VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLE DRIVER POSITION

Abstract

A vehicle has multiple alternative driving positions, with one or more visual displays assigned to each driving position for depicting content required to drive the vehicle. A selection device identifies a vehicle occupant as a driver, determines a location of the driver within the vehicle, and designates as the active driving position whichever of the alternative driving positions the driver occupies. A processing unit transfers video relevant to vehicle operation to one or more of the displays visible from the active driving position and enables control of the vehicle from the active driving position. The selection device may also check whether the vehicle occupant meets one or more conditions required to be designated as the vehicle driver, and may determine an identity associated with the driver so that the displayed video is customized or personalized in accordance with that identity.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: a first and a second multifunction display visible from a first and a second interior positions respectively; a selection device operative to identify a vehicle occupant as a driver, determine a location of the driver within the vehicle, designate as an active driving position the first interior position when the driver is located at the first position, and designate as the active driving position the second interior position when the driver is located at the second position; and a processing unit operative to transfer video relevant to vehicle operation to the one of the displays visible from the active driving position and enabling control of the vehicle from the active driving position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the selection device comprises a camera operative to monitor the location of the driver.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the selection device uses facial recognition to monitor the location of the driver.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the selection device comprises and/or receives inputs from an authorization device operative to check whether the vehicle occupant meets one or more conditions required to be designated as the vehicle driver.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the selection device comprises and/or receives inputs from an identification device operative to determine an identity associated with the driver, and the displayed video is customized in accordance with the identity.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the identification device comprises a biometric sensor.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first display is one of a first set of displays assigned to the first driving position, and the second display is one of a second set of displays assigned to the second driving position.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the displays comprises a touchscreen operative to allow the driver to make vehicle control inputs.

9. A vehicle comprising: first and second displays visible from first and second interior positions respectively; a selection device for identifying a vehicle occupant as a driver and determining which one of the interior positions is occupied by the driver; and a processing unit for transferring video relevant to vehicle operation to the display visible from the occupied position and enabling control of the vehicle from the occupied position.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the selection device comprises a camera operative to monitor a location of the driver relative to the first and second interior positions.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the selection device uses facial recognition to monitor the location of the driver.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the selection device comprises and/or receives inputs from an authorization device operative to check whether the vehicle occupant meets one or more conditions required to be designated as the vehicle driver.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the selection device comprises and/or receives inputs from an identification device operative to determine an identity associated with the driver, and the displayed video is customized in accordance with the identity.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the identification device comprises a biometric sensor.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first display is one of a first set of displays assigned to the first driving position, and the second display is one of a second set of displays assigned to the second driving position.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein at least one of the displays comprises a touchscreen operative to allow the driver to make vehicle control inputs.

17. A vehicle comprising: a plurality of displays; a selection device for identifying a vehicle occupant as a driver and determining a position of the driver; and a processing unit for transferring video relevant to driving to at least one of the displays visible from the position and enabling control of the vehicle from at least one of the displays.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the selection device comprises and/or receives inputs from an identification device operative to determine an identity associated with the driver, and the displayed video is customized in accordance with the identity.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the identification device comprises a biometric sensor.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of displays comprises a first set of displays assigned to a first alternative driving position, and a second set of displays assigned to a second alternative driving position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a first schematic sectional depiction of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, configured as an automobile,

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a second schematic sectional depiction of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, and

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a third schematic sectional depiction of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0062] In the examples explained below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of these examples and show for illustration purposes specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented. In this regard, direction terminology such as, for instance, at the top, at the bottom, at the front, at the back, front, rear, etc. is used with respect to the orientation of the Figures described. Since components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the direction terminology serves for illustration and is not restrictive in anyway whatsoever.

[0063] Other embodiments can be used and structural or logical changes can be made, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. The features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, unless specifically indicated otherwise. The description that follows should therefore not be interpreted in a restrictive sense, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0064] In the context of this description, the terms connected and coupled are used to describe both a direct and an indirect connection and a direct or indirect coupling. In the Figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference symbols, in so far as this is expedient.

[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 1 according to the invention is an automobile. FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of a cross section as a plan view approximately from the center of the vehicle 1, so that the vehicle interior is visible. FIG. 2 shows the same vehicle 1 in a cross-sectional depiction as a plan view from a position beneath the outer surface of the vehicle roof. FIG. 3 likewise shows the same vehicle 1 in a cross-sectional depiction as a plan view from a position in the vehicle roof lining.

