IP Library Granted Patent US 8,941,481
Granted Patent B2
US 8,941,481 · App. 13/327,177 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

Method for assisting in maintenance of a motor vehicle

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,941,481
App. No.
13/327,177
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for assisting in maintenance of a motor vehicle having a drive motor, an drive energy storage device, and a filling level measuring device. A request for a maintenance process is identified by a self-monitoring device with the maintenance request being transmitted as a maintenance indication to a driver by an information device. The maintenance indication is transmitted to the driver as a function of a switch-off filling level present when the vehicle drive motor is switched off and detected by the filling level measuring device. The maintenance indication is transmitted when the switch-off filling level is lower than a preset filling level threshold value or when a filling level difference between a switch-on filling level, present when the vehicle drive motor is subsequently switched on again and detected by the filling level measuring device, and the preceding switch-off filling level indicates a positive filling level value.

Claims (17)

1. A method for assisting in maintenance of a motor vehicle having a vehicle drive motor and a drive energy storage device, which has a filling level measuring device, comprising:

identifying a request for a maintenance process on the motor vehicle as a maintenance request by a self-monitoring device of the motor vehicle;

transmitting the maintenance request as a maintenance indication to a driver of the motor vehicle by an information device arranged in the motor vehicle,

wherein the maintenance indication is transmitted to the driver as a function of a switch-off filling level present when the vehicle drive motor is switched off and detected by the filling level measuring device, the maintenance indication being transmitted when one of:

the switch-off filling level is lower than a preset filling level threshold value and

a filling level difference between a switch-on filling level, present when the vehicle drive motor is subsequently switched on again and which is detected by the filling level measuring device, and the preceding switch-off filling level indicates a positive filling level value,

wherein the maintenance process corresponding to the transmitted maintenance request and the transmitted maintenance indication comprises a non-fuel level related maintenance process, and

wherein two different transmission presets are provided in the motor vehicle,

a first preset being set for the motor vehicle, with the maintenance indication being transmitted in accordance with a first transmission preset only when the switch-off filling level is lower than the filling level threshold value, and

a second preset being set for the motor vehicle, with the maintenance indication being transmitted in accordance with the second transmission preset only when the filling level difference between the switch-on filling level and the switch-off filling level is greater than the filling level value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and the second transmission presets each comprise a regional identifier.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the maintenance indication is transmitted to the driver in at least one of an optical and an acoustic manner.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting by the information device the maintenance indication to the driver when the vehicle drive motor is switched on and additionally immediately when the request for the maintenance process is identified by the self-monitoring device, wherein the maintenance indication relates to the roadworthiness of the motor vehicle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the maintenance indication is transmitted to the driver in at least one of an optical and an acoustic manner.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

transmitting by the information device the maintenance indication to the driver when the vehicle drive motor is switched on and additionally immediately when the request for the maintenance process is identified by the self-monitoring device, wherein the maintenance indication relates to the roadworthiness of the motor vehicle.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2012
From: FOKKELMAN, JORIS; BOELD, MARTIN
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 028060/0446 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2012
From: FOKKELMAN, JORIS
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 027807/0856 →