Method and vehicle with switching element for setting a driving profile of the vehicle

Abstract

Method for setting a driving profile from five driving profiles for a vehicle (10), wherein the driving profile (A; B; C; D; O) defines a control behavior for the longitudinal and / or transverse dynamics of the vehicle (10), wherein the driving profile (A; B; C; D; 0) is set by means of exactly one actuation of a single switching element (1), characterized in that starting from a basic position (0) of the switching element (1), which is assigned to a basic driving profile (0), two driving profiles (C, D) are set by moving the switching element (1) in a predetermined direction (3), and that starting from the basic position (0), two driving profiles (A, B) are set by moving the switching element (1) in a direction (4) opposite to the predetermined direction (3), wherein the switching element (1) is provided as a rotary switch with five rotary positions, wherein the basic position (0) is provided as a latching rotary position, wherein starting from the basic position (0) in the predetermined direction (3) a locking rotational position is reached, and starting from this locking rotational position in the predetermined direction (3) a non-locking rotational position is reached, and starting from the basic position (0) in the opposite direction (4) a locking rotational position is reached, and starting from this locking rotational position in the opposite direction (4) a non-locking rotational position is reached.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a vehicle with a switching element for setting a driving profile of the vehicle.

[0002] DE 10 2007 029 594 A1 describes a method for selecting a function assigned to a driving mode of a motor vehicle.

[0003] DE 102 12 684 A1 describes an operating unit for a driver assistance system which has a plurality of operating modes, e.g. cruise control with and without distance control, and in which a parameter selected by the driver can be entered for at least one of these modes, wherein an input element which is movable in one direction for selecting the operating mode and independently thereof in another direction for selecting the parameter.

[0004] DE 10 131 039 A1 relates to an operating element for a vehicle computer system for controlling a selection marker, comprising an actuating body that is rotatable about an axis (pivot axis) to implement a first and a second switching function, and having a grip bar extending through the pivot axis. It is proposed that the rotation of the actuating body be limited to an angular range of + / - 90° relative to a rest position, a return means be provided to return the actuating body to its rest position, the actuating body be displaceable in the direction of the pivot axis to implement a third switching function, and the actuating body be tiltable about an axis parallel to the grip bar to implement a fourth and a fifth switching function.

[0005] According to the state of the art, there are numerous devices in a modern motor vehicle, such as a chassis, an automatic transmission, a start / stop system, an engine control, which are configurable, whereby the driving behavior of the motor vehicle is changed or adjusted by appropriate configuration of these devices.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve the setting of this driving behavior or a driving profile of the vehicle compared to the prior art.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for setting a driving profile for a vehicle according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 10. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0008] Within the scope of the present invention, a method for setting a driving profile for a vehicle is provided. The driving profile defines a control of the vehicle that influences the longitudinal and / or lateral dynamics of the vehicle. In other words, a set driving profile specifies how the vehicle reacts with regard to its longitudinal and / or lateral dynamics. The driving profile is set by precisely one actuation of precisely one switching element. In particular, the driving profile defines configurations and settings of at least two vehicle devices that influence the longitudinal and / or lateral dynamics of the vehicle.

[0009] It is provided that, starting from a basic position of the switching element, which is assigned to a basic driving profile, two driving profiles are set by moving the switching element in a predetermined direction, and that, starting from the basic position, two driving profiles are set by moving the switching element in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Furthermore, it is provided that the switching element is provided as a rotary switch with five rotary positions, wherein the basic position is provided as a latching rotary position. Furthermore, starting from the basic position in the predetermined direction, a latching rotary position is reached, and starting from this latching rotary position in the predetermined direction, a non-latching rotary position is reached.Furthermore, starting from the basic position in the opposite direction, a locking rotational position is reached, and starting from this locking rotational position in the opposite direction, a non-locking rotational position is reached.

[0010] By only having to operate one switching element to set a desired driving profile, setting a driving profile is significantly easier than with the prior art, since with the prior art, each individual device influencing the driving profile (e.g., chassis, automatic transmission, engine control) usually has to be set individually using corresponding buttons. Therefore, the present invention advantageously allows for a reduction in the number of buttons in the vehicle. Furthermore, simple expandability with regard to additional functionalities (e.g., the integration of another device influencing the driving profile) is possible, making the present concept promising for the future. Simple connection of the switching element to a vehicle's LIN bus is also ensured.

[0011] The driving profile is selected and set from several predefined driving profiles, in particular by operating the switching element.

[0012] These predefined driving profiles can include a basic driving profile, a comfort driving profile, a sport driving profile, an ECO driving profile and a deactivated ECO driving profile.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic driving profile, the comfort driving profile, the sport driving profile, the ECO driving profile and the deactivated ECO driving profile are defined as follows.

