Information specific actuatable control system

• US 6,584,389 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Original Assignee: HELLA KG Hueck & Co.
• Inventors: Schriek, Josef, Reimann, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/659,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/53, 701/36, 701/211, 180/287, 180/289, 180/268, 180/167, 340/825.31, 340/996, 340/426, 340/438, 340/539, 340/902, 340/988, 340/10.2, 307/10, 307/10.2, 359/843
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A control unit for user-specific adjustment of device settings in a motor vehicle on the basis of user data according to a specific key, where the control unit recognizes the users in the seat positions in a motor vehicle on the basis of identification means assigned to each user. The control system is characterized by a great variability and convenience. Instead of allowing only driver-specific settings, the control system according to the present invention allows a person-specific selection of seat positions, climate control or multimedia entertainment. This is made possible by means of a seat-specific identification.

Claims

1. A control unit for user-specific settings of devices in a motor vehicle, wherein the control unit recognizes driver and passenger in specific seat positions in the motor vehicle on the basis of individual identification means assigned to each driver and passenger.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the identification means are designed as battery-operated chip cards or as transponder cards.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a device for recognizing driver and passenger at each seat position in the motor vehicle.

4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit makes adjustments in the settings of the devices in the motor vehicle on the basis of stored user-specific data assigned to the recognized driver and passenger.

5. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the user-specific settings include the various seat position settings.

6. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the user-specific settings include positioning of a vehicle mirror.

7. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the user-specific settings include temperature settings of an air conditioning system.

8. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the user-specific settings include settings of audio and video systems.

9. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein communication between the control unit and the individual identification means is accomplished by wireless transmission.

10. A control unit for controlling user-specific settings of a device in a motor vehicle, the control unit recognizing driver and passenger in specific locations in the motor vehicle on the basis of individual identification assigned to the driver and passenger.

11. The control unit according to claim 10, wherein the specific location is a seat of the motor vehicle.

12. The control unit according to claim 11, wherein the seat is a front seat.

13. The control unit according to claim 11, wherein the seat is a rear seat.

14. The control unit according to claim 10, wherein the passenger is a non-driving passenger.

15. The control unit according to claim 10, wherein the control unit recognizes a specific driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of individual identification assigned to the driver.

16. A method for controlling user-specific settings of a device in a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

recognizing a driver and specific passenger in specific locations in the motor vehicle on the basis of individual identification assigned to the driver and passenger; and

controlling said device according to the location recognized and the individual identification.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the passenger is a non-driving passenger.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the user-specific settings includes various seat position settings, positioning of a vehicle mirror, temperature settings, or settings of audio and video systems.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the individual identification are battery-operated chip cards or transponder cards.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the control unit adjusts settings of the device in the motor vehicle on the basis of stored user-specific data assigned to the passenger.