EP1563466B1 - Method and key for setting driver-specific parameters in a motor vehicle and corresponding motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Numerous parameters in a vehicle ( 1 ), for example, adjustment of the driver seat and rearview mirror. To increase operating comfort for a driver, it is proposed according to the invention that a key ( 2 ), assigned to a vehicle ( 1 ), determines a biometric feature, especially a fingerprint, of a driver and sends personalization information depending on it to a control device ( 8 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ). By means of this personalization information, the control device ( 8 ) can carry out driver-specific adjustments within a vehicle ( 1 ) before the driver gets into the vehicle ( 1 ). In addition, the personal desires of an almost unlimited number of drivers can be considered with only a single key ( 2 ), as long as the information required for recognition of the different drivers is stored in the key ( 2 ), as well as the adjustments desired by the individual drivers.

Description

The present invention relates to a key for setting at least one driver-specific parameter of a motor vehicle and a correspondingly designed motor vehicle.

The key of a motor vehicle is nowadays not only used to unlock the door or to actuate the ignition, but is usually additionally used for wireless activation or deactivation of an immobilizer and / or for opening or closing a central locking of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the key is the only part of a motor vehicle that leads a driver after parking or parking the motor vehicle with him and connects it to the motor vehicle.

For example, DE 195 13 498 C1 discloses a motor vehicle with a key which offers extended communication possibilities with the motor vehicle. For example, the key can receive radio messages of the motor vehicle and notify the driver. Furthermore, a key unit is known from US Pat. No. 6,386,007 B1, by means of which the driver can determine the direction in which the motor vehicle is seen from the key in order to be able to find his vehicle more easily after parking.

From DE 190 47 967 A1 a vehicle key system with a key is further known, which has a fingerprint sensor to allow use of the key only authorized persons. To increase safety, a mounting unit is further provided within the motor vehicle, in which the key is arranged in the attachment unit, to prevent the motor vehicle can be used without a key by transmitting suitable data, for example, by intercepting a proper data transfer between keys and Motor vehicle were obtained.

In the aforementioned systems disadvantageously only the commissioning of the motor vehicle without further adjustments allows individuals. A further response to the respective driver does not take place.

DE 19823731 A shows a remote control device for vehicles with a transmitter for a wirelessly transmitted enable signal, which only becomes effective if the user is recognized as authorized, and with an identification device, by which this authorization is recognized.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a key for setting driver-specific parameters of a motor vehicle, in which the driver can also easily inform about the condition of the motor vehicle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a key according to claim 1. The dependent claims each define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

According to the invention, the key of the motor vehicle determines a biometric feature of the driver, sends a personalization information of the driver to the motor vehicle or to a control unit in the motor vehicle, whereupon driver-specific parameters of the motor vehicle are set depending on the personalization information. In this case, the key can transmit the personalization information to the motor vehicle wirelessly, via contact connection, via inductive coupling or via light signals or the like.

This has the advantage that for the driver-specific setting of parameters of the motor vehicle not different keys with different codes are required, but also with a single key as many different drivers with different preferences or preferences can be considered.

As biometric features, for example, the driver's fingerprint, an optical feature of the driver's iris, or a driver's speech pattern may be considered. Preferably, the fingerprint of the driver is used because it can be determined without being affected by optical or acoustic environmental influences.

The biometric feature of the driver is z. B. each determined when he wants to open the car and / or put into operation with the help of the key. On this occasion, data are usually sent from the key to the motor vehicle anyway, so that in addition the personalization information can be transmitted. Furthermore, there is usually only from this point on the need to make the driver-specific settings.

However, it is also provided according to the invention that the determination of the biometric feature of the driver and thus the determination of the current personalization information is a separate step, which is not repeated in each case when the motor vehicle is to be opened and / or put into operation with the help of the key. Since the determination of the biometric feature and the comparison with existing biometric features u. U. can be time consuming or prone to errors, it makes sense not to repeat this step in each case when the motor vehicle to be opened using the key and / or put into operation. Another advantage of the separation of this step is based on the fact that the key can transmit the current personalization information to the motor vehicle even if the operator has not touched the key. Thus, it is possible that the motor vehicle opens and z. B. an immobilizer disabled without the authorized driver touches the key ("Keyless Entry").

