of operation in response determining that the configuration of the target parking location is a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions are further configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for: using the present location information for determining that the target parking, location is of closest proximity to the vehicle with respect to at least one other available parking location; and automatically activating a particular one of as plurality of modes of operation dependent upon the configuration of the target parking location information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The controller of claim 12 wherein the target parking location information designates that the target parking location is one of a parking location having a parallel parking configuration and a parking location having a perpendicular parking configuration.