Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention
The present disclosure relates to warning a driver of a vehicle equipped with automated valet parking (AVP) functionality.
[0001] Background of the invention
[0002] Automated Valet Parking (AVP) systems allow a car to park itself in certain parking lots or garages, without a driver in the vehicle. The AVP systems include automated parking assist (APA) and remote parking assist (RPA) features.
[0003] In APA, the parking assist system automatically detects available parking spot when the vehicle drives past it at a low speed. On driver request, APA controls steering, braking, accelerating and transmission in order to park the vehicle in the desired parking spot. The system supports both parallel and perpendicular parking-in (front and back-in) as well as parking out. A “dead-man”-switch inside the car (e.g. a button) can be used optionally by the driver to monitor the APA-function. The driver is still in charge of the parking maneuver. APA brings the vehicle to standstill, if obstacles are detected on the path or the “dead-man”-switch is released. RPA is an extension to the available parking functions APA with a remote control. emote Parking enables the driver to leave and enter the car comfortably and can activate, monitor and deactivate a parking function from the outside. from outside using a "dead man" switch on his mobile phone or smart key. System brings the vehicle to standstill if obstacles are detected on the path, or, the dead man switch is released.
[0004] There are two scenarios where driver safety is critical while using AVP systems. In the first scenario, Driver activates advanced parking assist (APA) feature, and the vehicle is parked successfully in the parking space. The ignition of the car is turned off and the driver tries to open the door to exit from the car. During this time if any moving obstacle is coming near the car, it may lead to accident. In the second scenario the driver identifies a parking slot and activates remote parking. While the driver opens the door to exit the vehicle (to be later parked automatically), they might not notice any obstacles. In the present disclosure, in both the scenarios, if any obstacle is detected in the parking sensor range the sensor gives alert (Sound or HMI) to the driver to avoid accidents. This is a safety feature to avoid accidents.
[0005] The closest prior art CN109249893B in the knowledge of the applicant discloses foreign object detection systems having control logic for managing the use of vehicle door assemblies, and motor vehicles equipped with such FOD systems and logic. A method for adjusting operation of a door locking mechanism is disclosed. A method includes a vehicle controller determining an operating state of a control protocol governing use of a locking mechanism. If the operational state is active, the controller receives a sensor signal indicative of a position and/or velocity of an object within a surveillance field of the sensor. If an object is located within the protected door zone and/or the speed of the object is directed to the protected zone, the controller determines whether the locking mechanism is locked or unlocked. If the locking mechanism is locked, the controller commands the locking mechanism to maintain the locked state. Conversely, if the locking mechanism is unlocked, the controller commands the locking mechanism to lock and maintain that state.

[0006] Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0007] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings:
[0008] Figure 1 depicts a system to warn a driver before opening at least one door of a vehicle.
[0009] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart of the method to warn a driver before opening at least one door of a vehicle.
[0010] Detailed description of the drawings

[0011] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0012] The advantages of the present invention will be apparent with this detailed description, wherein, the best method known to the applicant to implement the invention has also been described. It is however to be noted that numerous alternate embodiments of the present invention are possible and the disclosure of one of them is not to be construed as limiting the others.