Furthermore, it is provided that the current personalization information can also be communicated to the key via its own interface, so that advantageously the key can also be personalized without determining a biometric feature and can also be personalized for a driver whose biometric feature is not in the key is stored, d. H. in this case the personalization information is communicated to the key by programming.

It can be provided that the key has a locking actuating element with which the driver opens or closes the central locking and / or activates or deactivates an immobilizer. As a rule, if the driver wishes to use the vehicle, he will normally use the locking actuator (unless the motor vehicle has a keyless entry system, supra), so that on that occasion the biometric feature of the driver can be determined. Advantageously, the locking actuator comprises a fingerprint sensor. As soon as the driver lays his finger on the locking actuating element as usual in order to open the motor vehicle or deactivate the immobilizer, the fingerprint can be automatically determined in this way and thus a personalization information of the driver who wants to use the motor vehicle next can be obtained. Before the driver gets in, so driver-specific parameters of the motor vehicle can be adjusted depending on the driver.

These parameters may be, for example, adjustments within the motor vehicle depending on the dimensions of the driver, such as seat settings, mirror adjustments, steering wheel, etc. Further, these settings may also include a selection of stations stored in a radio receiver. The can Parameter also affect the assignment of station memory in a radio receiver.

In a music reproduction apparatus, the parameters may relate to the acoustic settings. It is also conceivable that the parameters are person-specific settings of a communication system, such as an address book or a telephone number list.

In a development of the present invention, different security levels can be provided, according to which an operator is allowed to carry out operating actions. The different security levels are in particular adjustable, and they can be adjustable both via the key itself and via control elements in the motor vehicle. For example, a security level can be provided in which all operator actions of each operator are made possible without verification of the biometric feature. Of course, if the detection of the biometric feature is omitted, no adjustment of the parameters to the driver takes place. Such a security level can also be referred to as a guest mode if, for example, the use of the motor vehicle is to be temporarily made possible temporarily for a stranger without extensive adjustments being made. In such a guest mode, it can furthermore advantageously be provided that all user-specific parameters stored in the key and / or in the motor vehicle are not accessible or can not be called up by the guest. Furthermore, in the guest mode, the parameters are advantageously set so that they are suitable for an average operator, in particular without prior knowledge of the operation of the motor vehicle. Thus, in particular, the driver's seat, the steering wheel and the mirrors and other elements to be matched to the size and shape of the operator are set to an average sized and shaped operator. The same applies to any existing settings in response to operator actions by the operator, for example by means of an electronic accelerator, etc. Any existing address book or other collection of personal data of an authorized user is preferably locked in guest mode, so that it is not visible to the operator which is to be temporarily allowed to use the motor vehicle.

In contrast to the guest mode, a user mode may be provided in which at least some or all of the operating functions only allow a registered user who has successfully identified himself via the biometric feature. Once the user has identified himself, the identity of the user is known and user-specific settings can be made in the motor vehicle. For example, it may also be provided in this security level that commissioning of the motor vehicle is possible only after successful identification of the biometric feature. In a modification of the guest mode, however, it may also be provided that the motor vehicle remains usable even for unregistered users, in which case no user-specific settings are made due to the missing identification of the user, wherein settings are made for an unidentified user as well as in the guest mode which are suitable for an average user. The selection of the settings that are possible in the user mode only after successful identification, can be chosen arbitrarily. In this case, a plurality of user modes may be provided, in each of which a different selection of functions requires successful identification of the user.

The switching between the individual security levels is also advantageously coupled to a successful identification of a registered user in order to prevent unauthorized persons from setting a security level with lower security. The security mechanisms when switching the security level can be independent of the respective set security level, so that in both the guest mode and in a user mode always the same secure procedure is required to switch the security level. Alternatively, it can also be provided that, for example, in the guest mode, the security level, in particular for a security level of higher security, can also be changed by each operator without prior identification. This could be achieved, for example, that an operator who should be allowed only temporarily the use of the motor vehicle, increases the security level after use and thus prevents from this time a use of the motor vehicle by unauthorized persons who can not be successfully identified ,

In a preferred embodiment, an operator must successfully identify himself before a change in the security level via the recognition of the biometric feature. After the operator is granted access, for example, after the recognition of a fingerprint, the key should be set up so that the operator can change the security level as quickly as possible with as few operator actions as possible.

