Device for displaying and controlling functions in a motor vehicle

• US 6,519,511 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Oberschachtsiek, André, Schlepper, Bernd, Dirksen, Susanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/092,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 701/36, 701/102, 701/101, 701/100, 701/99, 455/63, 455/68
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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

Abstract

A device for displaying and controlling functions in a motor vehicle. The device includes at least one master operating panel and at least one slave operating panel, which are connected to one another bidirectionally. It is possible to represent and actuate all the existing functions via the master operating panel, and it is possible to assign functions to the slave operating panel via the master operating panel in a programmable fashion. The functions can be represented and actuated by the slave operating panel.

Claims

1. A device for displaying and operating functions in a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one master operating panel;

at least one slave operating panel, the master operating panel and the slave operating panel being connected to one another bidirectionally, the master operating panel being operative to display and operate all available functions of a master field and to selectively at least one of assign and change at least one function from the master field to the at least one slave operating panel in a variably programmable fashion so that the assigned functions can be displayed and operated by the at least one slave operating panel.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the master operating panel is assignable to a driver of the motor vehicle.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the slave operating panel is arranged in a rear passenger compartment of the vehicle.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the master operating panel and at least one slave operating panel is a multifunctional operating device.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of slave operating panels are provided and specific vehicle functions are combined in groups that are assignable as a group to one of the slave operating panels.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the master operating panel is directly connected to the functions to be operated by functional assemblies of the motor vehicle, the at least one slave operating panel being in operative communication with the functional assemblies via the master operating panel.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the master operating panel and the at least one slave operating panel are assigned to functional assemblies of the vehicle for operating the vehicle functions, the master operating panel being operative to authorize the at least one slave operating panel to operate at least one of the functional assemblies.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of slave operating panels are provided, the slave operating panels being in operative communication with the master operating panel so that at least two of the slave operating panels can operate the same functional assemblies.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the master operating panel is operative to assign different priorities to the individual slave operating panels for operating a common functional assembly.

10. A combination, comprising:

a motor vehicle having functional assemblies; and

means for displaying and controlling the assemblies of the motor vehicle, the displaying and controlling means including at least one master operating panel and at least one slave operating panel which are connected to one another so as to transmit signals bidirectionally, the master operating panel being operative to display and operate the functional assemblies of the motor vehicle contained in a master field and to selectively at least one of assign and change at least one of the functional assemblies from the master field to the at least one slave operating panel in a variably programmable fashion so that the assigned functional subassemblies can be displayed and operated by the at least one slave operating panel.