Vehicle characteristic change system and method

• US 6,230,084 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Kijima, Takao, Sakamoto, Kiyoshi, Ohmura, Hiroshi, Takehara, Shin, Tachihata, Tetsuya, Izumi, Tomoji, Hirabayashi, Shigerumi, Nagata, Tomoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/655,281
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/49, 701/58, 701/59, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.7, 340/825.15, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 235/375, 235/376, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/99 Suspension element selection procedure depending on loading or performance requirements, e.g. selection of damper, spring or bush
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1873 Model Following
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1877 Adaptive Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/224 automatically, based on dangerous living style
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/704 predicting unorthodox driving conditions for safe or optimal driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/87 System configuration based on vehicle type or model
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/90 System Controller type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/119 including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle B60W10/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0004 In digital systems, e.g. discrete-time systems involving sampling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0005 Processor details or data handling, e.g. memory registers or chip architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0022 Gains, weighting coefficients or weighting functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0026 Lookup tables or parameter maps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0057 : Frequency analysis, spectral techniques or transforms
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0063 : Manual parameter input, manual setting means, manual initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 : Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0083 : Setting, resetting, calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 : Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 : Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 : Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 : Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 : Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/25 : Road altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 : Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/40 : Coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/40 : Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 : Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/12 : Differentials
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 : Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/007 : adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0221 : for selecting modes, i.e. input device for selecting between different modes with range selector F16H2059/082; for conjoint control B60W30/182
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0087 : Adaptive control, e.g. the control parameters adapted by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 : Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights

Abstract

A vehicle characteristic change system including characteristic information forming device for forming a characteristic information with which characteristics of an object vehicle are changed, information entry device for entering the characteristic information into the object vehicle, characteristic change device for changing the characteristics of the object vehicle in accordance with the characteristic information formed by the characteristic information forming means. Characteristics of a vehicle can be readily changed to meet a driver'"'"'s taste, driving condition, driving circumstances and the like with compact system and low cost.

Claims

1. A method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale comprising the steps of;

ordering a vehicle for a user from a manufacturer in response to the user'"'"'s request to buy the vehicle,

providing electronic devices in the vehicle with first characteristics,

providing the user with a device for recording data for forming second characteristics different from the first characteristics,

receiving the data for forming the second characteristics from the user,

transferring the data relating to the second characteristics to the vehicle to change the first characteristics of the electronic devices to the second characteristics when the vehicle is supplied from the manufacturer, and

providing the vehicle to the user.

2. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein the user employs a survey sheet for recording data with respect to modifying at least one of said first characteristics in order to form a second characteristic different from the correlated first characteristic, and using the survey sheet to transfer the data to the vehicle to modify to the second characteristic which satisfies the user'"'"'s need, when the vehicle is supplied from a manufacturer and provided to the user.

3. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein the user employs a second characteristic information collector including a removable memory device which is able to collect information of at least one of a use of the vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics in order to form second characteristics different from the first characteristics, receiving the removable memory from the user and transferring the information stored in the removable memory to the vehicle to modify to the second characteristic which satisfies the user'"'"'s need when the vehicle is supplied from the manufacturer and provided to the user.

4. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to transfer the data of the second characteristics obtained from the user to the vehicle when the vehicle is supplied from the manufacturer to the dealer so as to accomplish the modification of characteristics of the vehicle required by the user.

5. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 2 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to modify the vehicle to the second characteristics based on the data of the survey sheet prior to delivery of the vehicle to the user.

6. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data with respect to the second characteristic relates to one of information concerning engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

7. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein the data with respect to the second characteristic relates to one of drive experience and age, with control gain of the second characteristic being changed as the age or the drive experience is increased.

8. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 2 wherein the data with respect to the second characteristic relates to circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics of the user and wherein the survey sheet is a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto are provided.

9. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 4 wherein the characteristic entry device is constituted by a diagnostic device of a computer.

10. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 4 wherein the characteristic entry device is used by a dealer to transfer the data regarding the second characteristics based on a survey sheet.

11. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data relating to second characteristics are one of information concerning engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

12. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 1 wherein the second characteristics include data relating to drive experience or age, and control gain of corresponding electronic devices are modified to second characteristics as the age or the drive experience is increased.

13. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 2 wherein the data relates to at least one of a use a vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics, with the second characteristics being modified based on data recorded on a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto are provided.

14. The method for changing characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 4 wherein the characteristic entry device is detachably coupled to the vehicle to effect change of the first characteristics to the second characteristics.

15. A method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle to the needs, uses, desires or personal data of a purchaser comprising the steps of:

(1) obtaining a vehicle provided with controlling electronic devices, controllable by a vehicle computer, having first operating gain characteristics,

(2) determining, from a purchaser, data corresponding to second operating gain characteristics different from the first operating gain characteristics, that comply with the purchaser'"'"'s needs, uses, desires or personal data regarding the operation of the purchased vehicle, and incorporating the determined data in a computer readable medium,

(3) transferring the data onto the computer readable medium corresponding to the second operating gain characteristics to the controlling electronic devices of the vehicle via the vehicle computer to tune the vehicle to the second operating gain characteristics when the vehicle is delivered to the purchaser, and

(4) delivering the vehicle to the purchaser with the vehicle provided with the electronic devices tuned to the second operating gain characteristics.

16. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle to the needs, uses, desires or personal data of a purchaser according to claim 15 wherein the purchaser employs a survey sheet for recording data with respect to modifying at least one of said first operating gain characteristics in order to form a second operating gain characteristic different from the correlated first operating gain characteristic, and using a survey sheet to incorporate the data onto the computer readable medium.

17. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein the purchaser employs a second operating gain characteristic information collector that includes a removable memory device which is able to collect information of at least one of a use of the vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics in order to form second operating gain characteristics different from the first operating gain characteristics.

18. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to transfer the data on the computer readable medium of the second operating gain characteristics to the vehicle when the vehicle is received by a dealer from a supplier so as to accomplish the modification of characteristics of the vehicle as required by the purchaser.

19. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to modify the vehicle to the second operating gain characteristics based on a survey sheet prepared by the purchaser.

20. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data with respect to the second gain characteristic relates to one of information concerning engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

21. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein the data with respect to the second operating gain characteristic relates to one of drive experience and age, and the gain of the second operating gain characteristic is controlled according to the age or the drive experience of the purchaser.

22. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein the data with respect to the second operating gain characteristic relates to circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics of the purchaser and wherein a survey sheet in the form of a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto is provided.

23. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein a characteristic entry device is provided that is constituted by a diagnostic device of a computer.

24. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 23 wherein the characteristic entry device is used by a dealer to transfer the data regarding the second operating gain characteristics based on a purchaser survey sheet.

25. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data relating to second operating gain characteristics relate to one of engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

26. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein the second operating gain characteristics include data relating to drive experience or age, and control gain of corresponding electronic devices are modified to second operating gain characteristics proportional to the age or the drive experience.

27. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein the data relates to at least one of a use a vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics, with the second operating gain characteristics being modified based on data recorded on the computer readable medium derived from a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto were provided.

28. The method for tuning characteristics of a vehicle for sale according to claim 15 wherein a characteristic entry device is detachably coupled to the vehicle to effect change of the first operating gain characteristics to the second operating gain characteristics.

29. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers comprising the steps of:

(1) offering to a prospective purchaser a vehicle provided with electronic devices having first gain characteristics,

(2) contracting with the prospective purchaser for sale of the vehicle provided with the electronic devices modified to second gain characteristics that suit the needs, uses, desires, or personal data of the purchaser,

(3) obtaining the contracted for vehicle provided with electronic devices having said first gain characteristics from a supplier of such vehicles,

(4) determining, from the purchaser, data corresponding to second gain characteristics different from the first gain characteristics, that comply with the purchaser'"'"'s needs, uses, desires or personal data regarding the purchased vehicle,

(5) transferring the data corresponding to the second gain characteristics to the electronic devices of the vehicle to set the vehicle to the second gain characteristics when the vehicle is delivered to the purchaser, and

(6) delivering the vehicle to the purchaser with the vehicle provided with the electronic devices set to the second gain characteristics.

30. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the purchaser employs a survey sheet for recording data with respect to modifying at least one of said first gain characteristics in order to form a second gain characteristic different from the correlated first gain characteristic, and using the survey sheet to transfer the data to the computer readable medium.

31. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the purchaser employs a second gain characteristic information collector that includes a removable memory device which is able to collect information of at least one of a use of the vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics in order to form second gain characteristics different from the first gain characteristics.

32. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to transfer the data of the second gain characteristics on the computer readable medium to the vehicle when the vehicle is received by a dealer from a supplier so as to accomplish the modification of characteristics of the vehicle required by the purchaser.

33. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 further comprising a step of providing a characteristic entry device for a dealer'"'"'s use to modify the vehicle to the second gain characteristics based on a survey sheet prepared by the purchaser.

34. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data with respect to the second gain characteristic relates to one of engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

35. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the data with respect to the second gain characteristics relates to one of drive experience and an age, and the gain of the second gain characteristic is controlled to age or drive experience of the purchaser.

36. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the data with respect to the second characteristics relates to circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics of the purchaser, and wherein a survey sheet in the form of a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto is provided.

37. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein a characteristic entry device is provided that is constituted by a diagnostic device of a computer.

38. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein a characteristic entry device is used by a dealer to transfer the data regarding the second gain characteristics based on a purchaser survey sheet.

39. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein at least one of the electronic devices is one of an engine control device and an automatic transmission, and the data relating to second gain characteristics relates to one of engine output characteristics and shift pattern of the automatic transmission.

40. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the second gain characteristics include data relating to drive experience or age, and gain of corresponding electronic devices are modified to second gain characteristics proportional to the purchaser'"'"'s age or drive experience.

41. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein the data relates to at least one of a use a vehicle, circumstances of the use and favorite characteristics, with the second gain characteristics being modifications based on data recorded on the computer readable medium derived from a data entry card or sheet in which a plurality of item names and recording areas corresponding thereto were provided.

42. A method for merchandising vehicles to prospective purchasers according to claim 29 wherein a characteristic entry device is detachably coupled to the vehicle to effect change of the first gain characteristics to the second gain characteristics.