Abstract:
Briefly, this invention allows multiple users to activate their preferred settings for the various customizable features in a vehicle. These preferred settings are stored in memory for subsequent use. One of a multiple drivers to a vehicle, after being identified, will cause his previously stored preferred settings in the memory to be applied to the appropriate subsystems in the vehicle. The preferred settings include driver and companion seat positioning, front and rear temperature control, radio station and speaker adjustment selections, steering wheel positioning and door lock and unlock specification.  
     Advantageously, the present invention reduces confusion and adds comfort to the drivers of the same vehicle in that when a driver returns to a multi-driver vehicle, the preferred settings that she had last saved while in the vehicle will be applied to the appropriate vehicle subsystems. It is as if this driver is the only driver of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/886,189 filed Jun. 22, 2001 on the behalf of Constance Liu et al., entitled “RADIO THAT REMEMBER ADJUSTMENT SETTINGS”. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention has to do in general with a vehicle customized feature activation system. This system is most useful in a multi-driver environment. In particular, this invention has to do with a vehicle feature activation system dependent upon driver identification. A part of this system includes a radio to be operated inside a vehicle. An aspect of the invention relates to such a radio system that automatically makes available for selection pre-set frequencies of radio stations for each of the multiple drivers to the vehicle. As an example, for each driver in this multiple-driver environment, this invention relates to a radio system that once the radio is turned on, it defaults to the last-played radio station for that driver. Another aspect of the invention relates to such a radio system that automatically makes available a preferred combination of radio speaker adjustments such as volume, bass and treble for each of the multiple drivers to the vehicle. As a practical advantage, this invention adds comfort to and reduces confusion resulting from the use of a car by more than one driver.  
         BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0003]    A vehicle such as a car has many features that are customizable depending on user preferences, e.g., seat positioning, temperature control and radio adjustment selection. A disadvantage of the vehicle having many customizable features, however, rises when more than one person uses the same features but with different preferred settings.  
           [0004]    For example, radio is commonplace inside a vehicle. Once a radio station is tuned to, a typical car radio has multiple adjustment mechanisms (e.g., via dials and/or push knobs) to allow a user (usually a driver of the car) to preferably set volume, bass, treble, speaker location and the like. The disadvantage occurs when more than one driver uses the same car radio. In the case of a “family car” where parents and young adults in the family share a car, the radio station adjustment preferences for each of the drivers to this car may be drastically different. In other words, a young adult may prefer ‘loud’ volume, heavy ‘bass’ and speakers ON only in the front; whereas the parent may prefer ‘soft’ volume, balanced ‘bass’ and ‘treble’ and speakers ON for the front and the rear. In short, the more drivers there are to this “family car”, the more difficult it becomes for each driver to fully enjoy the comfort this radio because the number of adjustments required every time one turns on the radio of this ‘family car’.  
           [0005]    The difficulty of a multi-user or multi-driver environment is further compounded by the different preferred settings for the additional customizable features such as seat and mirror positioning, temperature control and steering wheel positioning.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it is desirable to have a system that allows each of the multiple users to automatically store and re-use his or her preferred settings for the many customizable features in a vehicle.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Briefly, an apparatus and method are provided for allowing multiple users to activate their preferred settings for the various customizable features in a vehicle. These preferred settings are stored in memory for subsequent use. One of the multiple drivers to the vehicle, after being identified, will cause his previously stored preferred settings in the memory to be applied to the appropriate subsystems in the vehicle. The preferred settings include driver and companion seat positioning, front and rear temperature control, radio station and speaker adjustment selections, steering wheel positioning and door lock and unlock specification.  
           [0008]    For a multi-driver vehicle, an identification system in the vehicle first uniquely identifies the driver entering the vehicle. The identification process may be accomplished by a number of ways including a remote-controlled transmission, a key insertion or even a His/Her switch located inside the vehicle. After the driver is identified, his preferred settings previously stored in the memory will be accessed and applied to the appropriate subsystems in the vehicle. Each driver in this multi-driver vehicle is likely to have a set of preferred settings stored in the memory different from that of another, but each set is made available to be used by the vehicle once the ‘owner’ of that set is identified to have entered the vehicle.  
