Centralized control and management system for automobiles

• US 7,512,495 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/650,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

In a control and management system for automobiles, a central processor in the system connects traditionally unrelated vehicle subsystems together to realize synergistic functions such as smart driving, automatic parking, etc. A master interface having a display is employed in the system to help a user control and manage the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the system including a display element, the vehicle having front, back, left and right sides thereof, the method comprising:

allowing a user to set a first desired lateral separation between the left side of the vehicle and a left object outside the vehicle, and a second desired lateral separation between the right side of the vehicle and a right object outside the vehicle;

showing, on the display element, a representation of the vehicle and representations of the left and right objects outside the vehicle, separations from the representation of the vehicle from the respective representations of the left and right objects indicating the first and second desired lateral separations, respectively;

sensing one or more detectable objects alongside the vehicle;

determining a first lateral separation between the left side of the vehicle and one or more sensed objects, and a second lateral separation between the right side of the vehicle and one or more sensed objects; and

providing an alert when at least one the first and second lateral separations is less than a respective one of the first and second desired lateral separations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second desired lateral separations is a measure of a distance.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second desired separations are prescribed by a manufacturer of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing one or more indicators manipulatable to set the first and second desired lateral separations.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more detectable objects include another vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert includes an audio alert.

7. A system for use in a vehicle, the vehicle having front, back, left and right sides thereof, the system comprising:

an interface for setting a first desired lateral separation between the left side of the vehicle and a left object outside the vehicle, and a second desired lateral separation between the right side of the vehicle and a right object outside the vehicle;

a display element for showing thereon a representation of the vehicle and representations of the left and right objects outside the vehicle, separations from the representation of the vehicle from the respective representations of the left and right objects indicating the first and second desired lateral separations, respectively;

a detecting device for sensing one or more detectable objects alongside the vehicle;

a processing element configured to determine a first lateral separation between the left side of the vehicle and one or more sensed objects, and a second lateral separation between the right side of the vehicle and one or more sensed objects; and

an output device for providing an alert when at least one of the first and second lateral separations is less than a respective one of the first and second desired lateral separations.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first and second desired lateral separations is a measure of a distance.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second desired lateral separations are prescribed by a manufacturer of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein one or more indicators are provided, which are manipulatable to set the first and second desired lateral separations.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the interface is used for manipulating the one or more indicators.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface incorporates touch-screen technology.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the one or more detectable objects include another vehicle.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the alert includes an audio alert.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein the detecting device incorporates radar technology.