Method and device for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a motor vehicle

• US 6,956,470 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Heise, Gilbert, Busse, Gerald, Dirksen, Susanne, Lilienthal, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/070,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/933, 340/426.15, 340/461, 340/10.6, 701/1, 701/29, 345/173, 345/349
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities

Abstract

In a method and device for actively assisting a vehicle driver in a motor vehicle by at least one control device and a data entry and display unit, the control device may access data of vehicle state-relevant sensors and of control devices and/or comfort control devices and/or internal or external databases.

Claims

1. A method for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a motor vehicle using at least one control unit and an input and output unit, the control unit configured to access data of sensors and control units relevant to a condition of the motor vehicle and to transmit control commands to the control units and devices configured for external communication, comprising the steps of:

detecting a critical vehicle condition by the control unit by evaluating the data of the sensors and the control units;

generating a list of possible actions for the motor vehicle driver in response to the critical vehicle condition detected in the detecting step;

displaying the detected critical vehicle condition and the list of possible actions of the motor vehicle driver on a display unit of the input and output unit; and

executing an action selected by the motor vehicle driver using the control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the critical vehicle condition includes an engine temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the critical vehicle condition includes an engine-oil level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the list of possible actions includes at least one of shutting off the engine, calling a garage, and ignoring.

5. A method for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a motor vehicle using at least one control unit and an input and output unit, the control unit configured to access data of comfort control units and to transmit control commands to the comfort control units, comprising the steps of:

manually activating the method by the motor vehicle driver;

displaying an input prompt on a display unit of the input and output unit relating to which comfort setting should be changed;

context-sensitive and preference-sensitive compiling of at least one of operational settings and control elements relevant to the input prompt on the display unit using the control unit; and

executing input control commands.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the display unit includes a touch-sensitive screen.

7. A method for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a motor vehicle using at least one control unit and an input and output unit, the control unit configured to access at least one of an internal database and an external database, comprising the steps of:

manually activating the method by the motor vehicle driver;

displaying a list of possible recommendations on a display unit of the input and output unit;

executing a context-sensitive and a preference-sensitive interrogation dialog to ascertain a driver command;

displaying possible actions performable in response to the ascertained driver command; and

executing an action selected by the motor vehicle driver using the control unit.

8. A device for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one control unit configured to evaluate detected conditions critical to the motor vehicle; and

an input and output unit configured to detect and display conditions critical to the motor vehicle using the control unit, to generate and display a list of possible actions of the motor vehicle driver in response to the detected conditions critical to the motor vehicle as an input option with the condition critical to the motor vehicle;

wherein the control unit is configured to perform a selected input option.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one other control unit of the motor vehicle by a CAN bus.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the display unit includes a touch screen.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the input and output unit includes an input device, the input device including at least one of a voice-recognition unit and a bidirectional, rotary pressure transducer.

12. A device for actively assisting a motor vehicle driver in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one control unit configured to acquire data of comfort control units and to control the comfort control units; and

an input and output unit including a display unit configured to display input prompts for selecting a comfort setting using the control unit, the display unit configured to display at least one of operational settings and control elements relative to selected comfort settings in a context-sensitive and preference-sensitive manner;

wherein the control unit is configured to execute input control commands for the at least one of the operational settings and the control elements.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one other control unit of the motor vehicle by a CAN bus.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the display unit includes a touch screen.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the input and output unit includes an input device, the input device including at least one of a voice-recognition unit and a bidirectional, rotary pressure transducer.