Vehicle control system and method
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle control system for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the motor vehicle control system comprising:
- a controller having at least one processor wherein the controller is operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the controller is operable to select said driving surface automatically;
wherein the controller is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and
wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the controller is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle control system for selecting a driving surface and for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on the selected driving surface, the system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the system is operable to select said driving surface automatically; wherein the system is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the system is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle control system for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the motor vehicle control system comprising:
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a controller having at least one processor wherein the controller is operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the controller is operable to select said driving surface automatically; wherein the controller is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the controller is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A control device for a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system being arranged to control a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the vehicle control system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the vehicle control system is operable to select said driving surface automatically, wherein the control device comprises:
a manual operating mode position and an automatic operating mode position, and wherein the control device is configured to be displaced between the manual operating mode position in which the control device can be manipulated by the user to select said driving surface and the automatic operating mode position in which the user is prevented from manipulating the control device to select said driving surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A control device for a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system being arranged to control a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the vehicle control system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the vehicle control system is operable to select said driving surface automatically, wherein the control device comprises:
a user operable input device configured to be rotated by the user in the manual operating mode thereby to select said driving surface and to be displaced axially by the user to switch between the manual operating mode and the automatic operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle comprising:
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a motor vehicle control system for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the motor vehicle control system comprising; a controller having at least one processor wherein the controller is operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select sais driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the controller is operable to select said driving surface automatically; wherein the controller is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the controller is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode.
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18. A method of controlling a motor vehicle system, comprising:
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controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, in a manual operating mode the method comprising allowing a user to select said driving surface and in an automatic operating mode the method comprising selecting said driving surface automatically; switching between said manual and automatic operating modes in response to reception of a user input by means of a user-operable input device; and selecting a default subsystem configuration mode when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is requested via the user-operable input device.
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19. A vehicle comprising:
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a control device for a vehicle control system arranged to control a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, the vehicle control system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the vehicle control system is operable to select said driving surface automatically, wherein the control device comprises; a user operable input device configured to be rotated by the user in the manual operating mode thereby to select said driving surface and to be displaced axially by the user to switch between the manual operating mode and the automatic operating mode.
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20. A vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle control system arranged to control a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on a selected driving surface, and the vehicle control system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the vehicle control system is operable to select said driving surface automatically; and a control device for the vehicle control system comprising a manual operating mode position and an automatic operating mode position and configured to be displaced between the manual operating mode position in which the control device can be manipulated by the user to select said driving surface and the automatic operating mode position in which the user is prevented from manipulating the control device to select said driving surface.
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Specification