Method for operating a motor vehicle, control device, and computer program product

• US 9,707,970 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kropf, Thomas, Mueller, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz, Angela
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/055,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20160264147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method for operating a motor vehicle, and to a control device for carrying out the method and a computer program product having program code for carrying out the method. In order to improve the safety of use of the motor vehicle, it is provided that functions of the motor vehicle are enabled as a function of stored data relating to the driver.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle, comprising:

identifying, by a control device of the motor vehicle based on an output from a sensor of the motor vehicle, a driver; and

at least one of enabling or modifying, by the control device outputting a control signal to at least one other device of the vehicle, at least one function of the motor vehicle as a function of stored data relating to the identified driver, the stored data including a capability value representing a capability of the identified driver when using the at least one function, the at least one function being enabled or modified as a function of the capability value.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes a driving function of the motor vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one function includes a partly automated or fully automatic change of lane.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one function includes a partly automated or fully automatic passing maneuver.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one function includes no-hands driving.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one function includes a limiting of the maximum speed of the motor vehicle.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is operated in different operating modes as a function of the stored data relating to the identified driver, and the operating modes each include a plurality of the at least one function.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the capability value is repeatedly updated.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the capability value is updated as a function of whether the driver has used the enabled or modified functions of the motor vehicle in accordance with predefined requirements.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.

10. A method for operating a motor vehicle, comprising:

identifying, by a control device of the motor vehicle based on an output from a sensor of the motor vehicle, a driver; and

at least one of enabling or modifying, by the control device outputting a control signal to at least one other device of the vehicle, a function of the motor vehicle as a function of stored data relating to the identified driver, wherein the function of the motor vehicle is enabled in partial steps.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the stored data relating to the identified driver includes a capability value representing a capability of the identified driver when using the at least one function, the at least one function being enabled or modified as a function of the capability value.

12. A control device for a motor vehicle, the control device configured to:

identify a driver; and

at least one of enable or modify at least one function of the motor vehicle as a function of stored data relating to the identified driver, the stored data including a capability value representing a capability of the identified driver when using the at least one function, the at least one function being enabled or modified as a function of the capability value.

16. The control device of claim 12, wherein the driver is identified based on an output from a sensor of the motor vehicle.

17. The control device of claim 12, wherein the at least one function is enabled or modified by outputting a control signal to at least one other device of the motor vehicle.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having program instructions, which when executed by a data processing device cause the data processing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

identifying a driver; and

at least one of enabling or modifying at least one function of the motor vehicle as a function of stored data relating to the identified driver, the stored data including a capability value representing a capability of the identified driver when using the at least one function, the at least one function being enabled or modified as a function of the capability value.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the driver is identified based on an output from a sensor of the motor vehicle.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one function is enabled or modified by outputting a control signal to at least one other device of the motor vehicle.