           [0009]    Advantageously, the present invention reduces confusion and adds comfort to the drivers of the same vehicle in that when a driver returns to a multi-driver vehicle, the preferred settings that he had last saved while in the vehicle will be applied to the appropriate vehicle subsystems, whatever they may be. It is as if this driver is the only driver of the vehicle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained by considering the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings that illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 shows a simplified functional diagram of the present invention including a vehicle micro-controller in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows a typical appearance of a car radio; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 shows a simplified functional diagram of a part of the present invention directed to a radio subsystem. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    With today&#39;s advances in technology, the design of specialized integrated circuits and programmable logic generally do not require the rendering of fully detailed circuit diagrams. The definition of logic functionality allows computer design techniques to design the desired logic and circuits. Additionally, vehicle micro-controllers are known to operate based on a desired flow chart diagram rendered into software. Accordingly, portions of the present invention will be described primarily in terms of functionality to be implemented by a vehicle micro-controller and other associated electronic components. This functionality will be described in detail with the associated flow chart diagram. Those of ordinary skill in the art, once given the following descriptions of the various functions to be carried out by the present invention will be able to implement the necessary micro-controller structure and logic for various logic devices or custom designed integrated circuits in suitable technologies without undue experimentation.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a simplified functional diagram of the present invention  5  including a vehicle micro-controller system  30  in which there is memory  35 . The invention  5  includes an identification subsystem  20 , a locking &amp; security subsystem  40 , a climate control subsystem  50 , a seating control subsystem  60 , an electronics control subsystem  70  and miscellaneous control subsystem  80 . Any of the subsystems  20 , 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80  may include memories, and each of the subsystems  20 , 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80  is individually coupled to the vehicle micro-controller  30 . User input  10  is received and processed by the identification subsystem  20  for user identification. These subsystems are commonplace in today&#39;s vehicles; however, their combination as disclosed by the present invention is not.  
         [0016]    As a preferred embodiment for the user input  10  and identification subsystem  20  for a vehicle, a remote device (e.g., a keyless entry system) may be used for activating customized vehicle features including locking and unlocking vehicle doors. Transmissions that each is uniquely-coded may be generated by this typical device to distinguish one user from another. The transmissions, either electronic, infrared, ultrasound or otherwise are the preferred user input  10 , and the transmission receiving system is preferably the identification subsystem  20 . A car may have associated with it several such remote devices one for each driver of the car, and each device generates a unique transmission for identification purposes. Alternatively, a remote device may have more than one button where each button controls the generation of one unique transmission. In other words, one driver may use button X on a remote device and another driver may use button Y on another remote device to distinguish driver identity one from another.  
         [0017]    The identification subsystem  20  may further be a His/Her toggle switch and related circuitry found in many cars where a toggle (user input  10 ) in “His” direction identifies one driver and a toggle in “Her” direction identifies another driver. Such identification may be used subsequently and automatically for seating, radio preferences and climate control in different portions of the vehicle internal compartment. Even with keys, differing notch-and-groove key patterns may be used to lock and unlock the same lock but each key pattern when inserted may be sensed to enable the present invention to distinguish one user from another. In the newer car models, biometrics such as voice or even fingerprint may be used for driver identification.  
         [0018]    The information of the driver identity is then transmitted from the identification subsystem  20  to the memory  35  of the micro-controller system  30 . This identity information is then made to associate with in the memory  35  the various customized settings of climate control, seating, electronics control and locking/unlocking preferences that were stored by the same driver previously. The association process does not have to occur in the memory  35  of the micro-controller system  30 , it may happen alternatively in each of the respective subsystems  20 , 40 , 50 , 60 ,  70 , 80 . Regardless, once the preferences for the identified driver are located, each of the preferences associated with the driver is fed to the appropriate subsystems  40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80  for automatic execution. For example, air condition may now be set at a different temperature from before, motorized seating subsystem may now be arranged into a new position, a different set of radio adjustment preferences is now available and only the front doors will unlock instead of all doors. Some features may respond to the user input  10  automatically such as the seating position arrangement whereas others may be effected after the subsystems are subsequently turned ON such as in the case of radio or air conditioner.  
         [0019]    The subsystems  40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80  may include typical vehicle features. For instance, the locking &amp; security subsystem  40  may include preferences for the locking and unlocking doors, sunroof, opening and closing of windows and activation and deactivation of features such as garage door control and antitheft system. The climate control subsystem  50  may include preferences for temperature and humidity control. The seating subsystem  60  may include preferences for seating positions for the driver and the companion and the heating levels for the seats. The electronics control subsystem  70  may include preferences for radio adjustments, navigational map features, cruise control and CD player. The miscellaneous control subsystem  80  may include preferences for vehicle exterior features such as lamp controls or interior features such as steering wheel positioning and mirror positioning.  
