Control Device for Operating a Motor Vehicle, and Method for Operating a Motor Vehicle

• US 20080312789A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Frankov, Ivaylo
• Application Number:
  US12/093,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A control device for a motor vehicle is used to store authorization data for drivers and driving times in which operation of the motor vehicle is meant to be possible. The control device is connected to an electronic engine immobilizer (6) which disables or enables operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the stored data. This means that the motor vehicle can be started up only by a particular driver in an intended time period.

Claims

1. A control device for operating a motor vehicle, comprising at least one detection device for detecting an authorization to operate the motor vehicle, an electronic memory for authorization data for drivers for operating the motor vehicle, means for enabling or blocking operation of the motor vehicle, wherein the memory for the authorization data for the drivers is assigned to a memory for possible driving times in which operation of the motor vehicle is possible for the individual driver, and a computation unit operable to assign the authorization for the drivers to the possible driving times of the individual driver.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit comprises an interface for a navigation device and a memory for regions in which it is possible to operate the motor vehicle, and wherein the computation unit is operable to assign the authorization for the drivers to regions in which operation of the motor vehicle is intended.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit has an interface for connection to an electronic data processing system for storing values in the memories.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device has a card reader or an ignition lock of the motor vehicle.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the computation unit has an interface for connection to an electronic immobilizer of the motor vehicle.

15. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device has a card reader and an ignition lock of the motor vehicle.

6. A method for operating a motor vehicle, in which personal data for a driver are detected, and operation of the motor vehicle is enabled or blocked after the personal data have been compared with authorization data stored in a memory, the method comprising the step of assigning the authorization data for the drivers data for driving times in which operation of the motor vehicle by an intended driver is enabled or blocked.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of assigning further authorization data for the drivers to regions in which operation of the motor vehicle is intended.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of immobilizing of the motor vehicle in case an authorization failed.

9. A control device for operating a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one detection device for detecting an authorization to operate the motor vehicle by one of a plurality of drivers,

an electronic memory storing authorization data for the plurality of drivers, wherein the authorization data for each driver comprise possible driving times in which operation of the motor vehicle is possible;

a control unit operable to compare said authorization with a respectively stored authorization data.

10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit comprises an interface for a navigation device and the authorization data further comprise a region in which it is possible to operate the motor vehicle.

11. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit has an interface for connection to an electronic data processing system for storing values in the memories.

12. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the detection device has a card reader or an ignition lock of the motor vehicle.

13. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit has an interface for connection to an electronic immobilizer of the motor vehicle.

14. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the detection device has a card reader and an ignition lock of the motor vehicle.