Individualized vehicle settings

• US 20020096572A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Chene, George, Mueller, Brian Jeffrey, Kramer, Dennis A., Lawruk, Gerald D., French, Lee A., Shintaku, Wayne, Worrall, Jack R., Ramsey, Reno V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,663,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00642 Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices B60H1/3201 - B60H1/3208, B60H1/3225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A system for setting vehicle operator preferences is provided. The system includes a vehicle control module for controlling a vehicle component such as an HVAC unit. A data link is connected to the vehicle control module and may be an infrared signal receiver, a radio frequency signal receiver, a vehicle communications bus, or any other suitable data link. A portable handheld computing device includes a program having vehicle preferences stored in a memory. Preferably, the vehicle preferences may be input by the operator into the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be a Handspring® device, a Palmpilot® device, or any other suitable portable computing device. The portable handheld computing device sends the vehicle preferences to the vehicle control module through the data link to control the vehicle component. The vehicle preferences are sent by IR, RF, or any other suitable means. The system may be used to control an HVA system, for example. The portable handheld computing device may include a temperature sensor received in an expansion port for sensing the temperature in the area of the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be taken to a sleeping area of a vehicle cab to control the temperature locally when the operator is sleeping.

Claims

1. A method of setting vehicle operator preferences comprising the steps of:

a) storing a program having vehicle preferences on a portable handheld computing device;

b) connecting the portable handheld computing device to a vehicle control module;

c) broadcasting the vehicle preferences to the vehicle control module; and

d) obtaining the vehicle preferences with the vehicle control module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) includes transmitting an infrared frequency signal from the portable handheld computing device to a receiver.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) includes transmitting an radio frequency signal from the portable handheld computing device to a receiver.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) includes electrically connecting the portable handheld computing device to a vehicle communications bus.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein step b) includes installing the portable handheld computing device into a cradle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is a portion of a HVAC system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the portable handheld computing device includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in a area about the portable handheld computing device, and step c) includes broadcasting the temperature to the portion of the HVAC system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein step d) obtains the temperature in a sleeper area of a vehicle cab.

9. The method according to claim 1, further including step e) inputting individualized vehicle preferences into the portable handheld computing device.

10. A system for setting vehicle operator preferences comprising:

a vehicle control module controlling a vehicle component;

a data link connected to said vehicle control module; and

a portable handheld computing device including a program having vehicle preferences stored in a memory, said portable handheld computing device sending said vehicle preferences to said vehicle control module through said data link to control said vehicle component.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said data link includes an infrared signal receiver, and said portable handheld computing device includes an infrared signal transmitter for sending said vehicle preferences to said vehicle control module.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said data link includes a radio frequency signal receiver, and wherein said portable handheld computing device includes a radio frequency signal transmitter for sending said vehicle preferences to said vehicle control module.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said data link includes a vehicle communications bus.

14. The system according to claim 13, further including a cradle electrically connected to said data link with said portable hand held computing device being received in said cradle.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein said vehicle control module is a portion of an HVAC system.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said portable handheld computing device includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in an area about said portable handheld computing device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said temperature is located in a sleeper area of a vehicle cab.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein said portable handheld computing device includes an input device for inputting individualized vehicle preferences into said portable handheld computing device.