[0066] The vehicle 1 has two alternative driving positions 2a and 2b, which are vehicle seats in the example. A first alternative driving position 2a is in the front area of the vehicle 1, while a second alternative driving position 2b is in the rear area of the vehicle 1.

[0067] The two driving positions 2a, 2b each have three assigned displays 3a or 3b that are used for depicting display content. Moreover, a display 3c is provided that forms the vehicle roof lining (see FIG. 2) and is assigned both to driving position 2a and to driving position 2b. The displays 3a or 3b and 3c are each arranged such that depicted display content can be perceived from the assigned driving positions 2a and 2b.

[0068] Moreover, the vehicle 1 has a selection device 4 that is arranged in the area of the vehicle roof in the example and can be seen in FIG. 3. The selection device 4 is operable to select either driving position 2a or driving position 2b as the active driving position from which the vehicle may be controlled by a driver, and may be a switch. In the example described below, it is assumed that the vehicle driver occupies driving position 2b, so that position 2b is the active driving position.

[0069] Multiple sensors 5, which are arranged at the front and rear of the vehicle and at the sides in the example, are used for ascertaining vehicle-relevant and/or route-relevant data. By way of example, there may be image sensors that record a map of the route that is subsequently depicted on the displays. Vehicle windows and the outside view of the vehicle driver can therefore be dispensed with. Moreover, the sensors 5 record the current speed of the vehicle 1 and monitor the fill level of the fuel tank.

[0070] The processing unit 6 is schematically shown as being located in the front area of the vehicle 1 in the example, but it may also be located at any other position. In addition, a memory unit 7 is provided on which data are stored from which information about preferred display settings of the vehicle driver can be derived.

[0071] An identification device 8 can be used to identify the vehicle driver. The identification device 8 may be embodied as biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint scanner that is configured to check the fingerprint of the vehicle driver. Comparison with stored fingerprints allows the vehicle driver to be identified, so that it is possible to retrieve from the memory unit 7 those data that meet the individual needs of the identified vehicle driver.

[0072] The processing unit 6 receives data from the sensors 5, selects appropriate/required stored data of the memory unit 7, and retrieves said stored data from the memory unit 7. Utilizing some or all of the received and retrieved data, the processing unit 6 generates display content that is transferred to the displays 3b, 3c assigned to the active driving position 2b, which is the position assumed or detected to be occupied by the driver. The incorporation of stored data allows the display content to be individually customized to suit the needs of the vehicle driver.

[0073] The generated display content is subsequently depicted on the displays 3b, 3c. The vehicle driver now drives the vehicle 1 from the active driving position 2b utilizing the display content visible on displays 3b and/or 3c. By way of example, he can now steer the vehicle 1 according to the road profile that may be depicted on the middle display 3b. In addition, the current speed and the fill level of the fuel tank (along with other pertinent information) may be displayed on the displays 3b.

[0074] The displays 3a, 3b, 3c are configured as multi-function touchscreens in the example, so that the vehicle 1 can be driven by appropriately touching whichever of the displays 3a, 3b, 3c are assigned to/associated with the active driver position. To this end, in the example under discussion in which position 2b is active, operator control elements of the vehicle 1, such as e.g. steering wheel, turn signal lever, gas and brake pedals, are configured virtually on the displays 3b, so that the vehicle 1 can be steered, braked and/or accelerated by means of commands being input on the touchscreens.

[0075] The vehicle 1 in the exemplary embodiment additionally has a camera unit 10 that is arranged in the vehicle roof lining (FIG. 3) and operative to observe the vehicle interior. This unit is used for detecting/identifying and observing the vehicle driver. If this driver changes from driving position 2b to 2a, for example, the camera observation unit 10 can perceive this, so that the display content of the displays 3b can now be displayed on the displays 3a.

[0076] Optionally, the vehicle 1 of the exemplary embodiment can have a device 9 for checking the vehicle driving authorization and an identification device 8 for identifying the vehicle driver.

[0077] In addition, further driving positions may be available in the vehicle 1, the assigned displays of said driving positions depicting the display content that is important to the vehicle driver.

[0078] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.