[0014] In the basic driving profile, a vehicle start / stop system is activated, which enables start / stop operation of the vehicle. In addition, a function known as "sailing" is activated, which disengages a transmission that connects the vehicle's engine to the vehicle's drive wheels when the vehicle's accelerator pedal is not depressed.

[0015] In the Comfort driving profile, the vehicle's adaptive chassis control is set for comfortable driving, and the start / stop system is activated. The vehicle's transmission is set to a non-sporty mode, and the vehicle's adaptive front lighting system is set to a non-fast control mode. The start / stop system can be deactivated for this driving cycle.

[0016] In the sport driving profile, the adaptive chassis control is set to sporty driving, the transmission is set to the “S” driving program (sporty driving or typed “S”) and the adaptive front lighting system is set to fast control behavior.

[0017] With the ECO driving profile, in addition to the activated start / stop system, the power consumption of the vehicle's air conditioning system is throttled, and the vehicle's starting behavior is adjusted to low fuel consumption via the vehicle's engine control system. The start / stop system is also active. Optionally, a fuel consumption indicator can be displayed on the vehicle's display, a vehicle's navigation system can be configured to optimize routes for the lowest possible fuel consumption, and a vehicle's cruise control system and suspension control can be activated.

[0018] When the ECO driving profile is deactivated, the start / stop system is deactivated, the air conditioning is not throttled, and the engine control unit does not adjust the starting behavior for low fuel consumption. The optional configurations of the ECO driving profile can be activated or configured or not. Additionally, the coasting function can optionally be deactivated.

[0019] To select the driving profile, the switching element (e.g. a rotary switch or a slide switch) can be moved to one of several predefined positions, each position corresponding to a predefined driving profile.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, starting from a basic position of the switching element, which is assigned to the basic driving profile, driving profiles that determine the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle are set by moving the switching element in a predetermined direction. Starting from the basic position, moving the switching element in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction results in the establishment or setting of driving profiles that determine the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.

[0021] In other words, the switching element according to the invention combines settings with regard to the longitudinal and lateral dynamics, whereby the settings or driving profiles with regard to the longitudinal dynamics are separated from the settings or driving profiles with regard to the lateral dynamics by the basic position (centre position).

[0022] When setting a driving profile that determines the lateral dynamics, at least one of the following configurations or settings is made: • the start / stop system is activated or deactivated, • the sailing function, in which the vehicle's transmission interrupts the connection between the engine and the drive wheels when the accelerator pedal is no longer depressed, is activated or deactivated, • the vehicle’s adaptive chassis control is in a comfort configuration or a sport configuration, • an adaptive front lighting system of the vehicle is set for rapid control behavior or not, and • a damper control is configured accordingly.

[0023] When setting a driving profile that determines the longitudinal dynamics, at least one of the following configurations or settings is made: • the air conditioning system (includes air conditioning compressor, fan) is throttled or not, • the starting behavior is fuel-efficient or not, • adaptive cruise control is activated or deactivated, • the vehicle fuel consumption display is activated or deactivated, and • route optimization of the navigation system is configured to optimize consumption or not.

[0024] By actuating the switching element in a specific way (for example, by pressing the rotary switch in the case of a rotary switch), a configuration menu can be opened (for example, as a pop-up in a vehicle's head unit) in which settings or configurations of the current driving profile set using the switching element can be configured. By actuating the switching element in a specific way again (for example, by pressing the rotary switch again in the case of a rotary switch), the changes made or settings in the configuration menu can be confirmed and the configuration menu can be exited. With a rotary switch, the configuration menu can also be exited by turning the switch to the home position and confirming by pressing the rotary switch in the home position.

[0025] By configuring the individual driving profiles, it is possible to set the respective driving profiles individually, so that with a corresponding positioning of the switching element, a driving profile is set which has previously been adapted to the wishes of the driver of the vehicle, for example.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching element is a rotary switch, so that the desired driving profile is set by rotating the rotary switch to a predetermined rotational position.

[0027] In particular, the rotary switch has detent positions and spring-back positions. When the rotary switch is moved to a detent position, it remains in that position (if the rotary switch is released), whereas when the rotary switch is moved to a spring-back position and released, it springs back from that position to the detent position from which it was moved to the spring-back position.

[0028] Within the scope of the present invention, a vehicle is also provided which comprises a controller and a switching element, wherein a driving profile of the vehicle is set by means of the controller and the switching element. The driving profile can be set via the controller by actuating this switching element alone.

[0029] The advantages of the vehicle according to the invention essentially correspond to the advantages of the method according to the invention, which is why they will not be repeated here.

