Method for reducing start-up time, vehicle, computer program and data carrier signal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865983-B2
Application number	US-201916568457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing the start-up time of a driver information system in a vehicle comprising providing a driver information system having an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode. The driver information system is operated with operating power in the operating mode, is not supplied with operating power in the hibernation mode, and is operated with reduced operating power in the standby mode. A seat occupancy detection device is provided for detecting seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat. An activation system is provided for activating and operating the driver information system in the operating mode at least when the activation system is active; and changing the driver information system from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for reducing the start-up time of a driver information system in a vehicle comprising:
providing a driver information system having an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode, wherein the driver information system in the operating mode is operated with operating power, wherein the driver information system in the standby mode is operated with reduced operating power, and wherein the driver information system in the hibernation mode is not supplied with operating power;
providing a seat occupancy detection device, for detecting seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat by a vehicle occupant;
providing an activation system for activating the driver information system;
providing an attention detection device for detecting the attention level of the driver, wherein the attention detection device has an operating mode and a hibernation mode;
operating the driver information system in the operating mode at least when the activation system is active;
changing the driver information system from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time; and
operating the attention detection device in the attention detection device operating mode when the activation system is switched off and when the seat occupancy is detected at the same time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activation system is provided as an ignition system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
keeping the driver information system in the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and seat occupancy is detected at the same time; and
changing the driver information system to the hibernation mode when the activation system is switched off and lack of occupancy of the at least one vehicle seat is detected at the same time.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one vehicle seat is a driver's seat.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching the seat occupancy detection device off only when the activation system is switched off and when the seat occupancy detection device no longer detects occupancy of the at least one vehicle seat, in particular of a driver's seat.

6. A vehicle comprising:
a driver information system, wherein the driver information system has an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode, wherein the driver information system in the operating mode is operated with operating power, wherein the driver information system in the standby mode is operated with reduced operating power, and wherein the driver information system in the hibernation mode is not supplied with operating power;
a seat occupancy detection device which detects seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat by a vehicle occupant;
an activation system for activating the driver information system; and
an attention detection device for detecting the attention level of the driver, wherein the attention detection device has an operating mode, and a hibernation mode,
wherein the driver information system is operated in the operating mode when the activation system is active and is changed from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time, and
wherein the attention detection device remains in the operating mode when the activation system is switched off and seat occupancy is detected at the same time by the seat occupancy detection device.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the activation system is designed as an ignition system.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising a power supply system to supply power to the driver information system, wherein the power supply system provides operating power for the driver information system in the operating mode, provides no power for the driver information system in the hibernation mode; and provides reduced operating power for the driver information system in the standby mode.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the driver information system remains in the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and seat occupancy is detected at the same time and changes to the hibernation mode when the activation system is switched off and lack of occupancy of the at least one vehicle seat is detected at the same time by the seat occupancy detection device.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one vehicle seat is a driver's seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one vehicle seat is a driver's seat.

12. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the seat occupancy detection device comprises at least one sensor.

13. A vehicle comprising:
an electronic control unit having a computer program with instructions for:
providing a driver information system having an operating mode, a standby mode, and a hibernation mode, wherein the driver information system in the operating mode is operated with operating power, wherein the driver information system in the standby mode is operated with reduced operating power, and wherein the driver information system in the hibernation mode is not supplied with operating power;
providing a seat occupancy detection device, for detecting seat occupancy of at least one vehicle seat by a vehicle occupant;
providing an activation system for activating the driver information system;
providing an attention detection device for detecting the attention level of the driver, wherein the attention detection device has an operating mode and a hibernation mode;
operating the driver information system in the operating mode at least when the activation system is active;
changing the driver information system from the operating mode to the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and when seat occupancy is detected at the same time; and
operating the attention detection device in the attention detection device operating mode when the activation system is switched off and when the seat occupancy is detected at the same time.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a data carrier signal that transmits the computer program.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the data carrier signal that retroactively upgrades the computer program.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the electronic control unit having the computer program further comprises instructions for:
keeping the driver information system in the standby mode when the activation system is switched off and seat occupancy is detected at the same time; and
changing the driver information system to the hibernation mode when the activation system is switched off and lack of occupancy of the at least one vehicle seat is detected at the same time.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Kabatek Ulrich
• Stamm Martin
• Müller Gerhard
• König Axel
• Bach Boris

Classifications

• B60K35/21

  using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays · CPC title

• B60N2210/24

  Cameras · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/003

  characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat · CPC title

• B60K35/65 Primary

  Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive · CPC title