Control System For A Motor Vehicle And Method For Controlling At Least One Vehicle Function Of A Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a control system for a motor vehicle. The control system includes at least a detection device which detects by wireless transmission at least one position of respective portable key elements relative to the motor vehicle and which determines by wireless transmission for which of the respective portable key elements the position has been detected. A control device controls respective vehicle functions in dependence on the respective detected position of a first key element and/or a second key element, and the control device controls respective vehicle functions for substantially equal positions of the first and second key elements with a first parameter set in case of the first key element and to control respective vehicle functions with a second parameter set in case of the second key element. The first parameter set and the second parameter set differ from each other.

Claims

1. A control system for a motor vehicle, the control system comprising: a first portable key element; a second portable key element; a detection device configured to detect, by wireless transmission, at least one position of the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element relative to the motor vehicle and configured to determine, by wireless transmission, from which of the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element the detected position has been detected; and a control device configured to control respective vehicle functions in dependence on the detected position of the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element, wherein the control device is configured to control the respective vehicle functions for substantially equal positions of the first portable key element and second portable key element with a first parameter set in case of the first portable key element, wherein the control device is configured to control the respective vehicle functions with a second parameter set in case of the second portable key element, and wherein the first parameter set and the second parameter set differ from each other.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the respective vehicle functions are unlocking and/or opening respective access elements, activating and/or adjusting a ventilation system, adjusting respective vehicle seats, activating an ignition and/or starting an engine, and/or authorizing a use of vehicle functions.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the first parameter set comprises a first set of vehicle functions, wherein the second parameter set comprises a second set of vehicle functions, and wherein the first set of vehicle functions and the second set of vehicle functions differ from each other by at least one of the respective vehicle functions of the motor vehicle.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the first parameter set comprises a first set of control commands for the respective vehicle functions, wherein the second parameter set comprises a second set of control commands for the respective vehicle functions, and wherein the first set of control commands and the second set of control commands differ from each other in at least one control command.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to only control the respective vehicle functions in dependence on the detected position of the second portable key element when at least one predetermined position of the first portable key element has been detected substantially simultaneously or in a timely fashion.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured so that the first parameter set and the second parameter set is adjustable by the first portable key element and/or a central control element.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured so that only the second parameter set or no parameter set are adjustable by the second portable key element.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured so that it is adjustable by means of the first portable key element and/or by means of a central control element, which one of the first parameter set and the second parameter set is adjustable.

9. A method for controlling at least one vehicle function of a motor vehicle, comprising: detecting a position of a first portable key element and/or a second portable key element by wireless transmission; determining from which of the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element the detected position was detected and/or assigning the detected positions to the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element; and controlling respective vehicle functions in dependence on the detected positions of the first portable key element and/or the second portable key element, wherein, when the detected positions of the first portable key element and the second portable key element are equal, the respective vehicle functions are controlled with a first parameter set in case of the first portable key element and the respective vehicle functions are controlled with a second parameter set in case of the second portable key element, and wherein the first parameter set and the second parameter set differ from each other.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first parameter set and the second parameter set each comprises a set of vehicle functions, wherein the first parameter set differs from the second parameter set by at least one vehicle function which is controlled, and/or wherein the first parameter set and the second parameter set each comprises a set of control commands, wherein the first parameter set differs from the second parameter set by at least one control command.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the respective vehicle functions are only controlled in dependence on the detected position of the second portable key element in combination with the detected position of the first portable key element and the respective vehicle functions are controlled in dependence on the detected position of the first portable key element without combination with the detected position of the second portable key element.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first parameter set and the second parameter set is adjusted, wherein a respective adjustment of the first parameter set can be adjusted exclusively by means of the first portable key element and/or a control element of the motor vehicle and/or wherein a respective adjustment of the second parameter set is set by means of the first portable key element, the second portable key element and/or a control element of the motor vehicle.

13. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation system is an air conditioning system the vehicle function is a driving function accessed by unlocking an immobilizer.

14. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle function is a driving function accessed by unlocking an immobilizer.

15. The control system according to claim 8, wherein the control system is configured so that it is adjustable by the first portable key element and/or by a central control element, which part of the first parameter set and the second parameter set are adjustable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates in a schematic view a control system for a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0043] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic view a control system 10 for a motor vehicle 12. The motor vehicle 12 comprises a driver's door 14, a passenger door 16, two rear side passenger doors 18 and a boot lid 20 as access elements. The control system 10 also comprises a first key element 22 and a second key element 24, which are each configured as a smartphone. The first key element 22 is carried by a first person 26 and the second key element 24 by a second person 28.

[0044] The control system 10 also comprises a detection device 30, which in this case is part of the motor vehicle 12. The detection device 30 is configured to detect at least one position of the respective portable key elements 22, 24 relative to the motor vehicle 12 by wireless transmission. In addition, the detection device 30 is configured to determine, also by wireless transmission, of which of the respective portable key elements 22, 24 the position has been detected. An assigned position of the respective key elements 22, 24 is thus detected. For this purpose, the detection device 30 has, for example, three antennas 32 by means of which the position of the respective key elements 22, 24 can be determined by means of wireless transmission triangulation.

