Parking aid device

Abstract

An electronic parking-aid device for guiding a motorist when parking a vehicle in a parking bay. The device includes a transmitter and receiver which respectively transmits a signal towards the front of an approaching vehicle and receives the signal reflected thereby. A computing apparatus coupled to the transmitter and receiver for computing the distance from the front of the vehicle to the device and a logic apparatus coupled to the computing apparatus compares the computed distance with a predetermined threshold so as to generate an output signal if the computed distance is less than the threshold. The logic apparatus compares the computed distance to two different thresholds so as to generate corresponding output signals if the computed distance is less than the lower threshold, or lies between the two thresholds, or is greater than the larger threshold. Red, amber and green indication lamps are connected to the logic apparatus and are responsive to the respective output signals so as to advise a motorist when he is safe to proceed, when he should proceed with caution, and when he should stop, respectively. Also a parking management system wherein each parking bay is provided with a parking-aid device for monitoring whether a respective parking bay is occupied or vacant.