         [0020]    Since each of the referred to subsystem features is known in the art, further elaboration on the mechanism is not needed; however, as an illustration to the skilled artisans on how a typical subsystem interacts with its micro-controller, a description of a radio system of the electronics control subsystem  70  of the present invention is provided. Please now refer to FIG. 2. This FIG. 2 shows a typical appearance of a car radio  11 . An ON/OFF and a sound volume selection features are usually accomplished by the use of a knob  14 . Sometimes additional features such as left/right speaker volume and bass/treble range adjustments may be activated by first pulling outward or pushing inward the knob  14 . A desired radio station tuning frequency may be selected by the use of another knob  22 . Typically, on a face  13  of the car radio  11 , there are several mechanical push buttons  17 . Each of these mechanical push buttons  17  is used to store and to select the tuning frequency of a preferred radio station. In short, after storing the frequency of a preferred radio station using one of the mechanical push buttons  17 , a driver may subsequently cause the radio to tune to that previously stored radio station frequency by depressing that particular mechanical push button  17 . The mechanism and method for such storage and selection are well known, and the details of which will not be elaborated here. A preferred embodiment of the present invention may take on the outside appearance of this typical car radio  11 . Functionally speaking, however, each of the mechanical push buttons  17  of the present invention may be used to store and to select instead of one, but more than one station tuning frequency depending on the identity of the user.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 3, it shows a simplified functional diagram of a radio system  100  including a vehicle micro-controller  110  in accordance with the present invention. The radio system  100  includes an identification system  105 , the vehicle micro-controller  110  and a radio  115 . The micro-controller  110  is coupled with the identification system  105  via path  102  and couples to the radio  115  via path  103 . User input is received by the identification system  105  via path  101 , and user input is also received by the radio  115  via paths  106  and  113 . The user input and the identification system  105  are the same as the user input  10  and the identification subsystem  20  of FIG. 1, and they will not be further elaborated here. However, the preferred embodiment as illustrated by FIG. 3 includes its memory inside the radio  115  instead of in the micro-controller system  30  (FIG. 1).  
         [0022]    The information of the driver identity is transmitted from the identification system  105  to the micro-controller  110  via path  102  whereby making the information available for use by the radio  115  via path  103 . The radio  115  includes control electronics  120 , preference storage and selection means  126 , adjustment setting means  132  and memory  112 . The driver identification information will be used by the radio  115  depending on the ON/OFF input via path  106  to the control electronics  120  of the radio  115 . For example, if a user turns the knob  14  of FIG. 2 OFF, then the radio  115  would not process the driver identification information although such information is available in the identification system  105 .  
         [0023]    The preference storage and selection means  126  in a preferred embodiment includes half a dozen or so mechanical push buttons disposed on a face of the radio  115  similar to the prior art buttons  17  in FIG. 2. The radio station preference information as user input is stored into the memory  112  via paths  111 ,  109  for subsequent selection under the control of the control electronics  120  via paths  111 ,  107 .  
         [0024]    The adjustment setting means  132  in a preferred embodiment includes the typical knobs (e.g., reference  14  of FIG. 2), dials or other user input devices  130  where preferred radio adjustment settings for volume (of each speaker or all speakers), bass, treble and the like for a user are entered and stored in the radio memory  112 . Such stored adjustment setting information is associated with the driver identification information of the user in the memory  112  so that the settings that were last used before the turn off of the radio will be applied by the control electronics  120  to the speaker output once the same user is identified the next time he turns on the radio  115 .  
         [0025]    When the radio  115  is ON, a driver may provide user input via path  113  to either store or select preferred radio station frequencies using methods well known in the art. Since the current driver identity is received by the radio  115  from the identification system  105 , the preference storage and selection information actuated by using the preference means  126  via path  113  is then associated with the current driver identity in the memory  112 . For instance, a driver A saves a radio station frequency B through the preference means  126  (e.g., depressing a mechanical push button C for a few seconds while the station is being tuned to). The control electronics  120  will then process the information and will then preferably via firmware and in memory  112  link the radio station frequency B to the mechanical button C and the current driver identity received from the identification system  105 . Subsequently, to select and tune to the previously-saved radio station B, the driver A after having been identified by the identification system  105 , will actuate the preference means  126  (e.g., depressing briefly the mechanical push button C). The control electronics  120  will then retrieve from memory  112  the radio station frequency B that is linked to the matching current driver identity and the mechanical push button C and will then proceed to tune to the radio station frequency B.  
         [0026]    As a result, the driver A storing or selecting a radio station frequency using a particular mechanical button of the preference means  126  is distinguishable from a driver D storing or selecting another radio station frequency using the same particular mechanical button. In other words, the driver A operates the preference means  126  as if he is the only driver to the car and the same is true for driver D.  
         [0027]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.