This can meet the situation that an operator hands over the key of an unregistered person, so that they can use the vehicle in the short term, without the person gets access to the user-specific data in the vehicle.

In an advantageous development, the key further comprises a device for determining the location of the motor vehicle. The direction in which the motor vehicle is seen from the key is determined. Preferably, the direction in which the beard of the key extends is selected as the reference direction. The result of the direction detection may be indicated by the key such that an optical display increases in intensity up to a maximum value depending on how closely the reference direction of the key coincides with the direction in which the motor vehicle is viewed from the key , This pointing direction or reference direction is marked on the outside of the key and in particular coincides with the direction in which the beard of the key extends. The optical display can be, for example, an intensity-increasing light-emitting element, a flashing element which increases in the flashing frequency, or else an alphanumeric display. In the case of a flashing indicator, the flashing may change to a steady lighting as soon as the pointing direction of the key coincides with sufficient accuracy with the vehicle direction in which the vehicle is located when viewed from the key.

The vehicle direction can also be displayed by means of a movable pointer or a ring of several lighting elements.

Also conceivable is an acoustic message, wherein a tone can increase in pitch or intensity or an acoustic pulse is output with decreasing intervals, the pulse train can change to a continuous tone as soon as the pointing direction of the key with sufficient accuracy the vehicle direction matches.

Such a key includes an indication of status data of the vehicle. In this case, the status display can also be configured very simply, so that it can display only a few and in particular two different states and only allows the driver to communicate whether everything is alright with the motor vehicle. Thus, for example, a two-color light-emitting diode may be provided, which lights up green as long as the motor vehicle is all right, and red lights up as soon as a fault occurs. A fault may be, for example, a break-in attempt, towing, generally a change of location of the motor vehicle or damage, for example, the discs.

It is also conceivable to connect the display for locating the motor vehicle with the status display of the motor vehicle by a luminous element indicates whether everything is OK in the motor vehicle, and assumes the display of the vehicle direction upon actuation of a particular Kraftfahrzeugauffindungsbetätigungselements.

Preferably, the display of the vehicle state does not take place continuously, but at intervals to discharge a battery of the key as little as possible. In general, it can be provided for the power supply of the key that a rechargeable battery is arranged inside the key and is charged as soon as the key is plugged into the motor vehicle. To charge the rechargeable battery within the key, contacts or an inductive coupling may be provided by means of coils.

The status data may be, for example, the tire pressure, the mileage, the switching state of the parking light and / or other lights, the state of the handbrake, the tank fill or levels of other fuels or the state of charge of the battery.

The status data can also be displayed via a display or output as a voice message.

Furthermore, the status data may be transmitted to the key at least in part at the time of leaving the vehicle. This can be realized advantageously technically simple. For example, status data can be transmitted to the key in this case, as long as he is still in the ignition or is still in its vicinity. The transmission can be done via contacts, induction coils or light signals.

In the present invention, the key may be used conventionally for boarding and starting. Furthermore, a biometric authorization for access to the vehicle and also for the personalization of the vehicle is conceivable.

With regard to a localization of the vehicle, as a further invention it is also conceivable that either the key or the vehicle itself determines the vehicle position and transmits the position data to a mobile navigation system which the user of the vehicle can take with him. This may be a known GPS system, whereby a portable computer such as a PDA may be used for navigation. The transmission of the vehicle position can be done when parking the motor vehicle when leaving the vehicle or later on request by the driver, for example, if this wants to find from his current location back to the vehicle.

If the key has an interface (e.g., via Bluetooth), data may be both read out of the key and transmitted to it. When reading data, for example, vehicle data from the key can be transferred to a personal organizer, a portable computer or a PDA. This is useful, for example, during a visit to the workshop in order to be able to read in data without access to the motor vehicle. For example, data could already be transmitted wirelessly during a service acceptance (completion of a service order in a workshop), so that information about the motor vehicle and possibly also about the owner or the user is already available in the workshop. In this case, access to the data stored in the key may be restricted depending on the recipient, whereby a workshop should have access to all data.