[0013] Referring to figure 1, the same depicts a system (10) to warn a driver before opening at least one door (2) of a vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with the AVP functionality. The system (10) comprises a controller(1). The controller(1) may be an ECU (engine control unit) comprising a main unit as a microcomputer which further comprises a CPU, a memory with integrated control logic, the circuitry to provide automated valet parking functionality. The controller may be in wired or wireless communication with at least one sensor (3) such as Ultrasonic sensor, motion sensors, camera and the like. These sensors can be arranged in the vehicle to provide different features, and depending on the version of the vehicle that the driver owns, quantity of sensors and functions in the car will vary. In an example the at least one sensor (3) used in vehicles for APA may comprise transceiver integrated circuit (IC) to evaluate reflected signal. Typically, the sensors in AVP send an acoustic pulse that hits a target that returns a wave. With the time it takes to return, the distance between sensor to the target is calculated.
[0014] The controller(1) in communication with the at least one sensor (3) configured to calculate a probability of collision of an object (4) with the at least one door(2) of the vehicle. The underlying concept here is that before the driver pulls a latch or presses a button to indicate a desire for the opening of the at least one door of the vehicle, based on readings from the at least one sensor of the vehicles, the controller calculates the probability of collision of the object with the door desired to be opened. The same can be done by assessing the velocity, distance and position of the object.
[0015] The controller(1) is configured to warn the driver in the event the probability of collision of the object (4) is above a threshold probability. The threshold probability may set up during the time of calibration of the controller at the test bench. The object(4) in a surrounding of the vehicle is detected based on at least one input from at least one sensor (3) of the vehicle, said at least one sensor(3) in communication with the controller(1) as explained above. The at least one sensor(3) remains active up to a pre defined time after the vehicle ignition is turned off.
[0016] In an example the driver may be warned before or after parking of the vehicle based on the type of automatic valet parking assist functionality opted by the driver, that is, RPA or APA. In an example, the controller may be in communication with a Human Machine interface (5) system of the vehicle. The driver may be warned through an HMI(human machine interface). The type of warning maybe audio or audiovisual or both.
[0017] In a working scenario of the present disclosure, where the driver opts of APA, as soon as the vehicle is parked in parking slot successfully , the driver turns the engine off (ignition off) and intends to exit the vehicle. After the driver turns off the ignition, the parking sensor remains active upto a predefined time to detect any obstacles .While the driver opens the door (Driver presses the Door latch/button) the at least one sensor(3) searches for any obstacle(4) near the car. Based on the sensor readings the controller(1) calculates the probability of collision of the obstacle with at least one door of the car. If the probability is greater than the threshold probability, the driver is alerted through HMI (5). If the calculated probability is below the threshold probability, no alert is given to the driver can open the door.
[0018] In another working scenario, where the driver opts of APA, the driver exists the vehicle after activating the RPS functionality. While the driver is opening the door (Driver press the Door latch) before parking the vehicle, the at least one searches for any obstacle near the car. Based on the sensor readings the controller calculates the probability of collision of the obstacle with at least one door of the car. If the probability is greater than the threshold probability, the driver is alerted through HMI.If the calculated probability is below the threshold probability, no alert is given to the driver can open the door.
[0019] Referring to Figure 2, the same depicts a flowchart for a method to warn a driver before opening at least one door of a vehicle. implemented by the system (10) as described above. It is to be understood that all components necessary to implement the method (100) have been described in Figure 1 above. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic valet parking functionality. The method (100) comprises the first step (101) of detecting, by a controller, an object in a surrounding of the vehicle. Followed by the step (102) of calculating, by the controller, a probability of collision of the object with the at least one door of the vehicle and the step (103) of warning, by the controller, the driver through an interface when the probability of collision of the object is above a threshold probability. the object in the surrounding of the vehicle is detected based on at least one input from at least one sensor of the vehicle, said at least one sensor in communication with the controller. The at least one sensor remains active upto a pre-defined time after the vehicle ignition is turned off.
[0020] In a working scenario of the present disclosure, where the driver opts of APA, as soon as the vehicle is parked in parking slot successfully , the driver turns the engine off (ignition off) and intends to exit the vehicle. After the driver turns off the ignition, the parking sensor remains active upto a predefined time to detect any obstacles .While the driver opens the door (Driver presses the Door latch/button) the at least one sensor searches for any obstacle near the car. Based on the sensor readings the controller calculates the probability of collision of the obstacle with at least one door of the car. If the probability is greater than the threshold probability, the driver is alerted through HMI.If the calculated probability is below the threshold probability, no alert is given to the driver can open the door.
[0021] In another working scenario, where the driver opts of APA, the driver exists the vehicle after activating the RPS functionality. While the driver is opening the door (Driver press the Door latch) before parking the vehicle, the at least one searches for any obstacle near the car. Based on the sensor readings the controller calculates the probability of collision of the obstacle with at least one door of the car. If the probability is greater than the threshold probability, the driver is alerted through HMI.If the calculated probability is below the threshold probability, no alert is given to the driver can open the door.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A controller (1) to warn a driver before opening at least one door(2) of a vehicle, the vehicle equipped with an automatic valet parking functionality, said controller (1) configured to-
-detect an object(4) in a surrounding of the vehicle;
characterized in that, the controller (1) configured to-
-calculate a probability of collision of the object(4) with the at least one door(2) of the vehicle; and
-warn the driver in the event the probability of collision of the object is above a threshold probability.

2. The controller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the object (4) in the surrounding of the vehicle is detected based on at least one input from at least one sensor (3) of the vehicle, said at least one sensor in communication with the controller(1).

3. The controller as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, the at least one sensor (3) remains active upto a pre-defined time after the vehicle ignition is turned off.

4. A method(100) to warn a driver before opening at least one door of a vehicle, the vehicle equipped with an automatic valet parking functionality, the method comprising the steps of -
-detecting, by a controller, an object in a surrounding of the vehicle(101);
characterized in that method the steps of -
-calculating, by the controller, a probability of collision of the object with the at least one door of the vehicle (102); and
-warning, by the controller, the driver through an interface when the probability of collision of the object is above a threshold probability (103).

5. The method(100) as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, detecting the object in the surrounding of the based on at least one input from at least one sensor of the vehicle, said at least one sensor in communication with the controller.

6. The method(100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein, the at least one sensor remaining active after the vehicle ignition is turned off.