Process for assisting a user of a motor vehicle when operating components of the motor vehicle as well as a pertaining system

• US 6,344,793 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Schneider, Matthias, Geck, Berthold
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/512,059
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/996, 340/995, 340/989, 340/988, 340/961, 340/971, 364/424.05, 364/424.01, 364/521
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver

Abstract

In a process for assisting a user of a motor vehicle in operating components of the motor vehicle, operating conditions of the components are switched by actuating of operating elements. An assistance request element is also provided. Operation of the assistance request element causes a subsequent operation of an operating element only to display information concerning the operating condition which can be switched (in the normal operation) by means of this operating element.

Claims

1. Process for assisting a user of a motor vehicle in the operation of a plurality of components of the motor vehicle, which components have operating conditions or functions that can be influenced by actuation of a corresponding plurality of respective operating elements associated therewith, said process comprising:

providing an assistance request element in said vehicle, which assistance request element is operable to cause communication concerning the nature of a function or condition which can be influenced by actuating any selected one of said operating elements;

after an actuation of the assistance request element, emitting information concerning the nature of an operating condition or function which, in a normal operation mode, can be influenced by a particular operating element that is selected by actuating such particular operating element next following actuation of the assistance request element, without said next actuation influencing said operating condition or function associated with said particular operating element.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the information is emitted on a display.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the information is emitted by means of a voice output.

4. Process according to claim 1, wherein information can be emitted only with respect to a limited number of the operating elements of the vehicle, operating elements which are included in said limited number of operating elements being separately identified by a characteristic feature.

5. System for assisting a user of a motor vehicle in operating components of the motor vehicle, which components have operating conditions or functions that can be influenced by actuation of operating elements of the components, comprising:

an assistance request element which is actuatable to cause the vehicle to enter a query mode, in which a subsequent actuation of a particular operating element causes information to be emitted concerning an operating condition which can be switched, in a normal operation mode, by actuation of the particular operating element, without said actuation of said particular operating element influencing an operating condition or function associated with said particular operating element.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein the assistance request element is manually operable and has both a keying and a locking function.

7. A method of assisting a vehicle operator in controlling a plurality of vehicle functions which can be influenced by actuation of a corresponding plurality of operating elements in a normal mode of operation, comprising:

said vehicle operator enabling a function query mode, by actuating an assistance request element;

during said function query mode, said vehicle operator thereafter actuating at least one operating element;

in response to actuation of said at least one operating element during said function query mode, displaying information concerning a vehicle function which can be influenced by each of the at least one actuated operating element; and

terminating said function query mode, whereby subsequent actuation of an operating element influences a corresponding vehicle function.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said function query mode terminates automatically upon actuation of a single operating element following actuation of the assistance request element.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

said actuation of said assistance request element locks in said function query mode until said assistance request element is actuated once again; and

for each operating element actuated during said function query mode, a corresponding vehicle function is displayed.

10. Process according to claim 7, wherein information can be emitted only with respect to a limited number of the operating elements of the vehicle, operating elements which are included in said limited number of operating elements being separately identified by a characteristic feature.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said characteristic feature is shape.

12. A method for displaying information concerning functionality of a plurality of manually actuatable switch elements for influencing operation of associated systems in a vehicle that has an interface for communicating information to a vehicle user said method comprising:

said vehicle user performing an act constituting a request for assistance information;

following said request, said vehicle user manually actuating a selected switch element;

manual actuation of said selected switch element causing said interface to communicate information concerning functionality of said selected switch element, without said manual actuation influencing operation of a vehicle system associated with said selected switch element.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said request for assistance has two alternative modes:

in a first mode, only a next successive actuation of a selected switch element causes a communication of functionality information without influencing operation of associated vehicle systems;

in a second mode, said request is continuing, and each successive actuation of respective selected switch elements while said request continues causes communication of functionality information without influencing operation of associated vehicle systems.

14. Apparatus for displaying information concerning functionality of a plurality of manually actuatable switch elements for influencing operation of associated motor vehicle systems, comprising:

an assistance request element; and

interface means for communicating to a vehicle user information concerning functionality of respective switch elements;

wherein actuation of a switch element following actuation of the assistance request element causes said interface means to communicate information concerning functionality of said actuated switch element, without said actuation influencing operation of a vehicle system associated with said actuated switch element.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein actuation of said assistance request element has two alternative modes:

in a first mode, only a next successive actuation of a switch element causes a communication of functionality information without influencing operation of the associated vehicle system;

in a second mode, actuation of said assistance request element is locked, and each successive actuation of respective switch elements while said assistance request element is locked, causes communication of functionality information without influencing operation of associated vehicle systems.

16. A vehicle system control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of manually actuatable switch elements for influencing operation of associated vehicle systems;

an assistance request element; and

interface means for communicating to a vehicle user information concerning functionality of respective switch elements;

wherein actuation of a switch element following actuation of the assistance request element causes said interface means to communicate information concerning functionality of said actuated switch element, without influencing operation of a vehicle system associated with said actuated switch element.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein actuation of said assistance request element has two alternative modes:

in a first mode, only a next successive actuation of a switch element causes a communication of functionality information without influencing operation of the associated vehicle system;

in a second mode, actuation of said assistance request element is locked, and each successive actuation of respective switch elements while said assistance request element is locked, causes communication of functionality information without influencing operation of associated vehicle systems.