System for activating an observation mode in a special vehicle

Abstract

System (1) for activating an observation mode in a special vehicle (10) based on a standard vehicle, in particular a surveillance vehicle, comprising: a suppression module (2) for suppressing predetermined vehicle functions provided as standard, wherein the suppression of the vehicle functions is software-based, wherein the suppression module (2) is further configured by coding to permanently suppress a functional shutdown of electric window lifters of the special vehicle (10).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for activating an observation mode in a special-purpose vehicle. The present invention particularly relates to such special-purpose vehicles based on mass-produced vehicles. State of the art

[0002] In order to equip government vehicles for agency-specific purposes, hardware modifications to standard vehicles are known in the state of the art. These modifications deactivate standard functions or add additional functions to standard vehicles. For example, it is known that to secure vehicle-based radio and signaling systems, government vehicles can be locked with the engine running. This function is not provided for standard vehicles. Activating additional functions or deactivating standard functions is done in the state of the art using separately provided switching devices, which are also not provided for in standard vehicles. After special vehicles (police and especially surveillance vehicles) have been decommissioned, such modifications, which are difficult to dismantle, reduce the resale value of the special vehicles.In addition, some of the implemented functions or function suppressions are not permitted for average vehicle owners.

[0003] There is therefore a need for solutions that allow for the implementation of special-vehicle-specific functions or function suppression without irreversible modifications, so that the resale value of decommissioned special vehicles is not unnecessarily reduced. Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to always activate / deactivate functions that must be switched on under time pressure in the "same place" without having to search for specific, model-dependent installation locations for the corresponding switching devices.

[0004] DE 10 2010 011 319 A1 discloses a user interface for setting at least one parameter of at least one vehicle function, in which group functions are provided for the activation of driving purpose-related functional scopes.

[0005] DE 199 46 145 A1 discloses a colored identification light for special vehicles which, in addition to the rotating beacon, makes the special vehicle recognizable as such at night even when the rotating beacon is not in use.

[0006] DE 103 56 401 A1 discloses a commercial vehicle with a blackout light operation, in which the display elements of an instrument cluster in response to the user signal, which instructs a computer by means of a hardware switch, to operate the background lighting at a reduced brightness value. Disclosure of the invention

[0007] The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a system for activating an observation mode in a special vehicle based on a standard vehicle, having the features according to claim 1. An observation mode is characterized by a multitude of additional functions or function suppressions, which will be discussed below. For example, a vehicle used for observation missions must behave as inconspicuously as possible when necessary. Sound and / or light emissions from parked observation vehicles must be suppressed if possible, and especially when necessary. Nevertheless, certain functional scopes must be retained without restriction despite acoustically and / or visually inconspicuous behavior.For example, it is necessary for crews of surveillance vehicles to be able to open the windows from time to time, even if they have to remain in a parked surveillance vehicle for several hours, in order to let fresh air into the vehicle or to be able to communicate discreetly and easily with the vehicle's surroundings. As standard, windows can only be opened using electrically operated window regulators for a certain period of time or until a predetermined event (e.g. driver's door opened) after the ignition key has been removed. In modern vehicles, the removal of the ignition key as the trigger for a corresponding terminal change can sometimes be replaced by another process, such as pressing a pushbutton switch. After this predetermined period of time or event, the ignition must be reactivated or at least a terminal change must be carried out in order to operate the window regulators.For reasons of comfort and perceived value, terminal changes are now often associated with light and sound emissions from the vehicle (e.g. "home lights", entry lighting, footwell lighting, sound signals, etc.), so that crews operating in the dark, in particular, run the risk of being recognized or at least arousing suspicion.