In a further embodiment, it may be possible to load data into the key via the interface from where the data is transmitted to the motor vehicle. Thus, for example, the process can be facilitated that a new user should be added to the database of the motor vehicle with its settings. For example, an operator who has stored specific settings in a first motor vehicle can thus also transmit this information to a second vehicle, in which the user-specific information is transmitted from the key of the first vehicle to the key of the second vehicle. This case can occur, for example, when an operator buys a new motor vehicle and would like to take over the information stored in the old vehicle with little effort. Furthermore, this procedure also lends itself to car rental companies, wherein the information of a particular user is stored in the car rental and transferred when renting a motor vehicle before renting the car rental in the key be so that the customer already finds his personal information stored in the rented motor vehicle when renting.

If the key has both a flat display or a display as well as a planar sensor, for example a fingerprint sensor, the key can be configured at least essentially planar, wherein the display is arranged on one side and the planar sensor is arranged on the other side is. This is possible because when operating the sensor for determining the biometric feature usually not the same time the display must be used, since upon actuation of the sensor by the operator only the feedback is expected, whether the identification was successful or not, which Also with a small optical element, such as an LED is possible. The arrangement of the display on the one hand and the sensor on the other hand, the key can be made smaller or the surface of the key can be better utilized to accommodate the largest possible display even on a small key can.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem zugeordneten Schlüssel (Vorderseite) gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• Figur 2 die relative Anordnung zwischen dem Schlüssel und dem Kraftfahrzeug zum Bestimmen des Kraftfahrzeugstandorts, und
• Figur 3 die Rückseite des Schlüssels.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show in it

• 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with an associated key (front side) according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
• Figure 2 shows the relative arrangement between the key and the motor vehicle for determining the location of the motor vehicle, and
• Figure 3, the back of the key.

FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 with an internal control unit 8. In addition, an assigned key 2 is shown in FIG. 1, both the key 2 and the control unit 8 having radio transmission means by means of which wireless data transmission between the key 2 and the control unit 8 is made possible.

The key 2 has a locking actuating element 3, which is actuated by finger pressure and serves for locking or unlocking an immobilizer of the motor vehicle 1 and for opening or closing a central locking of the motor vehicle 1.

The locking operation member 3 further comprises a fingerprint sensor, so that a fingerprint or at least fingerprint information can be detected simultaneously with a finger when the locking operation member 3 is operated. As soon as the driver presses the locking actuator 3 on the key 2 to lock or unlock the car, fingerprint information is automatically present within the key 2. In this case, a green LED 9 flashes when the fingerprint or the fingerprint information the key 2 are known and a red LED 10, if no matching fingerprint or fingerprint information in the key 2 could be found.

The determined fingerprint information is converted in the key 2 in a personalization information that represents an identifier for the driver. For this purpose, two different fingerprints or fingerprint information of different drivers are stored in the key together with associated personalization information, so that the individual drivers can be distinguished from one another on the basis of their fingerprints or fingerprint information. As soon as a particular driver wants to open the motor vehicle 1 by pressing the locking actuator 3, the driver is recognized by the key 2 on the basis of his fingerprint and a personalization information corresponding to the driver is transmitted to the control unit 8 in the motor vehicle 1.

Since the determination of biometric features such. B. a fingerprint, and the associated comparison with existing fingerprints or fingerprint information can be time-consuming and error-prone, is provided in a variant of the embodiment, to process the step of determining the fingerprint or the fingerprint information and the associated determination of the associated personalization information independently , For this purpose, the driver places his corresponding fingertip in a fingerprint sensor 14, which determines a corresponding fingerprint. As soon as this step, which is also possible when the motor vehicle 1 is outside the reach of the key 2, has been completed, the key 2 stores the corresponding current personalization information which the key 2 has in all corresponding situations (eg when operating the key 2) Locking actuation element 3, which in this variant does not include a fingerprint sensor) transmitted to the motor vehicle 1, without the respective fingerprint must be taken again. The disadvantage of losing the key 1 in a state where the current personalization information stored, corresponds to the loss of a conventional motor vehicle key is more than offset by the following advantages. Firstly, as already mentioned, the u. U. time-consuming and error-prone determination of the fingerprint or the fingerprint information and the associated comparison with existing fingerprints or fingerprint information when the key 2 is operated to z. B. to open the motor vehicle 1 or to put into operation. Furthermore, it is possible for the key 2 to send the current personalization information to the motor vehicle 1 without the key 2 being touched in advance. As a result, the motor vehicle 1 is unlocked as soon as the motor vehicle 1 recognizes that the key 2 with authorized current personalization information is in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle 1 (keyless entry).

