Remote vehicle security system

• US 20040041691A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoloxer LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: WPI-Microprocessor Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapolka, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/16 having means to prevent or discourage unauthorised use or adjusting of the controlling means vehicle theft prevention in general B60R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for selectively limiting at least one operational characteristic, such as maximum speed, of a vehicle. A vehicle limitation control signal is supplied to the vehicle over a wireless communication network. In response to the limitation control signal, the maximum speed of the vehicle is limited.

Claims

1. A system for limiting performance of a vehicle, comprising:

a command device configured to send a control signal over a wireless communication network to a remotely-located vehicle;

a receiving device located on said vehicle configured to receive said control signal; and

a controller configured to cause an operational performance characteristic of said vehicle to be limited in response to said control signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said limited operational performance characteristic of said vehicle is speed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said command device is selected from a group comprising the following:

(i) a computer;

(ii) a personal digital assistant (PDA);

(iii) a wireless telephone; and

(iv) a pager.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller receives said control signal over an SAE J1708 data bus.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to transmit a vehicle limitation command message over an SAE J1922 data link to an ECM of said vehicle in response to said control signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller is configured to transmit said vehicle limitation command message at least once every 250 ms.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller is configured to cause a vehicle limitation flag to be stored in non-volatile memory, said vehicle limitation flag indicating if it is desired to maintain said vehicle in a vehicle limitation mode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to adjust a throttle position sensor signal supplied to an ECM of said vehicle in response to said control signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said vehicle employs a resistive throttle position sensor, and said controller is configured to cause a reference voltage supplied to said throttle position sensor to be reduced such that a maximum output of said throttle position sensor is reduced.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said vehicle employs a pulse-width-modulated throttle position sensor, and wherein said controller is configured to cause a width of pulses supplied to said ECM to be reduced in response to said control signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said width of pulses supplied to said ECM is reduced by providing a pulse train from said throttle position sensor and a pulse train from said controller to a comparator device, said pulse train from said controller having pulses of shorter duration than said pulses provided by said throttle position sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said comparator device is an AND gate.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to cause a cruise control switch of said vehicle to be disabled.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to cause an operational performance characteristic of said vehicle to be limited in response to said control signal by causing a disconnection of a vehicle speed sensor on said vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to cause an ignition switch on said vehicle to be disconnected.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to cause said operational performance characteristic of said vehicle to be limited by selectively taking one of the following actions:

(i) providing a vehicle limitation command on an SAE J1922 data link; and

(ii) adjusting a throttle position sensor signal supplied to an ECM of said vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said vehicle employs a resistive throttle position sensor, and said controller is configured to adjust said throttle position sensor signal by causing a reference voltage supplied to said throttle position sensor to be reduced such that said output of said throttle position sensor is reduced.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said vehicle employs a pulse-width-modulated throttle position sensor, and said controller is configured to adjust a throttle position sensor signal supplied to said ECM by causing a width of pulses supplied to said ECM to be reduced.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for locally issuing a control signal to said controller from within said vehicle.

20. A module for limiting an operational performance characteristic of a vehicle, comprising:

a throttle position sensor;

a primary reference voltage normally coupled to said throttle position sensor; and

a means for selectively providing a limiting reference voltage to said throttle position sensor in response to a control signal, said limiting reference voltage being less than said primary reference voltage.

21. The module of claim 20, wherein said means for providing a limiting reference voltage comprises:

a controller having an input port for receiving a limitation control signal, said controller having an output terminal coupled to a voltage-generating device, said voltage-generating device generating said limiting reference voltage; and

a switching device responsive to said controller, said switching device configured to selectively connect said primary reference voltage to said throttle position sensor and to alternatively connect said limiting reference voltage to said throttle position sensor.

22. A module for limiting an operational performance characteristic of a vehicle, comprising:

a throttle position sensor configured to generate a primary pulse train; and

a means for providing a limiting pulse train to an ECM of said vehicle in response to a control signal, wherein a width of pulses making up said limiting pulse train are shorter than a width of pulses making up said primary pulse train.

23. The module of claim 22, wherein said means for providing a limiting pulse train to an ECM of said vehicle comprises:

a controller having an input port for receiving a control signal and an output terminal for providing a secondary pulse train; and

a means for deriving said limiting pulse train based at least upon said secondary pulse train.

24. The module of claim 22, wherein said deriving means comprises a comparator device.

25. The module of claim 24, wherein said comparator device is an AND gate having said primary pulse train and said secondary pulse train as inputs, wherein an output of said AND gate comprises said limiting pulse train.

26. A module for limiting a performance characteristic of a vehicle, comprising:

a throttle position sensor;

a controller having an output terminal that selectively causes a limiting reference voltage to be applied to said throttle position sensor, said limiting reference voltage being less than a primary reference voltage that is applied to said throttle position sensor during normal operation; and

said controller having an output terminal that selectively provides a secondary pulse train upon which a limiting pulse train can be derived, said limiting pulse train being provided to an ECM of said vehicle.

27. The module of claim 26, further comprising means for applying said limiting reference voltage when said throttle position sensor is based upon a variable resistance and for deriving said limiting pulse train when said throttle position sensor produces a primary pulse train.

28. The module of claim 26, wherein said controller is further configured to receive a control signal and to selectively transmit a vehicle limitation command message over an SAE J1922 data link.

29. The module of claim 26, further comprising a comparator device configured to derive said limiting pulse train based upon said secondary pulse train and a primary pulse train.

30. The module of claim 29, wherein said comparator device is an AND gate.

31. A method for limiting a performance characteristic of a vehicle, comprising the steps:

receiving a vehicle limitation control signal over a wireless communication network; and

limiting a maximum speed of the vehicle in response to said vehicle limitation control signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said vehicle limitation control signal is received over an SAE J1708 data bus.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said limiting step comprises providing a limiting reference voltage to a throttle position sensor, said limiting reference voltage being less than a primary reference voltage that is provided to said throttle position sensor during normal operation.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said limiting step comprises providing a limiting pulse train to an ECM of the vehicle, the widths of pulses making up said limiting pulse train being shorter than the widths of pulses making up a primary pulse train provided by said throttle position sensor during normal operation.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said limiting step comprises transmitting a vehicle limitation command message over an SAE J1922 data link.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein said limiting step comprises interrupting transmission of data from a speed sensor.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps:

determining functional characteristics a throttle position sensor of the vehicle;

if said throttle position sensor provides an output signal based upon a variable resistance, then providing a limiting reference voltage to said throttle position sensor, said limiting reference voltage being less than a primary reference voltage that is provided to said throttle position sensor during normal operation; and

if said throttle position sensor provides a pulse train output signal, then providing a limiting pulse train to an ECM of the vehicle, the widths of pulses making up said limiting pulse train being shorter than the widths of pulses making up a primary pulse train provided by said throttle position sensor during normal operation.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of ceasing to limit said operational characteristic of said vehicle only in response to the combination of receiving a vehicle limitation disengage control signal and restarting the vehicle.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of selectively disconnecting an ignition switch of the vehicle.