[0008] On the other hand, a crew may well use light-emitting devices while waiting for the arrival of a person to be observed (for example, to gather information or communicate with a control center), whereas these light sources must be dimmed immediately upon the arrival of the person to be observed to avoid premature detection. Such a function requires in-depth interventions in the vehicle electronics and their networked system components in order to actually dim all light-emitting components of the vehicle if necessary. According to the invention, the aforementioned operating steps are to be assigned to an observation mode, the activation of which differs from the prior art. According to the invention, a suppression module is therefore provided for suppressing predetermined standard vehicle functions.A suppression module can be understood as a control device which ensures that selected functions can be deactivated compared to a vehicle equipped as standard. According to the invention, it is not excluded that certain standard vehicle functions are deactivated "at the factory" without the user of the vehicle having any influence on this. The suppression module can be a control unit as provided in the standard vehicle, while according to the invention the suppression of the respective vehicle function is software-based. In other words, according to the invention, no specially installed switching devices are required which deactivate or suppress the standard functions in order to configure the special vehicle as such. Software-based suppression is understood to mean any non-hardware-based change in the scope of functions.Such coding "ex works" is therefore to be understood as software-based, as is the transmission of a control command via a non-standard application configured to send signals to the vehicle electronics network. According to the invention, this prevents modifications to the vehicle hardware from unduly impairing the resale value of decommissioned special vehicles. Furthermore, it is possible to implement spatially uniform arrangements of corresponding control elements across the fleet.

[0009] The subclaims relate to preferred developments of the invention.

[0010] More preferably, the hardware, and in particular the software, of the suppression module can be identical to that of a standard control unit. In other words, depending on the function to be suppressed, an assigned control unit can be configured and understood as a suppression module. For example, coding can ensure that the standard vehicle functions are suppressed. Such coding can be performed, for example, "ex works" or during coding of the special vehicle after delivery. "Coding" is understood to mean, for example, an "upload" of a data set, based on which the vehicle electronics determine whether or not individual vehicle functions should be executed in response to the detection of a specific event.In this way, the suppression of certain standard vehicle functions according to the invention can be achieved by means of minor and manageable interventions in the vehicle software.

[0011] According to the invention, a functional shutdown of the electric window lifters of the special vehicle is suppressed, which means that even after a predetermined event (e.g. the driver's door is opened) or the lapse of a predetermined period of time after a certain terminal change (e.g. by removing the vehicle key or pressing a corresponding push button), the vehicle can still operate the electric window lifter switches. In other words, in a vehicle equipped according to the invention, the electric window lifter is not switched off even after the lapse of the standard time period after a predetermined ignition state occurs. In this way, it is possible to operate window lifters in the observation mode of a surveillance vehicle even if the vehicle has been in use for several hours, without the user having to perform any operating steps that would reveal the vehicle or the users.

[0012] Further preferably, an input device can be provided which, for example, is configured as a touch-sensitive screen to receive inputs from a user in the context of an observation mode. In other words, the input device can represent display elements as a so-called touch screen, one of which, for example, causes a rapid activation of an observation mode ("camouflage mode"). The touch-sensitive screen can be connected to the vehicle electronics, for example, via a cable or via a wireless communication protocol. The hardware of the input device can either be permanently connected to the vehicle or can be implemented, for example, as a smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other remote control element.Only a user ID and / or pairing is required to authenticate inputs made to the input device for vehicle control. This makes it possible to implement a variety of functions without the use of built-in switches provided in the hardware, thus safeguarding the resale value of the vehicle configured as a special-purpose vehicle.

[0013] The suppression module can further be configured to transmit a signal in response to the actuation of a button on the input device. Upon receiving this signal, the suppression module dims, in particular switches off, all lighting devices of the special vehicle, including those of the input device. The lighting devices to be switched off or dimmed include, for example, the low beam headlights ("home lights"), instrument clusters, alarm systems, LEDs, and also the display illumination of the input device itself—in short, everything that would distinguish the vehicle from other parked vehicles. In response to the actuation of the button, the special vehicle would thus enter a dimmed state, through which the vehicle "camouflages" itself as a parked vehicle in observation mode.

[0014] More preferably, the suppression module can be further configured to transmit a signal in response to actuation of a button on the input device, and upon receiving the signal, the suppression module mutes, in particular switches off, all potentially sound-emitting sources of the special vehicle. This includes not only the loudspeakers in conjunction with the vehicle's infotainment system. Compared to a parked vehicle, a fan for the vehicle's cooling system, a possibly still running fuel pump, actuators for the ventilation system, valves for an air suspension, and even electrical converters can also be understood as potentially sound-emitting sources. In other words, the function of all these sources is restricted at least to the extent that sound emissions are effectively prevented.

