METHOD FOR SITUATIONALLY ADJUSTING A VEHICLE AND A VEHICLE

• US 20120053785A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: WITTORF, Marten
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/04 arranged at rear of vehicle B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065

Abstract

A method is provided for situationally adjusting a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to acquiring data of at least a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with at least one sensor with the vehicle. In addition, the approach of at least one object toward the vehicle is detected using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Furthermore, dimensions of the at least one object are determined using the data acquired by the at least one sensor. Moreover, at least a partial area of an interior of the vehicle is adjusted to the dimensions of the at least one object.

Claims

1. A method for situationally adjusting a vehicle, comprising:

acquiring data for a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with a sensor;

determining an approach of an object toward the vehicle using the data acquired from the sensor;

determining a dimension of the object using the data acquired by the sensor; and

adjusting the partial area of an interior of the vehicle to the dimension of the object.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving access authorization data for the vehicle with a receiving device of the vehicle, and

wherein the partial area of the environment of the vehicle is acquired with the sensor after the receiving the access authorization data.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the receiving device is an ignition key of the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is located in a rear area of the vehicle and configured to acquire the rear area of the environment of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical camera.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a configuration of the partial area of the interior of the vehicle is performed before the adjusting of the partial area of the interior of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the partial area of the interior of the vehicle is conducted with an actuator.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting of the partial area of the interior comprises adjusting a configuration of a trunk of the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting of the partial area of the interior comprises sliding a rear shelf of the motor vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting of the partial area of the interior comprises folding over a seat in the motor vehicle.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a sensor designed configured to generate data acquired from a partial area of an environment of the vehicle;

a first determination device configured to detect an approach of an object toward the vehicle using the data acquired by the sensor;

a second determination device configured to ascertain a dimension of the object using the data acquired by the sensor; and

an adjustment device configured to adjust the partial area of an interior of the vehicle to the dimension of the object.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a receiving device configured to receive access authorization data for the vehicle, and

wherein the partial area of the environment of the vehicle is acquired with the sensor after the receiving device receives the access authorization data.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the receiving device is an ignition key of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is located in a rear area of the vehicle and configured to acquire the rear area of the environment of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is an optical camera.

17. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:

a program for situationally adjusting a vehicle, the program configured to;

acquire data for a partial area of an environment of the vehicle with a sensor;

determine an approach of an object toward the vehicle using the data acquired from the sensor;

determine a dimension of the object using the data acquired by the sensor; and

adjust the partial area of an interior of the vehicle to the dimension of the object.

18. The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the program is configured to determine a configuration of the partial area of the interior of the vehicle before the adjusting of the partial area of the interior of the vehicle.

19. The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the program is configured to control an actuator to adjust the partial area of the interior of the vehicle.

20. The computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.