METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20150142212A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Gross, Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0064 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit, e.g. remote keypad or mobile phone
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a function of a motor vehicle (18) employs a use module (4) at a storage location (6, 8) for a device outside the motor vehicle (18). The use module (4) and the storage location (6, 8) have recognition interfaces (10, 12, 14). The motor vehicle (18) has a first communication module (22), and a second communication module (16) is provided for the use module (4) and for the storage location (6, 8). The recognition interfaces make contact when the use module (4) is at the storage location (6, 8). If a storage location (28, 32) change is registered for the use module (4), a message with an instruction to perform the function of the motor vehicle (18) is transferred from the second communication module (16) for the use module (4) and the storage location (6, 8) to the first communication module (22) of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle with a use module that is positionable at least at one storage location to a device outside the motor vehicle, the use module and the at least one storage location each having a recognition interface, the motor vehicle having a first communication module, and at least one second communication module being provided for the use module and for the at least one storage location, the method comprising:

making contact between the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location when the use module is disposed at the at least one storage location;

registering a change of storage location for the use module;

transferring a message with an instruction to perform the at least one function of the motor vehicle from the at least one second communication module for the use module and the at least one storage location to the first communication module of the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the message to perform the at least one function of the motor vehicle is carried out when the use module is distanced from the at least one storage location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the message to perform the at least one function of the motor vehicle is carried out when the use module is disposed at the at least one storage location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring the message to perform the at least one function of the motor vehicle is carried out when the use module is transported past the at least one storage location, and the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location make contact for a defined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the recognition interface of the use module makes contact with a recognition interface of the at least one storage location and the use module is deemed to be disposed at the at least one storage location when a distance between the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interfaces of the at least one storage location is at most as great as a minimum distance provided for this purpose.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the change of storage location is registered for the use module when the distance between the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location is greater than the minimum distance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a time at which the change of storage location is carried out as the at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the storage location at which the change of storage location is carried out is determined as the at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising determining a procedure of the change of storage location as the at least one characteristic of said change of storage location.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising predefining a type of function depending on the at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising predefining a time for a performance of the function depending on the at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a change of storage location signal by the at least one recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location when the change of storage location takes place.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is provided as a further storage location of the use module.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function comprises switching on an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function comprises charging an electrical energy store of the motor vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out for a motor vehicle that has an electric motor as the drive device for the motor vehicle.

18. A system for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a use module and at least one storage location for the use module, the storage location being allocated to a device outside the motor vehicle, and at least two communication modules, the use module and the at least one storage location each having a recognition interface, a first communication module provided for the motor vehicle, and at least one second communication module provided for the use module and for the at least one storage location, the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location being designed to make contact when the use module disposed at the at least one storage location, wherein, in a case where a change of storage location is to be registered for the use module, a message with an instruction to perform the at least one function of the motor vehicle is transferred from the at least one second communication module for the use module and the at least one storage location to the first communication module of the motor vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one storage location comprises a plurality of storage locations for the use module each of which is allocated to a device outside the motor vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the storage locations is disposed on and/or in a device outside the motor vehicle.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one storage location is allocated to a stationary device outside the motor vehicle.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of storage locations comprises at least one storage location for the use module disposed in the motor vehicle and the system further comprising a recognition interface designed to make contact with the recognition interface of the use module when the use module is disposed in the motor vehicle.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the second communication module is disposed in the use module.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location are designed to make contact by exchanging electromagnetic waves.

25. The system of claim 18, in which the recognition interface of the use module and the recognition interface of the at least one storage location are designed to make contact via a mechanical connection.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the use module is designed as a mobile device for communication and/or data processing.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the use module is a key for the motor vehicle.