US 11,808,844 B2
Apparatus for acquiring information on occupancy states of parking spaces and method related thereto
Christoph Fretter, Berlin (DE); Mark Hashimoto, Berlin (DE); Detlev Huelsebusch, Berlin (DE); and Clement Quinson, Berlin (DE)
Assigned to Parkling GmbH, Berlin (DE)
Filed by Parkling GmbH, Berlin (DE)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/140,895.
Claims priority of application No. 20152126 (EP), filed on Jan. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0223390 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 13/931 (2020.01); H04W 4/40 (2018.01); G08G 1/065 (2006.01); G08G 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/931 (2013.01) [G08G 1/065 (2013.01); G08G 1/14 (2013.01); H04W 4/40 (2018.02); B60W 2420/52 (2013.01); G01S 2013/9322 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for acquiring information on an occupancy state of parking spaces, the apparatus comprising:
a housing adapted to be secured to a surface of a vehicle and being removable from the vehicle when the apparatus is not needed for use with the vehicle;
a sensor housed within the housing which has a detection area;
wherein in a fixed state on a vehicle, the detection area is aligned laterally to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
wherein the sensor is designed for determining data on a distance between the sensor and an object,
wherein the housing of the apparatus is disposed fixedly on the vehicle at a height in a range of between 40 cm and 110 cm in relation to a street level on which the vehicle is supported;
a device for position determination which generates position data relating to a position of the vehicle;
a control and evaluation unit which is designed to link the data generated by the sensor with data of the device for position determination, to create linked data;
the sensor comprises a LIDAR sensor; and
in the fixed state on the vehicle, the detection area is aligned between 85° and 95° relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and within a range of 40 cm and 110 cm above the street.