In a further, not shown embodiment, the motor vehicle 1 sends a signal as soon as a handle of the motor vehicle 1 is included or actuated. If an authorized key 2 is in the reception range of this signal, this key 2 then sends its current personalization information to the motor vehicle 1.

The learning of a new assignment of a new fingerprint or fingerprint information to a corresponding new personalization information should only be able to be initiated by a principal who must first authenticate himself through his fingerprint. Since the management of the biometric features and associated personalization information requires a complex dialogue guide, this management (delete, modify, create) is not performed via the key 2, but is realized by a corresponding device in the motor vehicle 1, from where the personalization information in the key 2 is transmitted. This is a complete reset only possible through a workshop, which z. B. makes sense in a sale of the motor vehicle 1. When management of the assignment of fingerprint information to associated personalization information is performed, the red 10 and green 9 LEDs of the key 2 flash. Of course, personalization information management and personalization information transfer devices may also be incorporated into the key 2 outside the motor vehicle 1, e.g. in a workshop or car rental office.

In the control unit 8 is before the start of the motor vehicle 1, the information about which driver the motor vehicle 1 will use. Based on this information the controller 8 driver-specific parameters as they are stored for the corresponding driver in the control unit 8. These parameters include in particular settings of the driver's seat, the rearview mirror, transmitters stored in a radio receiver, data of a communication directory, telephone numbers of a telephone number list or settings of an automatic climate control. Since the control unit 8 receives the personalization information required by the key 2 for setting driver-specific parameters before the driver enters the motor vehicle 1, there is sufficient time to make mechanical adjustments that take a certain amount of time, such as adjusting the driver's seat. This has the advantage that the driver's seat is already set before the driver enters the motor vehicle 1.

By means of a slide switch 13 (or a sliding switch, which is not shown in the present embodiment) and / or by means of controls (not shown) in the motor vehicle 1, it is possible to reset the key 2 in a guest mode. In this case, the current personalization information in the key 2 is overwritten by the personalization information corresponding to a guest. The guest rights include access to the motor vehicle 1 and the right to start the engine. All settings in the motor vehicle 1, which the guest makes, are not saved. Each authorized operator can change the key 2 at any time by applying her fingerprint on the key 2 again to the personal key 2.

The key 2 also has a motor vehicle detection actuating element 4 with which a special function of the key 2 can be activated, according to which a vehicle direction can be determined, in which the motor vehicle 1 is viewed from the key 2. In this case, it is determined within the key 2 to what extent a pointing direction, which is defined with respect to the housing of the key 2, coincides with the vehicle direction in which the motor vehicle 1 is viewed from the key 2. The pointing direction of the key 2 is preferably the direction in which a beard 7 of the key 2 extends. The degree of correspondence between the pointing direction and the vehicle direction is displayed by a vehicle direction display element 5. The vehicle direction indicating element 5 is a light emitting diode that emits or blinks time-spaced light signals. The better the pointing direction and the vehicle direction coincide, the faster the blinking frequency of the vehicle direction indicating element 5, the blinking turns into a steady lighting when the pointing direction and the vehicle direction coincide within a certain accuracy.

When the driver of the motor vehicle 1 turns this off and away from it, he can determine by pressing the vehicle detection actuator 4 on the key 2 at least the direction in which the motor vehicle 1 is seen from the key 2. For this purpose, the driver only has to turn the "key 2" while the vehicle detection actuating element 4 is pressed until the light signals of the vehicle direction display element 5 change to a permanent light, as soon as the beard 7 points in the direction in which the motor vehicle 1 is located.

Furthermore, the key 2 is capable of recording and reproducing a short voice recording (eg of 30 seconds) via a microphone 15. This makes it possible, for. B. store the parking location of the motor vehicle 1 as a reminder as voice recording in the key 2 and listen on demand.