[0030] The switching element may comprise a display on which a symbol for the currently set driving profile is shown.

[0031] This display allows the driver to see at a glance which driving profile is currently selected. This is particularly advantageous when a rotary switch has spring-back positions, meaning the current position of the rotary switch cannot be used to determine the selected driving profile.

[0032] The present invention is particularly suitable for motor vehicles that include multiple configurable devices influencing longitudinal and lateral dynamics. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this preferred area of ​​application, as the present invention can also be used in principle in ships, aircraft, and rail-bound vehicles.

[0033] In the following, the present invention is described in detail using preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 represent certain positions of a rotary switch for selecting a driving profile. In Fig. 3 schematically shows a vehicle according to the invention with a rotary switch for selecting a driving profile.

[0034] In Fig. 1a shows a rotary switch 1 in a latching basic position 0, i.e., a rotary adjuster 2 of the rotary switch 1 is in the basic position 0, so that the basic driving profile 0 is set with the rotary switch 1. For this reason, a display 7 of the rotary switch 1 also shows the symbol "0," which indicates that the driving profile 0 or the basic driving profile 0 is currently set via the rotary switch 1.

[0035] By turning the rotary switch 1 or more precisely the rotary actuator 2 in a predetermined direction of rotation 3 (see Fig. 1b) The rotary switch 1 is turned from the locking position 0 to the locking position C, so that the comfort driving profile C is immediately active. By pressing the rotary switch 2, the selected comfort driving profile C can be configured, whereby the comfort driving profile C can be modified according to the changes made to its programming (optional configurations).

[0036] The sport driving profile D is set starting from position C by moving the rotary switch 1 to a non-locking or spring-back position D, whereby the rotary switch 1, when released, returns to the locking position C, which in Fig. 1c. In this case, the central display 7 changes to the symbol "D." Sport driving profile D is immediately active. Pressing the rotary control 2 releases the now selected driving profile D for configuration. Sport driving profile D can be modified according to the changes made to its programming or optional configuration.

[0037] If the rotary switch 1 is turned in a direction 4, which is opposite to the predetermined direction 3, into the locking position B, as shown in Fig. 2a, ECO driving profile B is immediately active. The current driving profile B is displayed in the center of rotary switch 1. Again, by pressing a button on rotary switch 2, the selected driving profile B can be released for configuration, whereby ECO driving profile B can be modified according to the changes made with regard to its optional configurations.

[0038] With reference to Fig. 2b, the deactivated ECO driving profile A can be set starting from the rotary position B by turning the rotary switch 1 to the non-locking or spring-back position A. The central display 7 changes to "A," and the rotary switch returns to the locking position B as soon as it is released. The deactivated ECO driving profile A, which is currently set, can again be configured by pressing the rotary switch 2 and making the corresponding optional configuration changes.

[0039] In Fig. 2c shows the rotary switch 1 in its basic position 0. It can be seen that, starting from the basic position 0, the driving profiles A, B in the left area 5 influence the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle and the driving profiles C, D in the right area 6 influence the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.

[0040] In Fig. 3 schematically shows a vehicle 10 according to the invention, which comprises a controller 11, a chassis control 12, an adaptive front lighting system 13, an air conditioning system 14, a start / stop system 15 and a rotary switch 1. A driving profile can be set via the rotary switch 1, as described with reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig.2 described above. Depending on the position of the rotary switch 1 and thus depending on the currently set driving profile, the control unit 11 adjusts the driving path control 12, the adaptive front lighting system 13, the air conditioning system 14, and the start / stop system 15 in order to implement the configurations defined by the current driving profile.

