Wireless remote control system for vehicle functions

• US 20090212905A1
• Filed: 07/30/2005
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Wolf, Michael, Krause, Ralf, Mayer, Helmut, Ganz, Thomas, Schloer, Burkhard, Doufrain, Andreas, Batz, Thomas, Weiland, Johannes, Sechtin, Robert, Saraoudis, Dimitrios, Weitzel, Nina, Enigk, Holger, Heising, Thomas, Nettelnstroth, Wim, Viereck, Thomas, Schuler, Helmut, Class, Fritz, Hohloch, Marcus, Sordi, Marcelo, Bunke, Joachim, Heisterkamp, Paul, Entemmann, Volker, Ramminger, Armin, Gloeckner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/659,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212905A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.540
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/017 characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/382 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/202 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/204 adjusting floor height to the loading ramp level
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00968 shape of the data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless remote control system (100) for vehicle functions (13.1, 13.2), having a portable remote control unit (20) which comprises operator control elements for activating control signals which are exchanged with a vehicle mounted transmitter/receiver unit (11) in order to control the vehicle functions (13.1, 13.2). According to the invention, the remote control unit (20) comprises the following components: at least one first operator control element which has a predefined function of an electronic driving authorization and/or access authorization system (13.2) assigned to it, and at least one second operator control element and at least one display unit for menu prompted control of at least one ride level control system (13.1).

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A wireless remote control system for vehicle functions, having a portable remote control unit including operator control elements for activating control signals which are exchanged with a vehicle mounted transmitter/receiver unit in order to control the vehicle functions, and in which the remote control unit comprises:

at least one first operator control element which has assigned to it a predefined function of electronic driving authorization, access authorization or both electronic driving authorization and access authorization, and

at least one second operator control element and at least one display unit for menu prompted control of at least one further controllable vehicle function,

wherein the at least one further controllable vehicle function is provided by at least one ride level control system.

25. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the remote control unit has a cover which, in a first position, covers the at least one second operator control element and the display unit, and, in a second position, clears the at least one second operator control element and the display unit.

26. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cover can be moved, by at least one of a pivoting movement and a sliding movement, from the first position into the second position and vice versa.

27. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein at least one of said operator control elements, an audible indicator, a visual display, and the display unit is integrated into the cover.

28. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cover can be locked in at least one of the first and second positions, and wherein, in the second position, the cover acts as a handle for the remote control unit.

29. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein it is possible to access the operator control elements for at least one of the driving authorization and the access authorization in both positions of the cover.

30. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in the first position of the cover, the at least one further vehicle function is deactivated with respect to operator control by the remote control unit.

31. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one further vehicle function is activated with respect to operator control by the remote control unit when the cover moves from the first position into the second position, and is deactivated when the cover moves from the second position into the first position.

32. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in the first position, the cover covers a front side of the remote control unit, and in the second position, the cover clears the front side.

33. The remote control system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator control elements comprise means for clear haptic feedback.

34. The remote control system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the means for haptic feedback have a clear pressure point for at least one of pushbutton keys and four way actuators or pronounced rotational forces for rotary actuators.

35. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the operator control elements are arranged so that single handed operation is possible with a thumb or with a thumb and an index finger.

36. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the remote control unit is of symmetrical design.

37. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second operator control element and the display unit are arranged on a front side or on side faces of the remote control unit, and wherein the first operator control element is arranged on a rear side of the remote control unit.

38. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second operator control element comprises an operator control element for starting and stopping the vehicle engine.

39. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein, during a control process of the ride level control system, a stop function which stops the ride level control process is temporarily assigned to a plurality of the operator control elements on the portable remote control unit.

40. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein a voice control unit is arranged in the portable remote control unit or in a vehicle mounted control unit, and wherein a microphone for picking up voice commands is arranged in the portable remote control unit.

41. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein a further vehicle function is a tire pressure monitoring function which can be controlled with the at least one second operator control element.

42. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein vehicle functions which can be controlled with the portable remote control unit can be at least one of modified and expanded by transmitting new program codes.

43. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein functions of electronic driving authorization, access authorization, or both electronic driving and access authorization can be disabled, enabled, or both disabled and enabled.

44. The remote control system as claimed in claim 43, wherein the functions can be disabled, enabled, or both disabled and enabled by inputting a PIN.

45. The remote control system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the portable remote control unit is dimensioned to have a height in a range from 30 mm to 90 mm, a width in the range from 20 mm to 70 mm, and a thickness in the range from 10 mm to 25 mm, and wherein the height, width, and thickness dimensions apply to a cover which is present in the first position.

46. A wireless remote control system for vehicle functions, having a portable remote control unit including operator control elements for activating control signals which are exchanged with a vehicle mounted transmitter/receiver unit in order to control the vehicle functions, and in which the remote control unit comprises:

at least one first operator control element which has assigned to it a predefined function of electronic driving authorization, access authorization, or both electronic driving authorization and access authorization, and

at least one second operator control element for controlling at least one further controllable vehicle function, and

a cover which, in a first position, covers the at least one second operator control element and, in a second position, clears the at least one second operator control element,

wherein the at least one further controllable vehicle function is at least one ride level control system.

47. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein the cover can be moved, by at least one of a pivoting movement and a sliding movement, from the first position into the second position and vice versa.

48. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein at least one of said operator control elements, an audible indicator, a visual display, and the display unit is integrated into the cover.

49. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein the cover can be locked in at least one of the first and second positions, and wherein, in the second position, the cover acts as a handle for the remote control unit.

50. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein it is possible to access the operator control elements for at least one of the driving authorization and the access authorization in both positions of the cover.

51. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein, in the first position of the cover, the at least one further vehicle function is deactivated with respect to operator control by the remote control unit.

52. The remote control system as claimed in claim 46, wherein the at least one further vehicle function is activated with respect to operator control by the remote control unit when the cover moves from the first position into the second position, and is deactivated when the cover moves from the second position into the first position.