USER-SPECIFIC VEHICLE

• US 20020062185A1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: RUNGE, WOLFGANG, SCHWARZ, JOSEF
• Application Number:
  US09/462,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a user-specific vehicle with adjustable and settable components such as an engine, transmission, running, gear, seats, anti-theft device, air conditioning, etc. The identity of the driver is determined for user-specific configuration of a component. The user-specific characteristics are recalled or set. Then follows a user-specific setting of the component. Said setting can be conducted by the manufacturer at the end of the production line at customer'"'"'s request or individually when the driver operates the vehicle.

Claims

1. The vehicle with adjustable and settable components such as engine, transmission, running gear, anti-theft device, air conditioning, etc., characterized in that for user-specific configuration of at least one component, the identity of the driver is established, the user-specific characteristics are recalled and/or adjusted and with the aid of the identity and of the user-specific characteristics, the component is user-specific set.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the user-specific characteristics are set by the manufacturer, for ex., at the end of the production line.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the user-specific characteristics are determined by the driver.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the identity of the driver is determined with the aid of data which the driver communicates to the system.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the user-specific data are deposited in a system memory and are activated by an adequate medium such as speech, a chip card, the input of a personal identification number, or the like.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that an anti-theft device is activated by the recognition of a finger print of the driver on the switch lever while the deactivation is combined with other variables such as an alcohol test.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the user-specific setting takes effect by training operations.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the covered distance is learned.

9. The vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when a specific user is recognized, an integrated travel log is activated and indications about the distance covered left behind are detected and stored.

10. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that for the user-specific setting at the end of the production line, pre-programmed memory modules for recognition of the specific user, of his specific characteristics and the standard or means for training certain operations are used.

11. The vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the user undertakes himself the user-specific setting and that for this purpose a terminal is provided which has available displaceable and rotational adjustment elements with which, for ex., a certain shift strategy can be pre-selected.

12. The vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that a defined functionality is set.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that operating parameters such as the top speed of the vehicle, land-specifically or depending on the driving ability of the driver, can be pre-selected.

14. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that as medium for the user-specific configuration, a radio connection , a speech module or a scanning device is used.

15. The vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that indicator symbols can be programmed in the manner of a desk-top surface.

16. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that for the input of the person recognition and the user-specific characteristics for user-specific setting of a component, a memory module is used and the information deposited is communicated to the vehicle system, for ex., by opening the vehicle door.