How to Create a Parking Assist System

Intro: How to Create a Parking Assist System

This Instructable describes how to create a parking assistant device. Many modern vehicles come with this feature, but the techniques described in this Instructable will allow anyone to create their own removable parking assistant device!

STEP 1: Theory Behind Sensing

To create Parking Assist System we use Silego GreenPAK configurable Mixed-Signal IC and the SHARP GP2Y0A60SZLF distance measuring sensor.

The GP2Y0A60SZLF sensor is a distance-measuring component with an operational range between 10-150 cm.

It includes a signal processing circuit and has a small size of 22 x 8.0 x 7.2mm. Its analog output makes it a great fit for the GreenPAK to work with.

This sensor works by measuring the light reflected off of the surface of an object to determine the object’s distance from our sensor. Neither temperature, variation of the reflectivity of the object, nor duration of the reading influence the measurements.

The GP2Y0A60SZLF can be purchased in a module with the necessary circuit components included, as shown in Figure 1. If the user purchases the sensor separately, they will need to include the circuitry shown in Figure 2.

The GP2Y0A60SZLF datasheet provides the graph shown in figure 3, depicting the voltages given as an output of the sensor in presence of a white sheet of paper.

STEP 2: Addressing Different Materials

Since every material has different reflection characteristics, the versatility of this sensor becomes a concern and needs verification.

Cars come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, so we charted the sensor´s behavior in front of different materials to make sure it is compatible with as many materials as possible. Figure 3 table shows our results, which are displayed as a graph in Figure 4.

The GreenPAK IC can be easily programmed to control the Parking Assist system by downloading the GreenPAK software to view the pre-made Parking Assist System Design File. Connect the GreenPAK development kit to the computer, pop an unprogrammed SLG46531V GreenPAK IC into the development kit socket and hit program. The IC will automatically be programmed to an IC that will control the Parking Assist System.

Once the IC is programmed, you can keep the IC in the development kit socket for easier access to the pins, or for volume production, you can create a tiny PCB board to access the chip. With the GreenPAK IC now programmed to control the parking assist system, you can skip to Step 4.

If you would like to better understand and modify the inner circuitry of the Parking Assist System Design File, Step 3 will give you an overview of how the GreenPAK parking assist design file was programmed.

STEP 3: Developing Parking Assist GreenPAK File

To start testing the device we will stick to the output voltages given in the datasheet (Figure 3). Fortunately, the values remain similar according to distance regardless of which material.

For now, we will select the following distances:

• 20 cm should give us an output voltage of 1.9 V
• 50 cm should give us an output voltage of 0.95 V
• 150 cm should give us an output voltage of 0.50 V

All of the values used in the .gp file were chosen from the Datasheet. Nevertheless, the practical characterization of the sensor using other materials tells us that there is no real significant difference in the voltage of the readings. Therefore it is possible to use the graph in the datasheet to apply this app note concept to get a good general distance sensor. If needed, it can be adjusted to work with a certain material under certain conditions.

The alarm will go off under the following conditions:

• 150cm distance will make a beeping sound with a frequency of 1 Hz
• 50cm distance will make a beeping sound with a frequency of 5 Hz
• 20cm distance will make a beeping sound with a frequency of 10 Hz

Pin 6 in the GreenPAK design is connected to all 3 of the analog comparators as shown in Figure 5. Thanks to the ACMP gain options, the user can select threshold values from 50mV to 4.8V.

To create the 3 different buzzer frequencies, we used one counter and one inverting D-flip flop per buzzer. For instance, CNT1 outputs a pulse every 500ms. Those pulses clock inverting DFF4, which creates a 1Hz square wave. The same technique was used to create a 5Hz and 10Hz square wave.

Figure 6 illustrates the functionality of the design.

Channel 1: Pin 6 (ANALOG_IN)

Channel 2: Pin 17 (BUZZER_OUT)

STEP 4: The Whole System Schematic

The whole system consists of the GreenPAK, the GP2Y0A60SZLF proximity sensor and a 5 Volt Buzzer. Figure 7 shows how the circuit needs to be connected.

Using a simple and reliable design, this system can be implemented in newer models as well as in a standalone system that can be integrated into older models.

The differences in the voltage readings between different materials are small, which enable us to generalize the values without having to worry about the material of the object in proximity to the automobile.

The core design presented in this Instructable can be modified to fit different requirements without much trouble, and it would still be reliable with most materials.