RESTRICTED OPERATION OF VEHICLE DRIVEN BY SECONDARY DRIVER WITH REAR PASSENGERS
First Claim
1. A system for providing a restricted operating mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a driver seat for a driver, rear passenger seats for one or more rear seat passengers, and vehicle accessories for operating in the vehicle, the system comprising:
- at least one primary key adapted to be assigned to a primary driver;
at least one secondary key adapted to be assigned to a secondary driver;
a key ignition device positioned on each of the primary key and the secondary key and adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver;
a seat occupancy sensor for detecting the presence of at least one rear seat passenger; and
a controller operably coupled to the key ignition device and the seat occupancy sensor, wherein the controller includes a memory storing rules defining a restricted operating mode containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of the accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver, the controller being adapted to;
determine whether the driver of the vehicle is at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver in response to the driver status signals; and
selectively control the operation of at least one of the accessories pursuant to one of the rules in response to simultaneously detecting the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Restricted operating modes are provided for a motor vehicle when driven by a secondary driver (such as a less experienced driver). A seat occupancy sensor detects the presence of at least one rear seat passenger. A controller includes a memory storing rules defining a restricted operating mode containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of various vehicle accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver. The controller selectively controls the operation of at least one of the accessories according to one of the rules in response to simultaneously detecting the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger. Use of the rules may also depend on whether the rear seat passenger has an unbuckled seat belt.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for providing a restricted operating mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a driver seat for a driver, rear passenger seats for one or more rear seat passengers, and vehicle accessories for operating in the vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least one primary key adapted to be assigned to a primary driver; at least one secondary key adapted to be assigned to a secondary driver; a key ignition device positioned on each of the primary key and the secondary key and adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver; a seat occupancy sensor for detecting the presence of at least one rear seat passenger; and a controller operably coupled to the key ignition device and the seat occupancy sensor, wherein the controller includes a memory storing rules defining a restricted operating mode containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of the accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver, the controller being adapted to; determine whether the driver of the vehicle is at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver in response to the driver status signals; and selectively control the operation of at least one of the accessories pursuant to one of the rules in response to simultaneously detecting the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing a restricted operating mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a driver seat for a driver, rear passenger seats for one or more rear seat passengers, and vehicle accessories for operating in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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tagging at least one primary key to a primary driver; tagging at least one secondary key to a secondary driver; configuring a controller in the vehicle to store rules defining a restricted operating mode containing a plurality of limitations to be applied to operation of the accessories in conjunction with the secondary driver; initiating operation of the vehicle using the primary key or the secondary key; generating driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver; detecting the presence of at least one rear seat passenger; selectively controlling the operation of at least one of the accessories pursuant to one of the rules in response to simultaneously detecting the secondary driver and the presence of at least one rear seat passenger. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification