Control apparatus for automobiles
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for an automobile, comprising:
- a plurality of operating units each for controlling respective ones of various kinds of automobile control devices and other automobile accessories installed in an automobile, each of said devices and accessories being designed to achieve its own particular function under control of its operating unit or in response to a signal from another operating unit or units;
an information read/write unit for reading/writing a recording medium on which at least information for identifying a valid user of the automobile is recorded; and
a system manager, including a processing unit and a memory coupled with said operating units and said information read/write unit, which identifies a valid user on the basis of the information recorded on the recording medium and brings ones of said operating units for the various kinds of devices and accessories, which are selected in accordance with the result of the user identification, into an operable condition, thereby enabling such functions and characteristics of the automobile as the user desires.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control apparatus for an automobile is provided with a system manager, which initiates and manages the operation of units for controlling and operating various devices and accessories installed in the automobile. The system manager is coupled with a card unit, in which a card is inserted. Such a card has an identification code ID of a user and a code indicating that the card is registered in advance. The system manager has a list of codes of cards registered. If a card inserted is confirmed to be correct and valid by the ID and the registration code, the system manager executes a predetermined processing operation and produces a set-up instruction signal. Upon receipt of this set-up instruction signal, operations of the control units for the devices and accessories are initiated.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for an automobile, comprising:
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a plurality of operating units each for controlling respective ones of various kinds of automobile control devices and other automobile accessories installed in an automobile, each of said devices and accessories being designed to achieve its own particular function under control of its operating unit or in response to a signal from another operating unit or units; an information read/write unit for reading/writing a recording medium on which at least information for identifying a valid user of the automobile is recorded; and a system manager, including a processing unit and a memory coupled with said operating units and said information read/write unit, which identifies a valid user on the basis of the information recorded on the recording medium and brings ones of said operating units for the various kinds of devices and accessories, which are selected in accordance with the result of the user identification, into an operable condition, thereby enabling such functions and characteristics of the automobile as the user desires. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A control apparatus for a vehicle by an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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an engine control unit for controlling operation of said internal combustion engine, including at least one of ignition control and fuel injection control, in accordance with a stored program and based upon at least one engine control parameter; an information input device through which information may be input by an operator of the vehicle; and a system manager, including a processing unit and a memory, coupled to said engine control unit and said information input device for supplying to said engine control unit an engine control parameter inputted through said information input device by an operator, so as to control at least one of ignition timing and fuel injection in said internal combustion engine in accordance with a characteristic based on said engine control parameter selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control apparatus for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, comprising:
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an automatic transmission control unit for controlling said automatic transmission to shift through plural gear ratios at plural shift points in vehicle speed according to at least one shift point parameter; an information input device through which information may be input by an operator of the vehicle; and a system manager, including a processing unit and a memory, coupled to said automated transmission control unit and said information input device, for supplying to said automatic transmission control unit a shift point parameter inputted through said information input device by an operator, so as to selectively establish an automatic transmission operating characteristic in accordance with the shift point parameter selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A control apparatus for a vehicle having a power steering system for generating in the steering of the vehicle, comprising:
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a power steering control unit for controlling said power steering system in accordance with a characteristic based on a steering constant; an information input device through which information may be input ba an operator of the vehicle; and a system manager, including a processing unit and a memory, coupled to said power steering control unit and said information input device, for supplying to said power steering control unit a steering constant input by an operator of the vehicle through said information input device, so as to selectively establish the characteristic of said power steering system in accordance with the steering constant selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification