Method for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle

• US 9,275,501 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Gross, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US14/520,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0064 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit, e.g. remote keypad or mobile phone
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a function of a motor vehicle (18) employs a use module (4) at a storage location (6, 8) for a device outside the motor vehicle (18). The use module (4) and the storage location (6, 8) have recognition interfaces (10, 12, 14). The motor vehicle (18) has a first communication module (22), and a second communication module (16) is provided for the use module (4) and for the storage location (6, 8). The recognition interfaces make contact when the use module (4) is at the storage location (6, 8). If a storage location (28, 32) change is registered for the use module (4), a message with an instruction to perform the function of the motor vehicle (18) is transferred from the second communication module (16) for the use module (4) and the storage location (6, 8) to the first communication module (22) of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a function of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a motor vehicle, a first storage device, and a portable use module, the motor vehicle configured to include a first communication module, and the first storage device being assigned to a first stationary location that is separate from the motor vehicle;

providing a second communication module in at least one of the first storage device and the portable use module;

sensing whether the portable use module is within a predefined range of the first storage device;

after sensing that the portable use module is within a predefined range of the first storage device, sensing when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device; and

transmitting a control signal from the second communication module to the first communication module when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device;

wherein the control signal includes an instruction to control a function of the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a first recognition interface in the first storage device;

providing a second recognition interface in the portable use module; and

sensing the proximity of the portable use module to the first storage device when the first recognition interface communicates with the second recognition interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device includes the step of registering a change of storage location for the portable use module.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a second storage device in the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of the motor vehicle includes at least one of switching on an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle, switching on a heating system of the motor vehicle, and charging an electrical energy store of an electric motor of the motor vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second storage device being assigned to a second stationary location that is separate from the motor vehicle; and

providing a third communication module in at least one of the second storage device and the portable use module.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the proximity of the portable use module to the first storage device includes the step of sensing when the second recognition interface makes contact with the first recognition interface.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the proximity of the portable use module to the first storage device includes the step of sensing the exchange of electromagnetic waves between the first recognition interface and the second recognition interface.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device further includes the step of sensing when the portable use module is transported past the first storage device and the first recognition interface and second recognition interface communicate with each other for at least a predefined time period.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the change of storage location includes a first state when the portable use module is positioned at the first storage device assigned to the first stationary location and a second state when the portable use module is positioned within the motor vehicle.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining a time at which the change of storage location is carried out.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of predefining a type of function to be controlled on the motor vehicle depending on at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of predefining a time when the function of the motor vehicle is to be controlled depending on at least one characteristic of the change of storage location.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

after sensing that the portable use module is within a predefined range of the second storage device, sensing when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the second storage device; and

transmitting a control signal from the third communication module to the first communication module when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the second storage device;

wherein the control signal includes an instruction to control a function of the motor vehicle.

15. A system for controlling a function of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a first communication module configured within the motor vehicle;

a first storage device allocated to a first stationary location that is separate from the motor vehicle;

a portable use module;

a second communication module configured in at least one of the first storage device and the portable use module; and

a recognition device configured to sense when the portable use module is within a predefined range of the first storage device and to sense when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device;

wherein the second communication module is configured to transmit a control signal to the first communication module when the recognition device senses that the portable use module has been moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device; and

wherein the control signal includes an instruction to control a function of the motor vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the recognition device includes a first recognition interface in the first storage device and a second recognition interface in the portable use module, and wherein the first and second recognition interfaces communicate with each other to sense the proximity of the portable use module to the first storage device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first stationary location is one of a house, a workplace, and a passageway.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a second storage device disposed in the motor vehicle.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the function of the motor vehicle includes at least one of switching on an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle, switching on a heating system of the motor vehicle, and charging an electrical energy store of an electric motor of the motor vehicle.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the portable use module is configured as one of a mobile phone, a smartphone, and a key associated with the motor vehicle.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second recognition interfaces are configured to make contact with each other via a mechanical connection.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second recognition interfaces are configured to exchange electromagnetic waves with each other.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a third storage device allocated to a second stationary location that is separate from the motor vehicle.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a third communication module disposed in at least one of the third storage device and the portable use module.

25. A method for controlling a function of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a motor vehicle, a first storage device, and a portable use module, the motor vehicle having an electric motor as a drive device for the motor vehicle and including a first communication module, and the first storage device being assigned to a first stationary location that is separate from the motor vehicle;

providing a second communication module in at least one of the first storage device and the portable use module;

sensing whether the portable use module is within a predefined range of the first storage device;

after sensing that the portable use module is within a predefined range of the first storage device, sensing when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device; and

transmitting a control signal from the second communication module to the first communication module when the portable use module is moved out of the predefined range of the first storage device;

wherein the control signal includes an instruction to control a function of the motor vehicle.