Centralized control and management system for automobiles

• US 20020054159A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A system in a vehicle including a plurality of components comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of items each representing a respective one of the components, the displayed items being arranged on the display in substantially the same relation to one another as the components represented thereby in the vehicle;

an interface for selecting at least one of the items; and

a processor for operating the component represented by the selected item.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises an automobile.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface includes an indicator device for selecting the at least one of the items.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said indicator device comprises a mouse device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface includes a touch-screen capability.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a seat.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a window.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a windshield wiper.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a mirror.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a vent.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes an audio system.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the object is a second vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the zone is defined as a function of at least a relative distance of the vehicle from the object.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is in automatic driving.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a controller for initiating a termination of the automatic driving.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a mechanism for detecting second signals for guiding the vehicle in the automatic driving, the output generating a third signal when one or more of the second signals are not detected.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each of said second signals includes a presence of a magnetic field.

20. The system of claim 13 further comprising a mechanism for displaying on the display a representation of any object within a predetermined distance from the vehicle.

13. A system in a vehicle comprising:

a display for displaying a first item indicative of the vehicle, and at least a second item indicative of an object;

a processor for defining a zone on the display, said zone including the first item but excluding the second item, said zone representing an area in which the vehicle is; and

an output for generating a signal when the object is detected to be within the area.