Vehicle customizing system

• US 7,474,947 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Murata, Yoshiaki, Yamazaki, Masayuki, Yamaoka, Koji, Shiohata, Toshibumi, Furui, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US11/099,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/29, 701/33, 340/507, 340/508, 348/76
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 vehicle customizing system is highly reliable in the event of communication failures. For setting control characteristic values pertaining to functions of control units to control characteristic values favored by the user, the functions and the present control characteristic values set for the functions are displayed on a display unit. The control characteristic values, which are changed using the display unit, are stored in first function information tables of the control units, which directly perform the functions. Even in the event of a communication failure, the control units are capable, on their own, of controlled objects in order to perform the functions thereof based on the control characteristic values stored in the first function information tables.

Claims

1. A vehicle customizing system comprising:

a plurality of control units for performing respective functions based on respective user-definable control characteristic values; and

a display unit having an input means connected to said control units through a communication line, for receiving inputs from a user to change said control characteristic values;

said control units each having respective first memory means for storing function information concerning said respective functions, and a control characteristic value pertaining to said functions, wherein each one of said control units performs said respective functions based on the control characteristic value stored in said respective first memory means;

wherein said display unit displays said function information and said control characteristic value, which are received from said control unit through said communication line, and sends a changed control characteristic value, changed by said input means, to said control unit through said communication line, said control unit storing the changed control characteristic value in said first memory means.

2. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 1, wherein said display unit has second memory means for storing a table of information as to all the functions of the control units which are connectable to said communication line, and determines an image to be displayed based on said table and said function information that is received through said communication line from one of said control units which is connected to said communication line.

3. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user identification unit connected to said communication line and having user identification code memory means for storing user identification information for identifying the user;

wherein one of said control units stores said control characteristic value depending on said user identification information in said respective first memory means, and sends said control characteristic value stored in said respective first memory means to said display unit depending on said user identification information.

4. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 3, wherein one of said control units sends said control characteristic value to said display unit only when said user identification information is stored in said respective first memory means.

5. A vehicle customizing system comprising:

a control unit for performing a function based on a control characteristic value; and

a display unit having an input means connected to said control unit through a communication line, for changing said control characteristic value;

said control unit having first memory means for storing function information concerning said function, and a control characteristic value pertaining to said function, wherein said control unit performs said function based on the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means;

a plurality of control units connectable to said communication line, said control units having different functions depending on specifications thereof;

a user identification unit connected to said communication line and having user identification code memory means for storing user identification information for identifying the user;

wherein said display unit displays said function information and said control characteristic value, which are received from said control unit through said communication line, and sends a changed control characteristic value, changed by said input means, to said control unit through said communication line, said control unit storing the changed control characteristic value in said first memory means;

wherein said display unit has second memory means for storing a table of information as to all the functions of the control units which are connectable to said communication line, and determines an image to be displayed based on said table and said function information that is received through said communication line from said control unit which is connected to said communication line; and

wherein said control unit stores said control characteristic value in said first memory means depending on said user identification information, and sends said control characteristic value stored in said first memory means to said display unit depending on said user identification information.

6. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 5, wherein one of said control units sends said control characteristic value to said display unit only when said user identification information is further stored in said respective first memory means.

7. A vehicle customizing system comprising:

a control unit for performing a function based on a control characteristic value; and

a display unit having an input means connected to said control unit through a communication line, for changing said control characteristic value;

said control unit having first memory means for storing function information concerning said function, and a control characteristic value pertaining to said function, wherein said control unit performs said function based on the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means;

wherein said display unit displays said function information and said control characteristic value, which are received from said control unit through said communication line, and sends a changed control characteristic value, changed by said input means, to said control unit through said communication line, said control unit storing the changed control characteristic value in said first memory means; and

wherein when said display unit is brought into a state capable of changing the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means of said control unit, said display unit sends a function information request signal for requesting said control unit to send said function information concerning the function of said control unit through said communication line, and said display unit recognizes said control unit connected to said communication line and the function of said control unit and determines an image to be displayed based on a function information response signal including said function information, which is received from said control unit within a predetermined time after said function information request signal has been sent.

8. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 7, wherein when the function displayed on a display screen of said display unit is selected by said input means, said display unit sends a control characteristic value request signal for requesting the control unit having the selected function to send the control characteristic value of the function, and displays the control characteristic value returned from the control unit having the selected function, and when said control characteristic value is changed by said input means, said display unit sends the changed control characteristic value through said communication line for said first memory means to store the changed control characteristic value.

9. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 8, further comprising a user identification unit connected to said communication line, for storing user identification information for identifying the user;

wherein said user identification unit sends said user identification information through said communication line; and

wherein said control unit stores said user identification information in said first memory means, and when said control unit receives said control characteristic value request signal from said display unit through said communication line, said control unit sends said control characteristic value stored in said first memory means to said display unit depending on said user identification information.

10. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 7, wherein said first memory means of said control unit stores a default control characteristic value, which is preset as a factory setting with respect to the function of said control unit, and the present control characteristic value is changed to said default control characteristic value and the default control characteristic value is stored when a default setting instruction is received from said display unit through said communication line.

11. A vehicle customizing system comprising:

a control unit for performing a function based on a control characteristic value; and

a display unit having an input means connected to said control unit through a communication line, for changing said control characteristic value;

said control unit having first memory means for storing function information concerning said function, and a control characteristic value pertaining to said function, wherein said control unit performs said function based on the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means;

a plurality of control units connectable to said communication line, said control units having different functions depending on specifications thereof;

wherein said display unit displays said function information and said control characteristic value, which are received from said control unit through said communication line, and sends a changed control characteristic value, changed by said input means, to said control unit through said communication line, said control unit storing the changed control characteristic value in said first memory means;

wherein said display unit has second memory means for storing a table of information as to all the functions of the control units which are connectable to said communication line, and determines an image to be displayed based on said table and said function information that is received through said communication line from said control unit which is connected to said communication line;

wherein when said display unit is brought into a state capable of changing the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means of said control unit, said display unit sends a function information request signal for requesting said control unit to send said function information concerning the function of said control unit through said communication line, and said display unit recognizes said control unit connected to said communication line and the function of said control unit and determines an image to be displayed based on a function information response signal including said function information, which is received from said control unit within a predetermined time after said function information request signal has been sent.

12. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 11, wherein when the function displayed on a display screen of said display unit is selected by said input means, said display unit sends a control characteristic value request signal for requesting the control unit having the selected function to send the control characteristic value pertaining to the function, said display unit displays the control characteristic value returned from the control unit having the selected function, and when said control characteristic value is changed by said input means, said display unit sends the changed control characteristic value through said communication line, and said first memory means stores the changed control characteristic value.

13. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 12, further comprising a user identification unit connected to said communication line, for storing user identification information for identifying the user;

wherein said user identification unit sends said user identification information through said communication line; and

wherein said control unit stores said user identification information in said first memory means, and when said control unit receives said control characteristic value request signal from said display unit through said communication line, said control unit sends said control characteristic value stored in said first memory means to said display unit depending on said user identification information.

14. A vehicle customizing system according to claim 11, wherein said first memory means of said control unit stores a default control characteristic value, which is preset as a factory setting with respect to the function of said control unit, and the present control characteristic value is changed to said default control characteristic value and the default control characteristic value is stored when a default setting instruction is received from said display unit through said communication line.

15. A vehicle customizing system comprising:

a control unit for performing a function based on a control characteristic value; and

a display unit having an input means connected to said control unit through a communication line, for changing said control characteristic value;

said control unit having first memory means for storing function information concerning said function, and a control characteristic value pertaining to said function, wherein said control unit performs said function based on the control characteristic value stored in said first memory means;

wherein said display unit displays said function information and said control characteristic value, which are received from said control unit through said communication line, and sends a changed control characteristic value, changed by said input means, to said control unit through said communication line, said control unit storing the changed control characteristic value in said first memory means;

wherein said first memory means of said control unit stores a default control characteristic value, which is preset as a factory setting with respect to the function of said control unit, and the present control characteristic value is changed to said default control characteristic value and the default control characteristic value is stored when a default setting instruction is received from said display unit through said communication line.