[0045] The control system 10 further comprises a control device 34, which is configured to control respective vehicle functions of the motor vehicle 12 as a function of respective detected positions of the first and/or second key element 22, 24. The control device 34 is presently also arranged in the motor vehicle 12. An exemplary vehicle function is an automatic opening of the respective access elements 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the motor vehicle 12. This enables automatic access to the motor vehicle 12 when the respective person 26, 28 approaches.

[0046] The control device 34 is configured to control respective vehicle functions for substantially equal positions of the first and second key elements 22, 24 with a first parameter set in case of the first key element 22 and respective vehicle functions with a second parameter set in case of the second key element 24, wherein the first parameter set and the second parameter set differ from each other. This makes it possible to configure an automatic reaction of the motor vehicle 12 to an approach of different persons or different key elements differently according to respective user preferences.

[0047] The essentially same position can be specified with respective tolerance deviation and/or respective detection ranges. These tolerance deviations and/or detection ranges can be specific to the vehicle function. FIG. 1 shows four detection areas 36, 38, 40 and 42, which are each assigned to one access element 14, 16 and 18, with dashed lines. A detection of a key element in one of these areas is defined as the same position for the automatic control of the access elements 14, 16 and 18, independent of an actual spatial position.

[0048] These detection zones 36, 38, 40 and 42 are exclusively intended for the automatic control of these access elements 14, 16 and 18. If a position of a key element in one of these detection areas 36, 38, 40 and 42 is detected and optionally additionally a movement towards the respective assigned access element 14, 16 and 18 is detected, the corresponding access element is automatically opened by the control device 34 in order to enable convenient entry into motor vehicle 12.

[0049] In the present case, the person in question is, for example, an elderly person who prefers a particularly wide opening angle of the respective access elements when entering the vehicle. Accordingly, when the first key element 22 is detected, the corresponding access element can be opened wide, in accordance with this user preference. The person 28, for example, is a younger person who prefers a smaller opening angle of the respective access elements so that they can be closed quickly and easily after entering the vehicle. This user preference can also be taken into account in the automatic control by the control device 34.

[0050] In addition, control system 10 can provide a hierarchical structure for vehicle function control. For example, person 26 is the owner of motor vehicle 12, whereas person 28 is merely a driver hired for a short time to cover a longer distance. For this purpose, person 26 has assigned person 28 to drive the car using their smartphone 22 or key element 22. During the hiring, a digital key was transmitted from the smartphone 22 to the smartphone 24 or the second key element 24 of person 28, whereby the smartphone 24 was configured as the second key element 24. The parameter sets of the control device 34 are configured in such a way that respective vehicle functions are only controlled upon detection of the key element 24 if the first key element 22 has also been detected in a predetermined position relative to the vehicle 12, such as within a minimum distance. This prevents unauthorized access of person 28 to motor vehicle 12 in the absence of the owner 26.

[0051] In the example shown, both person 26 and person 28 with their assigned key elements 22, 24 are in the same area 42, which is assigned to the passenger door 16. The key elements 22, 24 are therefore in essentially the same position with respect to the vehicle function of an access control system. By detecting the first key element 22 in this detection area 42 and based on the hiring of the driver 28, the control device 34 determines that the person 26 wants to enter as a passenger and accordingly opens the passenger door 16 automatically. Since person 28 was classified system-internal as a driver, such control of the vehicle functions would not further increase comfort or be meaningful despite the presence of person 28 with the second key element 20 24 in the same detection area 42. By hiring person 28 as driver, however, a corresponding assigned parameter set can be configured so that when the second key element 24 is detected in the vicinity of motor vehicle 12, i.e. also in detection range 42, driver's door 14 is categorically always opened automatically. In addition, starting the engine can be enabled as an additional vehicle function so that the driver or person 28 can start the vehicle immediately after entering motor vehicle 12.

[0052] In addition, by detecting the first key element 22, it is also possible, for example, to start and set an air conditioning system in motor vehicle 12 according to the user preferences of the person 26. Due to the hierarchical structure, the user preferences of person 26 can take precedence over the user preferences of person 28 regarding the air conditioning system.

[0053] The person 26 can preferably configure their user preferences directly with the first key element 22. This configuration allows the respective parameter sets to be adjusted so that a corresponding automatic reaction of the motor vehicle 12 to a position determination of the first key element 22 can be set. Preferably, the first key element 22 can be used to configure the parameter sets assigned to both the first key element 22 and the second key element 24. The second key element 24, on the other hand, can preferably only be used to adjust the parameter sets assigned to the second key element 24. Preferably, the configurability of the parameter set assigned to the second key element 24 is restricted for the second key element 24 and/or respective restrictions can be configured by the first key element 22, so that the driver who is only temporarily hired can only store desired preferences, such as adjusting the driver seat to his needs.

[0054] The control system 10 increases the convenience of using a motor vehicle 12 for respective users. In particular, the control system 10 is particularly suitable for improving the comfort of use of motor vehicle 12 by different users.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0055] 10 control system [0056] 12 motor vehicle [0057] 14 driver's door [0058] 16 passenger door [0059] 18 rear passenger doors [0060] 20 boot lid [0061] 22 first key element [0062] 24 second key element [0063] 26 first person [0064] 28 second person [0065] 30 detection device [0066] 32 antenna [0067] 34 control device [0068] 36 detection area [0069] 38 detection area [0070] 40 detection area [0071] 42 detection area