DE10064937A1 - Automatic computerized control system for vehicle seats, mirror positions, steering wheel position and pedal position has central computer module with inputs from large number of sensors - Google Patents

Abstract

The control circuit incorporates a central controller (1) with a memory (2). There are many inputs from position sensors (3) attached to the driver's seat and other pieces of equipment. There are further inputs from the ignition lock (4), an unlocking device (5) and inputs defining driving regime (6), e.g. on and off the road. There is an input for a confirmation signal from a store (7). The computer is connected to a display (8), which may be situated on the dashboard.

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement in a motor vehicle in which driver-specific settings of necessary vehicle components / functions such as seat position, interior and exterior mirror position, possibly steering wheel position, can be stored and, if necessary, can be called up for automatic restoration of the settings, characterized in that that several driving type-specific settings ( 6 ) of a driver can be selectively stored and retrieved if necessary.

It is known in the prior art to set the necessary vehicle components / functions such as seating position, interior and exterior mirror position, Steering wheel position to save by means of a so-called memory function. A such adjustment is made for only one driver and for only one particular drive type, namely the most common driving condition of the respective driver, e.g. B. for "city drive "or" long distance ". For the other type of driving as well as for others Driving types such as "driving off-road", "driving with a trailer" or "Driving with the top down" etc. must be the most comfortable or most appropriate respective settings changed by hand, d. H. new every time can be set. This means a lot of effort, being generally from For safety reasons it must be stopped.

The fundamentally the same applies if different drivers use the same vehicle to use.

The object of the present invention is to adjust the settings of the To make vehicle components more comfortable for a new driving style.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that several driving types specific settings of the necessary vehicle components / functions such as  Sitting position, inside and outside mirror position, possibly steering wheel position, of a driver can be selectively stored and called up when required.

Furthermore, other driver-specific and driving-type-specific settings can also be made useful vehicle components / functions such as heating / air conditioning / ventilation systems location, audio system, sunroof, convertible top, can be stored and called up as required his.

Driver-specific settings of several drivers can also be advantageously implemented be selectively storable and retrievable.

The settings made are saved by Be press at least one button.

The settings are also called up by actuating at least one Button and / or depending on the ignition key used.

For vehicles whose top can be opened, e.g. B. convertibles or roadsters, can a certain type of driving (convertible top open, convertible top closed) speaking driver-specific settings depending on the convertible top be storable and available. This retrieval can take place automatically. This option is basically also available for other types of driving, their pre are automatically detectable.

Further advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent now using an exemplary embodiment referring to the accompanying Drawing explained in more detail, the only figure schematically shows an arrangement in egg nem vehicle shows when saving vehicle components / functions can be saved and, if necessary, for automatic restoration of the settings can be called up manually or automatically.

In the figure, the positions of the vehicle components (seat position, interior and exterior mirror position, steering wheel position, temperature, air distribution, fan setting of the heating / air conditioning / ventilation system, volume, sound setting of the audio system, convertible top position, etc.) are shown in the form of position parameters 3 a Steuer ergerät (controller) 1 supplied. The respective positions can be set mechanically, manually or electronically by signaling to the corresponding respective actuators using the keyboard. A combination of position measurement variables which is regarded as comfortable or expedient by a driver for a specific driving type can be coded and stored in the memory 2 of the control unit 1 by means of at least one confirmation key 7 . At least the code of the current position size combination is shown on a display 8 . The code thus corresponds to driver- and driving-type-specific settings for at least necessary, expedient and helpful vehicle components and functions.

It is now possible to use a call button 5 to bring about a specific position size combination by entering / selecting the respective code. Several drivers can be assigned several specific position size combinations. However, it is also possible to assign a specific position size combination to the respective ignition key 4 , which is generally assigned to a specific driver, expediently the one that this driver uses most frequently. He can then, if he wishes one of the other stored position size combinations, call them up individually from the memory 2 using the corresponding code, which then triggers the automatic change of the corresponding positions.

For such driving types that are detectable, the retrieval of appropriate position size combinations from the memory 2 can be triggered automatically when the respective driving type is detected.

If a certain type of driving (eg "driving off-road", "driving with a trailer" or "driving with an open top", etc.) is detected by a corresponding detector 6, the correspondingly stored position variable combination is automatically set , In "driving off-road", for example, a steeper seat setting is desirable, in "driving with a trailer" a changed outer mirror position. When using vehicles whose roof or convertible top can be opened (convertibles, roadsters), ie when "driving with an open convertible top", "driving with an open sliding roof", one of the convertible top or sliding roof positions is, for example, a corresponding heating and / or Fan setting is important. An assigned code is expediently shown on the display 8 .

The function of the call key 5 and that of the confirmation key 7 can also be combined in one key. For example, pressing this button for a longer time then saves the current settings, pressing them briefly (in the same way as when operating a radio).

The advantage of this driver and driving type-specific storage of positions Size combinations consist of a significant improvement in comfort special ease of use. There can be a large number of complicated ones and time-consuming adjustments, for example, every time you open and close of the convertible top when changing drivers or changing the type of driving be made fluid.  

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

control unit

2

Storage

3

Positionsmeßgrößen

4

ignition key

5

recall key

6

Driving type detector

7

confirmation key

8th

display

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement in a motor vehicle in which driver-specific settings of necessary vehicle components / functions ( 3 ) such as seat position, interior and exterior mirror position, possibly steering wheel position, can be stored and, if necessary, called up for automatic restoration of the settings, characterized in that that several driving type-specific settings ( 6 ) of a driver can be selectively stored and can be called up if required. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, in the driving type-specific and driver-specific settings of helpful vehicle components / functions ( 3 ) such as heating / air conditioning / ventilation systems, audio system, sunroof, convertible top, can be stored and called up as required. 3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized, that driver-specific settings of several drivers can be stored selectively and are available. 4. Arrangement according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the settings are saved by pressing at least one key ( 7 ). 5. Arrangement according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the settings are retrieved by pressing at least one key ( 5 ). 6. Arrangement according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the retrieval of the settings depending on the ignition key used ( 4 ). 7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that in the case of driving types, their presence can be detected, which is such a driving type corresponding driver-specific settings when detecting the driving type are callable. 8. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that in vehicles whose top can be opened, for. B. convertibles or roadsters, driver-specific settings corresponding to this type of driving can be stored and called up from the top position.