Centralized control and management system for automobiles

• US 6,275,231 B1
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US08/904,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/349, 345/357, 701/51, 701/43, 701/36, 701/212, 340/426, 340/905, 434/66
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A system for use in a vehicle including an engine compartment, the engine compartment having a plurality of components therein, the system comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of items and a plurality of information objects, the plurality of items each representing a respective one of the components in the engine compartment, the displayed items being arranged on the display in substantially the same relation to one another as the components represented thereby in the engine compartment, each component corresponding to one or more of the information objects;

an interface for selecting at least one of the items; and

a processor for activating the one or more of the information objects corresponding to the component represented by the selected item to provide information concerning the component.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises an automobile.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface includes an indicator device for selecting the at least one of the items.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said indicator device comprises a mouse device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface includes a touch-screen capability.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes a radiator.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said information includes a reading of temperature of coolant in the radiator.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said information includes a reading of a level of coolant in the radiator.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said component includes an oil compartment.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said information includes a reading of a temperature of oil in the oil compartment.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said information includes a reading of a level of oil in the oil compartment.

13. A system for use in a vehicle to adjust a position of an item in the vehicle comprising:

a display for showing thereon an indicator associated with the item, the item being separate from the display;

a track;

an actuator for moving the item in the vehicle along the track; and

an interface for moving the indicator on the display to cause the actuator to move the item along the track to adjust the position of the item, an extent to which the position the item is adjusted being a function of an extent to which the indicator is moved.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the item includes a window.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the item includes a mirror.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the item includes a door.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the item includes a seat.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the item includes an audio output.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the interface includes a device for directing the indicator.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the interface includes a touch-screen capability.

21. A system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of sources, the plurality of sources providing a plurality of entertainment programs, respectively, the entertainment programs being classified in a plurality of categories based on contents of the entertainment programs, the receiver deriving, from the received signals, information identifying at least respective categories of entertainment programs provided by the sources; and

an interface for presenting indicators representing respective ones of the plurality of sources, each indicator being selectable to receive entertainment programs from the source represented by the indicator, the indicators being arranged according to the respective categories of entertainment programs provided by the sources represented thereby.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein each of the sources includes a radio station.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the categories include types of music.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the information derived from the received signals also identifies the sources.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein at least one of the indicators indicates a status concerning whether the at least one indicator has been selected.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the status is indicated by a first color if the at least one indicator has been selected, and by a second color if the at least one indicator has not been selected.

27. A method for use in a system in a vehicle including an engine compartment, the engine compartment having a plurality of components therein, the system including a display, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items and a plurality of information objects, the plurality of items each representing a respective one of the components in the enaine compartment, the displayed items being arranged on the display in substantially the same relation to one another as the components represented thereby in the engine compartment, each component corresponding to one or more of the information objects;

selecting at least one of the items; and

activating the one or more of the information objects corresponding to the component represented by the selected item to provide information concerning the component.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the component includes a radiator.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the information includes a reading of temperature of coolant in the radiator.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the information includes a reading of a level of coolant in the radiator.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the component includes an oil compartment.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the information includes a reading of a temperature of oil in the oil compartment.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the information includes a reading of a level of oil in the oil compartment.

34. A method for use in a system in a vehicle for adjusting a position of an item in the vehicle, the system including a display, a track and an actuator for moving the item in the vehicle along the track, the method comprising:

showing on the display an indicator associated with the item, the item being separate from the display; and

moving the indicator on the display to cause the actuator to move the item along the track to adjust the position of the item, an extent to which the position of the item is adjusted being a function of an extent to which the indicator is moved.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the item includes a window.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the item includes a mirror.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the item includes a door.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the item includes a seat.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the item includes an audio output.

40. A method for use in a system in a vehicle comprising:

receiving signals from a plurality of sources, the plurality of sources providing a plurality of entertainment programs, respectively, the entertainment programs being classified in a plurality of categories based on contents of the entertainment programs;

deriving, from the received signals, information identifying at least respective categories of entertainment programs provided by the sources; and

presenting indicators representing respective ones of the plurality of sources, each indicator being selectable to receive entertainment programs from the source represented by the indicator, the indicators being arranged according to the respective categories of entertainment programs provided by the sources represented thereby.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein each of the sources includes a radio station.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the categories include types of music.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the information derived from the received signals also identifies the sources.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein at least one of the indicators indicates a status concerning whether the at least one indicator has been selected.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the status is indicated by a first color if the at least one indicator has been selected, and by a second color if the at least one indicator has not been selected.