Claims

[1] Method for setting a driving profile from five driving profiles for a vehicle (10), wherein the driving profile (A; B; C; D; O) defines a control behavior for the longitudinal and / or transverse dynamics of the vehicle (10), wherein the driving profile (A; B; C; D; 0) is set by means of exactly one actuation of a single switching element (1), characterized by , that starting from a basic position (0) of the switching element (1), which is assigned to a basic driving profile (0), two driving profiles (C, D) are set by moving the switching element (1) in a predetermined direction (3), and that starting from the basic position (0), two driving profiles (A, B) are set by moving the switching element (1) in a direction (4) opposite to the predetermined direction (3), wherein the switching element (1) is provided as a rotary switch with five rotary positions, wherein the basic position (0) is provided as a latching rotary position, wherein starting from the basic position (0) in the predetermined direction (3) a locking rotational position is reached, and starting from this locking rotational position in the predetermined direction (3) a non-locking rotational position is reached, and starting from the basic position (0) in the opposite direction (4) a locking rotational position is reached, and starting from this locking rotational position in the opposite direction (4) a non-locking rotational position is reached. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that by actuating the switching element (1) the driving profile is selected and set from several predefined driving profiles (A, B, C, D, O). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized bythat the predefined driving profiles include a basic driving profile (0), a comfort driving profile (C), a sport driving profile (D), an ECO driving profile (B) and a deactivated ECO driving profile (A). [4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that to select the driving profile the switching element is moved into one of several predetermined positions, each position being assigned to a predefined driving profile. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that by setting a driving profile (C, D) which determines the lateral dynamics, at least one of the following configurations is determined: • a start / stop system (15) of the vehicle (10) is activated or deactivated, • a function in which a transmission of the vehicle (10) interrupts a connection between an engine of the vehicle (10) and drive wheels of the vehicle (10) when an accelerator pedal of the vehicle (10) is no longer actuated is activated or deactivated, • an adaptive chassis control (12) of the vehicle (10) is in a comfort configuration or in a sports configuration, and • an adaptive front lighting system (13) of the vehicle (10) is set for rapid control behavior or not. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that by setting a driving profile (A, B) which determines the longitudinal dynamics, at least one of the following configurations is determined: • an air conditioning system (14) of the vehicle (10) is throttled or not, • the starting behavior of an engine of the vehicle (10) is consumption-optimized or not, • an adaptive cruise control of the vehicle (10) is activated or deactivated, • a fuel consumption indicator of the vehicle (10) is activated or deactivated, and • a route optimization of a navigation system of the vehicle (10) is configured to be consumption-optimized or not. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that by a predetermined actuation of the switching element (1) a configuration menu is opened in which configurations of the current driving profile (A; B; C; D; 0) set by means of the switching element (1) can be configured. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the switching element is a rotary switch (1) and that the driving profile is set by means of exactly one rotation of the rotary switch (1) into a predetermined rotational position (A; B; C; D; 0). [9] Method according to claim 8, characterized bythat the rotary switch (1) has latching rotary positions (B, 0, C) and spring-back rotary positions (A, D), wherein the rotary switch (1), when it is brought into a latching rotary position (B; 0; C), remains in this while the rotary switch (1), when it is brought into a spring-back rotary position (A; D), springs back from this into a latching rotary position (B; C) from which it was brought into the spring-back rotary position (A; D). [10] Vehicle comprising a control (11) and a switching element for setting a driving profile (0; A; B; C; D) with five driving profiles (0; A; B; C; D) of the vehicle (10), wherein the driving profile (A; B; C; D; 0) defines a control behavior for the longitudinal and for the transverse dynamics of the vehicle (10), wherein the control (11) and the switching element (1) are designed in such a way that the driving profile (A; B; C; D; O) can be set via the control (11) by means of exactly one actuation of the single switching element (1), characterized by , that starting from a basic position (0) of the switching element (1), which is assigned to a basic driving profile, driving profiles (C, D) can be set by moving the switching element (1) in a predetermined direction (3), and that starting from the basic position (0), driving profiles (A, B) can be set by moving the switching element (1) in a direction (4) opposite to the predetermined direction (3), wherein the switching element (1) is designed as a rotary switch with five rotary positions, wherein the basic position (0) is designed as a latching rotary position, wherein, starting from the basic position (0) in the predetermined direction (3), a locking rotary position is formed, and starting from this locking rotary position in the predetermined direction (3), a non-locking rotary position is formed, and wherein, starting from the basic position (0) in the opposite direction (4), a latching rotary position is formed, and starting from this latching rotary position in the opposite direction (4), a non-latching rotary position is formed. [11] Vehicle according to claim 10, characterized by that the control (11) and the switching element (1) are designed such that by actuating the switching element (1) the driving profile can be selected and set from several predefined driving profiles (A, B, C, D, O). [12] Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized by that the predefined driving profiles include a basic driving profile (0), a comfort driving profile (C), a sport driving profile (D), an ECO driving profile (B) and a deactivated ECO driving profile (A). [13] Vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized bythat the control (11) and the switching element (1) are designed such that, in order to select the driving profile, the switching element (1) can be moved into one of several predetermined positions (A, B, C, D, 0), each position (A; B; C; D; 0) being assigned to a predefined driving profile. [14] Vehicle according to any one of claims 10-13, characterized by that the switching element is a rotary switch (1) and that the rotary switch (1) is designed such that the driving profile can be set by means of exactly one rotation of the rotary switch (1) into a predetermined rotational position (A; B; C; D; 0). [15] Vehicle according to one of claims 10-14, characterized by that the switching element (1) comprises a display (7) which shows a symbol for a currently set driving profile (A; B; C; D; 0). [16] Vehicle according to one of claims 10-15, characterized by that the vehicle (10) is designed to carry out the method according to one of claims 1-10.

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