[0015] The above features of the present invention can preferably be applied to a special-purpose vehicle configured as a passenger car for police use. This includes not only police vehicles that are recognizable as patrol vehicles, but also, and especially, passenger vehicles that appear as inconspicuous as possible and are externally indistinguishable from standard vehicles. Short description of the characters

[0016] The above-mentioned functions and features of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic overview of components of an embodiment according to the present system; and Fig. 2 the components and their spatial arrangement in a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrate.Detailed description of the embodiments

[0017] Fig. 1 shows components of a system 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A suppression module 2 is connected to a touchscreen 3 as an input device. The touchscreen 3 can be configured to display a button 4 which, when activated, causes all light sources provided in the vehicle (low beam headlights 5, instrument cluster 6, and control LED 7 of the anti-theft alarm system) to be dimmed or switched off. Furthermore, the suppression module 2 can ensure that a loudspeaker 9 of the infotainment system either no longer receives any input signals or that its amplification is switched off entirely. For example, values ​​can be provided for this purpose in a coding memory 8 within the suppression module 2, which values ​​are loaded and / or activated in an observation mode instead of standard values, in order to avoid betraying the vehicle and its crew during operations.

[0018] Fig.Figure 2 shows a schematic overview and the spatial distribution of components of a system according to the invention in a special vehicle 10. A suppression module 2 is electrically connected to the low beam 5 in the front of the vehicle. Furthermore, a loudspeaker 9 in the driver's door of the special vehicle 10 and a touchscreen 3 in the area of ​​the dashboard are connected to the suppression module 2. A signal light 12 for setting special light signals is provided on the vehicle roof and, like a taillight 11 arranged in the rear of the vehicle, is connected to the suppression module 2. Depending on the design of the system according to the invention, different functions and corresponding display elements can now be displayed on the touchscreen 3 in the area of ​​the dashboard of the special vehicle 10 in order to enable the vehicle crew to immediately darken or mute the vehicle's optical and acoustic sources if necessary.In addition, a coding memory 8 provided within the suppression module 2 may be provided at the factory in order to override predetermined functions (such as switching off the electric window lifting mechanism after a predetermined period of time has elapsed).

[0019] A core concept of the present invention is to deactivate or render deactivated standard functions for implementing an observation mode in order to avoid having to make hardware modifications to the vehicle, which would unnecessarily impair the resale value of decommissioned special vehicles. For this purpose, the invention provides a suppression module which suppresses standard vehicle functions using software. Preferably, the hardware and / or software of existing components of the series vehicles can be used to implement the suppression function, which can be modified according to the invention using coding parameters and / or coding values ​​and / or input devices (such as a smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA)).

[0020] Even if the invention has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures by naming and explaining specific features and embodiments, modifications, omissions and additions to the described objects remain within the scope of the present invention, as the person skilled in the art will understand from the available documents, and the scope of protection of which is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

[1] System (1) for activating an observation mode in a special vehicle (10) based on a standard vehicle, in particular a surveillance vehicle, comprising: a suppression module (2) for suppressing predetermined vehicle functions provided as standard, wherein the suppression of the vehicle functions is software-based, wherein the suppression module (2) is further configured by coding to permanently suppress a functional shutdown of electric window lifters of the special vehicle (10). [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the hardware, in particular also the software, of the suppression module (2) is identical to that of a standard control unit and is configured by coding to suppress the standard vehicle functions. [3] System according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an input device (3), in particular a touch-sensitive screen, by means of which a user can operate the suppression module (2). [4] System according to claim 3, wherein the input device (3) is further configured to send a signal in response to an actuation of a button (4), in response to the reception of which the suppression module (2) darkens, in particular switches off, all the lighting means (5, 6, 7), in particular including those of the input device (3), of the special vehicle (10). [5] System according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the input device (3) is further configured to send a signal in response to an actuation of a button (4), in response to the reception of which the suppression module (2) mutes, in particular switches off, all potentially sound-emitting sources (9) of the special vehicle (10). [6] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the special vehicle (10) is a passenger car which is equipped for police use. [7] Vehicle comprising a system (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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