Motor vehicle control system

• US 8,515,617 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wille, Frank-Martin, Esser, Holger, Vassen, Heinz-Willi, Ammler, Tobias, Ammler, Norbert, Lebmeier, Helmut, Jung, Hans-Christian, Anderlik, Stefan, Penshorn, Christian, Wenzel, Matthias, Grob, Yvonne, Leinfelder, Rudolf, Ktz, Jens, Krmke, Carsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US10/593,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,084 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/29.1, 701/33.4, 701/34.4, 340/438, 340/439, 345/204
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/50 Control arrangements; Data network features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments

Abstract

A control system for a motor vehicle comprises an output control unit for outputting data related to the operation of the motor vehicle and an operation control unit spatially separated from the output control unit for generating or providing data related to the operation of the motor vehicle. The output control unit comprises a data storage for storing data related to the operation of the motor vehicle and the data related to the operation of the motor vehicle can be read out of the data storage and outputted by the output control unit.

Claims

1. Control system for a motor vehicle with an output control for putting out an information item concerning the operation of the motor vehicle and with a functional control, separated in terms of space from the output control for the generation or supply of information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, wherein the output control comprises an information memory for the storage of information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, whereby the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is accessible from the information memory of the output control, wherein

the control system further comprises a communication link for transmitting the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle from a functional control to the output control independent of a request to put out information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, and

the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the functional control to the output control responsive to a change concerning the operation of the motor vehicle by the functional control.

2. Control system according to claim 1, wherein the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is accessible from the information memory of the output control upon inquiry to put out the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle.

3. Control system according to claim 1 wherein the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the functional control to the output control after expiration of a selected time.

4. Control system according to claim 3, wherein by means of output control, one can monitor whether, within the selected time, the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle was transmitted from the functional control to output control.

5. Control system according to claim 3, wherein the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle out of the information memory cannot be put out by output control when the information concerning the operation of motor vehicle was not transmitted within one of the selected time and a time lapse from the functional control to output control, whereby the time lapse is longer than the selected time.

6. Control system according to claim 1 wherein the output control includes a display for the optical illustration of the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle.

7. Control system according to claim 1, wherein the output control comprises an input device for the purpose of putting in a request for putting out and/or for optical illustration of the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle, including a control system according to claim 1.

9. Process for the control of a motor vehicle with an output control operable for putting out information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle and provided with a functional control separated in terms of space from the output control for the supply of the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, wherein the output control includes an information memory for storage of information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, the process including means for reading out of the information memory the information concerning operation of the motor vehicle, wherein

the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted by means of a communication link independently of a request for putting out the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle from the functional control to output control into the information memory, and

the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the functional control to the output control in the event of a change of the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle to the functional control.

10. Process according to claim 9, wherein the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted by means of a communication link from the functional control to the output control, into the information memory.

11. Process according to claim 9, wherein the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the functional control to the output control after expiration of a selected time.

12. Process according to claim 11, including monitoring within the selected time, whether the information concerning the operation of the motor vehicle, was transmitted from the functional control to the output control.