Method for Operating a Vehicle, Device and Vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle includes monitoring for a presence of an assigned authorization element in the vehicle during operating the vehicle and operating the vehicle in a secure state when the assigned authorization element is not detected, where a performance parameter of the vehicle is at least temporarily modified in the secure state.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising the steps of: monitoring for a presence of an assigned authorization element in the vehicle during operating the vehicle; and operating the vehicle in a secure state when the assigned authorization element is not detected, wherein a performance parameter of the vehicle is at least temporarily modified in the secure state.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performance parameter is throttled as a function of a duration since a beginning of the secure state.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performance parameter is throttled in a first stage of the secure state using a slope less in absolute value than in a second stage following the first stage with respect to time.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein during the operating in the secure state, a notice is output to a driver of the vehicle that the assigned authorization element is not detected.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the monitoring is carried out repeatedly during operating the vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein for the monitoring, a pairing attempt takes place between an authorization control unit of the vehicle and the assigned authorization element by a wireless connection.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein an authorization code transmitted by the assigned authorization element changes over time.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performance parameter is a maximum velocity of the vehicle or a maximum torque of the vehicle.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performance parameter and a further performance parameter of the vehicle are throttled in the secure state.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performance parameter is throttled at most down to a lower threshold value up to a predefined duration since a beginning of the secure state.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein a change from the secure state into a normal state of the vehicle takes place when the assigned authorization element is detected.

27. A device which is configured to perform the method according to claim 16.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the device is an engine control unit of the vehicle or has a data connection to an engine control unit of the vehicle.

29. A vehicle, comprising: a device which is configured to perform the method according to claim 16.

30. The vehicle according to claim 29, wherein the assigned authorization element is configured to enable handling-free access to the vehicle for a driver of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the functional principle of a method on the basis of an exemplary curve;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a functional logic for a method according to one exemplary embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a functional logic for a method according to one exemplary embodiment; and

[0031] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment for a vehicle having a device for carrying out the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary sequence for a described method, wherein a logical signal S having the signal values 1 or 0, a maximum velocity VMAX in km/h and a maximum torque MMAX in Nm are each plotted as a function of the time tin seconds.

[0033] The signal S represents the result of a check for the presence of an assigned authorization element here, wherein, for example, the signal value 1 stands for a successful check and the signal value 0 stands for an unsuccessful check.

[0034] At the point in time t=0, an assigned authorization element is detected. A normal state 20 is accordingly present. At a first point in time 201, an assigned authorization element is no longer detected. The signal S drops from the original signal value 1 to 0.

[0035] At this first point in time 201, a change takes place into a secure state 21. In a first stage 211 of the secure state 21, a driver of the vehicle receives a notice, for example, that an assigned authorization element has no longer been detected. Within the first stage 211, however, an intervention does not yet take place in the performance parameters of the vehicle, so that the driver can continue to drive for a brief time without restrictions, in the example shown for 10 seconds. In particular, the driver would not experience any restrictions in comfort if the assigned authorization element was not correctly detected only briefly due to malfunction and this malfunction ends during the duration of the first stage 211.

[0036] In a second stage 212 of the secure state 21, both the maximum velocity VMAX and also the maximum torque MMAX are reduced in ramps. Due to the ramped reduction of the maximum velocity VMAX, abrupt braking of the vehicle and possible endangerment to the driver or other road users accompanying this are avoided. For example, the maximum velocity is reduced to 60 km/h.

[0037] The maximum torque MMAX is lowered by way of example in two steps in ramps, wherein the maximum torque is at a lower threshold value 213 not equal to zero, for example approximately 100 Nm, after passage of the first ramp, for example at the point in time t=30 s, which is high enough that the driver can move away from a hazardous situation by acceleration. During the second ramp, for example between t=90 s and t=100 s, the maximum torque MMAX is continuously reduced to 0, so that the motor of the vehicle no longer enables any positive acceleration.

[0038] In the secure state 21, in particular after passage of the first stage 211, the performance of the vehicle is thus significantly restricted. Therefore, even if an unauthorized party has succeeded in obtaining access to the vehicle and starting the engine, it is ensured by the repeated monitoring for the presence of an assigned authorization element during travel that a change into the secure state takes place and it is only possible to drive away with the vehicle from the location of the theft in a very restricted manner.

[0039] At the same time, it is ensured that an authorized driver, for the case in which his assigned authorization element is no longer detected due to a malfunction, can still move the vehicle to a safe location in spite of the restriction of the performance of the vehicle.

[0040] Furthermore, the case is illustrated in FIG. 1 that an assigned authorization element is detected again.

