System and method for controlling one or more vehicle features based on driver status

US8258939B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Thomas Lee Miller · Ann Arbor, US
• Brian Bennie · Sterling Heights, US
• Andrew D. Sarkisian · Wixom, US
• Matthew J. Dalebout · Canton, US
• Lawrence D. Cepuran · Northville, US
• Anthony Dwayne Cooprider · Rochester Hills, US
• Ronald Patrick Brombach · Plymouth, US
• Kevin Thomas Hille · Plymouth, US
• Karl William Wojcik · Sterling Heights, US
• John Robert Van Wiemeersch · Harper Woods, US
• Terry Thomas Cwik · Northville, US
• Scott Alan Watkins · Canton, US
• Shimul Bhuva · Ann Arbor, US
• Aaron L. Mills · Ann Arbor, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 13, 2010
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 13, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R25/241
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.