Centralized control and management system for automobiles

• US 20060212832A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US11/417,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for use in a vehicle having a windshield, comprising:

at least one device for providing information concerning detected objects falling onto the windshield;

an actuator for controllably operating at least one windshield wiper for wiping the windshield; and

a processor configured to control the actuator to operate the at least one windshield wiper to wipe at a rate based on the information, the rate being a function of at least a frequency of the detected falling objects.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the objects include rain.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the objects include snow.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the objects include hail.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the objects include insects.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the falling objects are detected by sensing an intensity of vibrations of the windshield resulting from the objects falling onto the windshield, the sensed intensity being greater than a threshold intensity.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the information includes a frequency of the vibrations.

28. The system of claim 21 further comprising an interface allowing a user to manually select a rate of operation of the windshield wiper.

29. A method for use in a system in a vehicle having a windshield, and an actuator for controllably operating at least one windshield wiper for wiping the windshield, the method comprising:

providing information concerning detected objects falling onto the windshield; and

automatically controlling the actuator to operate the at least one windshield wiper to wipe at a rate based on the information, the rate being a function of at least a frequency of the detected falling objects.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the objects include rain.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the objects include snow.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the objects include hail.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the objects include insects.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the falling objects are detected by sensing an intensity of vibrations of the windshield resulting from the objects falling onto the windshield, the sensed intensity being greater than a threshold intensity.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the information includes a frequency of the vibrations.

36. The method of claim 29 further comprising allowing a user to manually select a rate of operation of the windshield wiper.