Apparatus and method for driver-specific setting on vehicle devices

• US 6,122,580 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CLAAS KGaA mbH
• Original Assignee: CLAAS KGaA mbH
• Inventors: Autermann, Ludger
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/053,736
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 340/825.06, 340/825.15, 340/825.36, 340/825.5, 340/825.54, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers

Abstract

An apparatus for driver-specific setting of vehicle devices (EG) has setting parameters stored as a setting-parameter data set (PS1-PSx) in a local processor (LP). Action signals (AS) are transmitted, via a control and/or regulating apparatus (R), to the devices (EG), from which sensor signals (SS) may be fed back into the control and/or regulating apparatus (R). The local processor (LP) reports the respective identifier (ID, ID1-IDx) and a vehicle identification (FK1-FKx) of the respectively used vehicle via a data radio link (FG, FZ) to a central processor (ZP), which enters them into a key-use register (BR) and stores the respectively associated setting-parameter set (PS1-PSx) and possibly other useful data as operating information (BM). This keeps them ready for an evaluation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for driver-specific setting of vehicle devices (EG) of a vehicle having a specific vehicle identification (FX), comprising:

a key (1) encoded with a specific personal identifier (ID);

a key decoder (2) coupled to a local processor (LP) to send the personal identifier to the local processor;

the local processor further comprising a local memory storing an identifier (ID1-IDx) and respective corresponding setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx);

a control/regulating apparatus (R), coupled to local the processor and at least one device (EG), sending an action signal translating a one of the setting-parameter data (PS1-PSx), corresponding in the memory to the specific personal identifier (ID) encoded on the key (1), to the device (EG);

the device (EG) comprising sensors feeding back sensor signal (SS) to local processor (LP) through control/regulating apparatus (R);

a central processor (ZP) comprising a central memory and coupled to the local processor (LP) by a data radio link (FG, FZ);

wherein the local processor (LP) reports the specific identifier (ID) and the specific vehicle identification (FK) to the central processor (ZP) via the data radio link (FG, FZ), and wherein the central processor enters the specific identifier (ID) and the specific vehicle identification (FK) into a key-use register (BR) of the central memory and stores the one of the setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx), corresponding in the memory of the specific personal identifier (ID) encoded on the key (1), in another portion of the central memory;

whereby the setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx) are kept ready for an evaluation;

wherein the central processor (ZP) is coupled to an operating station (BS) whereby the association table (ZT) is modified and wherein;

the central processor (ZP) is used to access the use register (BR) for evaluations and modifications;

wherein the local processor (LP) includes at least one action output (A) to an operation-control apparatus (RV) of the vehicle and a machine (M) connected thereto, which operation-control apparatus feeds back at least one bit of operating information (BM) to the local processor (LP), and wherein;

the action output (A) is controlled by the contents of a respectively activated one of the setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein operating information (BM) is stored in the central memory.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identifier (ID, ID1-IDx) is checked against at least one of an authorization table (BT) including lock-release data and an association table (ZT) of vehicle identifiers (ID1-IDx), for associated, authorized vehicle identifications (FK1-FKx), and wherein

the associated lock-release data and settingparameter data set (PS1-PSx) are respectively activated in the event of authorization.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

an association table (ZT), comprising vehicle identifications (FK1-FKx) and respectively authorized vehicle identifications (ID1-IDx), is stored in the central processor (ZP), and wherein

the associated setting-parameter set (PS1-PSx) is only enabled, in the local processor (LP) by the data radio link (FG, FZ), if the specific identifier and the specific vehicle identification are in the association table (ZT).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the local processor (LP) is coupled to an operating panel (BC), with input signals therefrom modifying the settingparameter data sets (PS1-PSx) as a function of an operation-mode setting.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the local processor (LP) is coupled to an operating panel (BC), with input signals therefrom modifying including lock-release data stored in an authorization table (BT) as a function of an operation-mode setting.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating information (BM) and sensor signals (SS) reported by the device (EG) is entered into the setting-parameter set (PS1-PSx).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating information (BM) and sensor signals (SS) reported by the device (EG) is entered into an authorization table (BT) including lock-release data.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key (1) bears a mechanical key identification (SK), wherein the key decoder (2) comprises a lock, and wherein the key fits the lock.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the key identification (SK) is a key system identification of a primary, group, or individual key system.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific identifier (ID) is stored in electronically-encoded form in the key (1) and is transmitted via an electrical contact, wireless signal, or opto-electronic coupler (IS-IE), from the key (1) into the key decoder (2), the key decoder comprising a receiver, and wherein the specific identifier (ID) is entered from the key decoder into the local processor (LP).

4. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the local processor (LP) transmits an enabling signal (FS) to a controllable function element, once an authorization and a scope thereof are determined.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controllable function element includes at least one local lock-release magnet (EM).

14. An apparatus for driver-specific setting of vehicle devices (EG) of a vehicle having a specific vehicle identification (FX), comprising:

a key (1) encoded with a specific personal identifier (ID);

a key decoder (2) coupled to a local processor (LP) to send the personal identifier to the local processor;

the local processor further comprising a local memory storing an identifier (ID1-IDx) and respective corresponding setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx);

a control/regulating apparatus (R), coupled to local the processor and at least one device (EG), sending an action signal translating a one of the setting-parameter data (PS1-PSx), corresponding in the memory to the specific personal identifier (ID) encoded on the key (1), to the device (EG);

the device (EG) comprising sensors feeding back sensor signal (SS) to local processor (LP) through control/regulating apparatus (R);

a central processor (ZP) comprising a central memory and coupled to the local processor (LP) by a data radio link (FG, FZ);

wherein the local processor (LP) reports the specific identifier (ID) and the specific vehicle identification (FK) to the central processor (ZP) via the data radio link (FG, FZ), and wherein the central processor enters the specific identifier (ID) and the specific vehicle identification (FK) into a key-use register (BR) of the central memory and stores the one of the setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx), corresponding in the memory of the specific personal identifier (ID) encoded on the key (1), in another portion of the central memory;

whereby the setting-parameter data sets (PS1-PSx) are kept ready for an evaluation;

wherein the central processor (ZP) is coupled to an operating station (BS) whereby the association table (ZT) is modified and wherein;

the central processor (ZP) is used to access the use register (BR) for evaluations and modifications;

wherein the local processor (LP) includes at least one action output (A) to an operation-control apparatus (RV) of the vehicle and a machine (M) connected thereto, which operation-control apparatus feeds back at least one bit of operation information (BM) to the local processor (LP), and wherein;

the action output (A) controls at least one of a maximum speed, maximum and minimum switching rpm, economy-state gear-operation presettings and motor settings, a use time, set-up times, operation times, operating-material consumptions, or work-surface sizes, and crop yields, and

wherein these are continuously registered as the operating information (BM), and are transmitted by radio continuously, or when the key is involved in a closing procedure, to the central processor (ZP) for further evaluation and accounting procedures, whereby they are kept ready.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein operating information (BM) is stored in the central memory.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an association table (ZT), comprising vehicle identification (FK1-FKx) and respectively authorized vehicle identifications (ID1-IDx), is stored in the central processor (ZP), and

wherein the associated setting-parameter set (PS1-PSx) is only enabled, in the local processor (LP) by the data radio link (FG, FZ), if the specific identifier and the specific vehicle identification are the association table (ZT).