Radio remote control system for controlling vehicle functions of a motor vehicle

• US 9,302,675 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Bartelt, Joerg, Wagatha, Helmut, Schilling, Simon, Kuntz, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/468,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 340 564- 567, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 Security, fault tolerance

Abstract

A radio remote control for controlling at least one first vehicle function that is relevant for functional safety, and further vehicle functions not related to functional safety. The remote control generates and wirelessly transmits transmission data to the vehicle for implementing the first vehicle function in response to a user input and a security information, provided upon actuation of a user interface and a security input actuator, respectively, by the user. In the case of a user input that is associated with the first vehicle function, the security information is only used to generate transmission data that causes the first vehicle function to be carried out if the security input actuator was actuated.

Claims

1. A radio remote control for controlling a first vehicle function of a vehicle that is relevant for functional safety and a second vehicle function of the vehicle that is not relevant for functional safety, the radio remote control comprising:

a user interface configured to activate the first function and obtain user input corresponding to the first vehicle function to be activated;

a transmitter logic controller for processing the user input; and

a security device configured to safeguard the first vehicle function, the security device including;

a security input actuator configured to be actuated in order for the first vehicle function to be carried out, and

a security circuit coupled to the security input actuator and configured to include security information,

wherein when the user input corresponding to the first vehicle function is obtained, the security information is only used for generating transmission data that causes the first vehicle function to be carried out if the security input actuator was actuated.

2. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation, and remains in this first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out, and wherein the remote control is configured such that use of the security information for the generation of the transmission data is precluded when the first state is left.

3. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is configured such that, upon actuation of the security input actuator, the transmission logic controller receives the security information and generates the transmission data using the security information and the user input associated with the first vehicle function.

4. The radio remote control according to claim 3, wherein the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation, and remains in this first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out, and wherein in the remote control is further configured such that use of the security information for the generation of the transmission data is precluded when the first state is left, and such that the transmitter logic controller loses the security information when the security input actuator leaves the first state.

5. The radio remote control according to claim 4, wherein the security device further comprises:

a reset circuit that is coupled to the security input actuator and is configured to generate a reset pulse, wherein the transmitter logic controller loses the security information when the reset pulse is triggered.

6. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is configured such that:

the security circuit generates first data, using the security information, or provides the security information as first data upon actuation of the security input actuator;

the transmitter logic controller generates second data using the user input that is associated with the first vehicle function, or the user input associated with the first vehicle function corresponds to the second data; and

the transmission data result from the first data and the second data.

7. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is configured such that:

the security circuit generates first data, using the security information and using second data upon actuation of the security input actuator;

the transmitter logic controller generates the second data using the user input that is associated with the first vehicle function, or the user input associated with the first vehicle function corresponds to the second data; and

the transmission data to be sent results from at least one of the first data and the second data, or the transmission data corresponds to the first data.

8. The radio remote control according to claim 6, wherein:

the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation, and remains in the first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out, the remote control is configured such that use of the security information for the generation of the transmission data is precluded when the first state is left, and the remote control is configured such that the security circuit no longer generates or outputs first data using the security information when the security input actuator leaves the first state.

9. The radio remote control according to claim 7, wherein:

the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation, and remains in the first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out,

the remote control is configured such that use of the security information for the generation of the transmission data is precluded when the first state is left, and

the remote control is configured such that the security circuit no longer generates or outputs first data using the security information when the security input actuator leaves the first state.

10. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein

the transmitter logic controller generates second data using the user input associated with the first vehicle function;

the security circuit is coupled to the security input actuator such that the security information is enabled for processing within the security circuit upon actuation of the security input actuator; and

the security circuit is configured to generate the transmission data to be sent when the security information has been enabled using the security information and using the second data.

11. The radio remote control according to claim 10, wherein

the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation, and remains in this first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out;

the remote control is configured such that use of the security information for the generation of the transmission data is precluded when the first state is left, and

the remote control is configured such that the security circuit loses the enabled state for use of the security information when the security input actuator leaves the first state.

12. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the security input actuator is a security switching element, and the remote control comprises a first button which includes the security switching element.

13. The radio remote control according to claim 12, wherein the first button, in addition to the security switching element, comprises a further switching element that is used to obtain the user input that is associated with the first vehicle function, wherein the first is configured such that both the security switching element and the further switching element are actuated upon actuation of the first button.

14. The radio remote control according to claim 12, wherein the remote control comprises at least one further button, in addition to the first button, and the further button is used as the user interface for activating the first vehicle function.

15. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises:

a main body; and

an operating part comprising at least one operating element, wherein the remote control is configured such that

in a hidden state of the operating part, the at least one operating element of the operating part is hidden and cannot be operated,

by movement of the operating part in relation to the main body, in particular by pushing out, pulling out or folding the operating part, the operating part can be transferred from the hidden state into an open state of the operating part, in which the at least one operating element is visible and can be operated, and

the security input actuator is actuated by the movement of the operating part in relation to the main body.

16. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein

the security input actuator is transferred into a first state upon actuation and remains in this first state while the first vehicle function is being carried out;

the remote control is configured such that use of the security information for the generation of such transmission data is precluded when the first state is left; and

the remote control is configured such that the security input actuator is to be maintained in the first state by the user while the first vehicle function is being carried out, in particular by the user applying a force.

17. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the first vehicle function is a parking function for the automated maneuvering of a passenger car into or out of a parking space.

18. The radio remote control according to claim 1, wherein the security information is security information having a length of at least 16 bits.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to:

receive the transmission data from the radio remote control according to claim 1;

carry out the first vehicle function that is relevant for functional safety, and the one or more further second vehicle functions, in a remotely controllable manner; and

only carry out the first vehicle function when it has been confirmed, based on a check carried out by the receiver, that the received transmission data was generated by the radio remote control using the security information.

20. A radio receiver configured to:

receive the transmission data from the radio remote control according to claim 1;

carry out the first vehicle function that is relevant for functional safety, and the one or more further second vehicle functions, in a remotely controllable manner; and

only carry out the first vehicle function when it has been confirmed, based on a check carried out by the radio receiver, that the received transmission data was generated by the radio remote control using the security information.