Method and apparatus for reprogramming a vehicle component

• US 10,030,590 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hagedorn Maillard, Jurgen Christian, Morales Rodriguez, Irving, Togo Peraza, Luis Roberto, Benitez Sosa, Jorge, Navarro Hurtado, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US14/220,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561, 340 572, 340 51, 340 52, 701 1, 701 49, 701 35, 701 29, 701 33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers

Abstract

A method for reprogramming an automotive device writes a programming sequence to a transponder read/write memory, interfaces the transponder with at least one vehicle system while the at least one vehicle system is installed in a vehicle, and transfers the programming sequence to the at least one vehicle system.

Claims

1. A method for reprogramming a motor vehicle immobilizer, the method comprising:

operating a wireless fob for a motor vehicle, which has a transponder and read/write memory to thereby cause the wireless fob to transmit from the transponder;

a first key identification number that uniquely corresponds to the motor vehicle, and a programming sequence present signal;

receiving both the first key identification number and the programming sequence present signal at the immobilizer, the programming sequence present signal indicating to the immobilizer that the transponder in the wireless fob has a key identification number update sequence for the immobilizer, the key identification number update sequence causing the immobilizer to recognized a second and different key identification number to thereafter be used by the wireless fob;

receiving the key identification number update sequence at the immobilizer if the first key identification number received with the programming sequence present signal matches a key identification number stored in the immobilizer; and

after the key identification number update sequence is successfully received by the immobilizer, enabling the motor vehicle to operate on a reception of the second key identification number from the wireless fob by the immobilizer.

2. A method for reprogramming a motor vehicle'"'"'s immobilizer, the method comprising:

operating a wireless fob having a transponder and read/write memory to cause the wireless fob to transmit from the transponder;

a first key identification number that corresponds to a plurality of different motor vehicles, and a programming sequence present signal the first key identification number that corresponds to the plurality of different motor vehicles and the programming sequence present signal being independent of each other;

receiving the first key identification number and the programming sequence present signal at the immobilizer, the programming sequence present signal indicating to the immobilizer that the transponder in the wireless key fob has a key identification number update sequence for the immobilizer, the key identification number update sequence causing the immobilizer to recognized a second and different key identification number that will thereafter uniquely correspond to the motor vehicle;

receiving the key identification number update sequence at the immobilizer if the first key identification number received with the programming sequence present signal matches a previously stored key identification number stored in the immobilizer; and

after the key identification number update sequence is successfully received by the immobilizer, enabling the motor vehicle to operate on a reception of the second key identification number from the wireless key fob by the immobilizer.