• Parklicht (Status)
• Füllstand des Tankes finden
• Alarm des Kraftfahrzeugs aktiv (ja/nein)
• Zeitpunkt der nächsten Wartung
• Kennzeichen des Kraftfahrzeugs (Nummernschild)
• Reifendruck
• Batterieladestatus
• Kilometerstand
• Verriegelungszustand

The key 2 also has a display 11 and a status display 6. The status display 6 is a light-emitting diode and indicates whether everything is OK with the motor vehicle 1. In contrast, the display 11 gives more detailed information about the motor vehicle 1 and indicates the following:

• Parking light (status)
• Find the level of the tank
• Alarm of motor vehicle active (yes / no)
• Time of the next maintenance
• License plate of the motor vehicle (license plate)
• tire pressure
• Battery charging status
• mileage
• lock state

angezeigt, wenn die dem Schlüssel 2 vorliegenden Informationen über das Kraftfahrzeug 1 besagen, dass alles zufriedenstellend ist. Wird die Informationstaste 12 eine bestimmte Zeitdauer nicht mehr betätigt, erlischt die Anzeige 11.The switching between the individual status information is effected by repeatedly pressing (toggling) an information key 12, the first time the information key 12 is pressed, the display 11 is activated and first displays superordinate information indicating the current accessor and a brief information about the general Vehicle condition included. This is the general vehicle condition with a "smile"

displayed when the information available to the key 2 the motor vehicle 1 say that everything is satisfactory. If the information key 12 is not actuated for a certain period of time, the display 11 goes out.

In addition, 8 different possible disturbances are monitored by the control unit, such as damage to the motor vehicle 1, a break-in attempt, a change in location of the motor vehicle 1 or whether the motor vehicle 1 is towed. As soon as one of the monitored faults occurs, the control unit 8 detects a fault. The control unit 8 thus differentiates between a proper state and a fault and indicates this with the key 2 by means of the status display 6. It can be provided that the control unit 8 emits signals to the key 2, as long as the motor vehicle 1 is in the proper state, so that the key 2 indicates the fault in the absence of these signals. This has the advantage that when the radio connection between the key 2 and the control unit 8 is interrupted, the proper condition is not erroneously displayed.

Conversely, however, the control unit 8 can also display only the fault with the key 2, so that is displayed in the absence of such information from the key 2 of the proper state. In addition, there is also the possibility that the control unit 8 indicates both the proper condition and the accident in the key 2, so that it can safely both both states and as a third state indicate an interruption of the radio link.

To display the various states by means of the status display 6, there are different possibilities. By way of example, the status display 6 can be a two-color light-emitting diode, wherein a color is respectively assigned to the proper state or to the malfunction. In order to consume as little energy as possible, the status display 6 can also indicate the respective state with the aid of short flashes of light. An interruption of the radio link can be indicated for example by a faster flashing frequency or alternately flashing the two colors. Likewise, from the status display 6, the various states of proper state, malfunction and interruption of the radio link can be displayed by different flashing frequencies.

Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the status indicator 6 and the vehicle direction indicator 6 in a single display element (perhaps the display 11), which when the vehicle retrieval operation member 4 is kept pressed, indicates the vehicle direction and assumes the status indication when the vehicle retrieval operation member 4 is not depressed.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the relative arrangement of the key 2 and the motor vehicle 1 in determining the vehicle direction. The pointing direction of the key 2 is shown by a dashed line and the vehicle direction by a dashed line. The vehicle direction and the pointing direction enclose with each other the angle α determined by the key 2. Depending on the determined angle α, a control of the vehicle direction indicator element 5 takes place. The angle α has a range of values from 0 to 180 °, so that it can not be distinguished on the basis of the vehicle direction indicator 5 whether at a different angle from zero angle α the pointing direction left or right of the motor vehicle 1 passes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

motor vehicle

2

key

3

Locking actuator

4

Motor vehicle locating actuator

5

direction indicator

6

Vehicle status display

7

bit

8th

control unit

9

green LED

10

red LED

11

display

12

information button

13

slide switches

14

fingerprint sensor

15

microphone

α

angle

Claims (24)