[0041] At a second point in time 202, the check for detection of an assigned authorization element is successful and the signal S accordingly rises to the assigned original signal value 1. A change takes place from secure state 21 into the normal state 20. The maximum velocity VMAX and the maximum torque MMAX can be increased again to the original level. This expediently takes place in such a way that a sudden acceleration not intended by the driver or an abrupt increase of the velocity of the vehicle does not take place. For example, the maximum velocity VMAX and the maximum torque MMAX are increased in ramp form. The slope can also be greater in absolute value here than upon the change from the normal state 20 into the secure state 21.

[0042] Of course, various modifications of the exemplary curve can be performed without deviating from the basic concept of the present application. For example, only one performance parameter, such as only the maximum velocity or only the maximum torque or also another performance parameter, can also be modified.

[0043] The level of the performance parameter or the performance parameters in the secure state 21 and the slope of the performance parameter or the performance parameters can also differ. For example, the slope can be not constant, but rather vary at least temporarily as a function of time.

[0044] Furthermore, a modification of one or more performance parameters can also already take place in the first stage 211 of the secure state 21. Expediently, however, the absolute value of the slope of the performance parameter in the first stage 211 is less than in the following second stage 212.

[0045] The duration of the first stage 211 can also be varied and can be, for example, between 5 seconds inclusive and 1 minute inclusive. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to omit the first stage 211.

[0046] A functional logic is illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the maximum velocity is modified as the performance parameter in the secure state.

[0047] The functional logic receives as variable inputs a status of the authorization detection 31 and a time 32 since the beginning of the secure state. The time 32 since the beginning of the secure state is supplied to a characteristic map 51. The status of the authorization detection 31 is supplied to a status check 52. Furthermore, the functional logic receives parameters for the maximum velocity in the normal state 41, a positive gradient factor 43, and a negative gradient factor 44.

[0048] A maximum velocity 61 is output as the output. For the case in which the status of the authorization detection 31 is positive, the maximum velocity 61 corresponds to the maximum velocity in the normal state 41.

[0049] On the other hand, thus in the secure state, the maximum velocity is modified as a function of the time 32 since the beginning of the secure state by means of the maximum value producer 51 and the gradient producer 53.

[0050] A corresponding functional logic is shown in FIG. 3, in which the maximum torque is modified as the performance parameter in the secure state.

[0051] This functional logic essentially corresponds to the functional logic described in conjunction with FIG. 2. In contrast thereto, the functional logic receives as an additional variable input an engine speed 33.

[0052] Furthermore, in place of the maximum velocity, the maximum torque 42 in the normal state is specified as the parameter. As the output, the functional logic supplies a maximum torque 62, which, as a function of the status of the detection of an assigned authorization element, is the maximum torque in the normal state or a reduced maximum torque.

[0053] An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 10 having a device 1 is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the device is designed to carry out the above-described method. For example, the device 1 is an engine control unit of the vehicle 10 or the device has a data connection to the engine control unit of the vehicle.

[0054] The device 1 has a data connection to an authorization control unit 101, which monitors the presence of an assigned authorization element 3 in the interior of the vehicle 10 and supplies a corresponding signal to the device. Such authorization checking systems are also referred to as keyless go or as comfort access.

[0055] If an assigned authorization element 3 is not detected in operation of the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle can be informed about this, for example, by a corresponding notice on a display device 102 in the field of view of the driver.

[0056] The assigned authorization element 3, for example, in the form of a key fob or a mobile electronic device, is designed in particular to enable an authorized driver of the vehicle 10 access to the interior of the vehicle 10 and starting of the engine in a handling-free manner, thus only by carrying it along. For this purpose, for example, a pairing takes place between the assigned authorization element 3 and the authorization control unit. An authorization code accepted on the part of the authorization control unit 101 can change over time to increase the security of the authorization check.

[0057] Overall, using the described method and such a device, a use of the vehicle by unauthorized parties can be made significantly more difficult without restricting the operating comfort of an authorized driver.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0058] 1 device [0059] 10 vehicle [0060] 101 authorization control unit [0061] 102 display device [0062] 20 normal state [0063] 201 first point in time [0064] 202 second point in time [0065] 21 secure state [0066] 211 first stage [0067] 212 second stage [0068] 213 lower threshold value [0069] 31 status of the authorization detection [0070] 32 time since the beginning of the secure state [0071] 33 engine speed [0072] 41 maximum velocity in the normal state [0073] 42 maximum torque in the normal state [0074] 43 positive gradient factor [0075] 44 negative gradient factor [0076] 51 characteristic map/line [0077] 52 status check [0078] 53 gradient producer [0079] 61 maximum velocity [0080] 62 maximum torque