1. Key for a motor vehicle, with the key (2) being designed in such a way that the key sends an item of personalization information about an operator to a controller (8) of the motor vehicle (1), and that the key (2) can receive state data from the motor vehicle (1), with the controller (8) setting at least one parameter of the motor vehicle (1) as a function of the received personalization information, characterized in that the key (2) comprises a display (11), for showing the state data from the motor vehicle (1), and a button (12), with the key additionally being designed in such a way that the display (11) can be activated by pressing the button (12).
2. Key according to Claim 1, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that it determines the personalization information by detecting and evaluating a biometric feature of the,operator.
3. Key according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that it stores the personalization information.
4. Key according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the key (2) sends the personalization information to the motor vehicle (1) as soon as a communication link is established between the key (2) and the motor vehicle (1).
5. Key according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the key (2) has a lock operating element (3) for locking and unlocking a central lock of the motor vehicle (1) and/or for activating and deactivating an immobilizer of the motor vehicle (1).
6. Key according to Claim 5, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that it detects a biometric feature and thus the personalization information and sends them to the motor vehicle (1) when the lock operating element (3) is operated.
7. Key according to Claim 6, characterized in that the lock operating element (3) comprises a fingerprint sensor, and in that the key is designed in such a way that a fingerprint is determined by the fingerprint sensor as the biometric feature of the operator when the lock operating element (3) is operated.
8. Key according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the key (2) detects an item of information about the direction in which the motor vehicle (1) is positioned as seen from the key (2), and displays the detected direction information.
9. Key according to Claim 8, characterized in that the orientation of a key bit (9) is used as the reference direction of the key (2).
10. Key according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the key (2) detects the information about the direction in which the motor vehicle (1) is positioned in relation to the key (2) only when an operating element (4) for a motor vehicle locating means is operated.
11. Key according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that it sends the personalization information to the motor vehicle (1) in a wire-free manner, by means of contact connection, by means of inductive coupling or by means of optical signals.
12. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the state data includes the kilometre reading of the motor vehicle (1) and/or the filling level of the fuel tank of the motor vehicle (1) and/or an item of information about whether unauthorized people have entered and/or started the motor vehicle (1) and/or an item of information about whether the motor vehicle (1) is moving or being towed.
13. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that it displays an item of information about the general state of the motor vehicle (1) when the button (12) is pressed for the first time.
14. Key according to Claim 13, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the information about the general state of the motor vehicle (1) includes an indication of whether all of the state data is satisfactory or not, and an indication of a name which corresponds to the personalization information and is stored in the key.
15. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that pressing the button (12) when the display (11) is active causes the display to display a different element of the state data which is transmitted to the key (2) from the motor vehicle (1) each time said button is pressed, with all of the state data which is transmitted to the key (2) from the motor vehicle (1) being displayed on the display (11) in succession when the button (12) is repeatedly pressed.
16. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that different security stages can be set in the key (2), these security stages specifying the degree to which operator control actions can be performed, as a function of a detected biometric feature of the operator.
17. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the key (2) has an interface by means of which a biometric feature can be transferred to the key (2) with the associated personalization information.
18. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the key (2) is designed in such a way that the key (2) has an interface by means of which the personalization information can be transferred to the key (2), and in that the key (2) stores the transferred personalization information in this case.
19. Motor vehicle (1) which is designed in such a way that it transfers state data to an associated key (2), having an associated key (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 18 having a display, for showing the state data of the motor vehicle, and a button, with the key additionally being designed in such a way that the display can be activated by means of pressing the button, with the motor vehicle (1) and the key (2) having transmission and reception means for data transfer and being set up in such a way that the key (2) sends an item of personalization information about the operator to a controller (8) of the motor vehicle (1), and that the controller (8) sets the at least one parameter of the motor vehicle (1) as a function of the received personalization information.
20. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 19, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) is designed in such a way that the motor vehicle (1) establishes a communication link with the key (2) when the motor vehicle (1) identifies that a handle of the motor vehicle (1) is operated.
21. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 19, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) is designed in such a way that it transfers the state data to the key (2) at specific time intervals.
22. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 21 or 19, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) is designed in such a way that the state data is transferred when operation is stopped or an operator gets out.
23. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of Claims 19, 21 and 22, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) sends the state data in a wire-free manner, by means of contact connection, by means of inductive coupling or by means of optical signals.
24. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of Claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the transmission and/or reception means of the motor vehicle (1) and of the key (2) are designed for wire-free data transfer.

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