System for exchanging data between devices in a motor vehicle and an external input/output terminal

• US 20040230348A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mann, Torsten, Reimann, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00992 mechanical key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A portable data exchange device including a data input, a data output, and a memory is incorporated into a mechanical or electronic key that is required for operating a motor vehicle. The data exchange device can exchange data bi-directionally or uni-directionally with a data processing device in the vehicle and with an external input/output terminal. The data may include vehicle-specific and/or driver-specific data relating to various systems of the vehicle. The data are transmitted to and from the device in the key in a wireless or direct-contacting manner. This device incorporated in the key avoids the need for carrying a separate data unit for exchanging data between the on-board data processing device of the vehicle and the external input/output terminal.

Claims

1. A data exchange system comprising:

a motor vehicle including a first data processing device;

an input/output terminal external and separate from said motor vehicle;

a portable authorization device required for enabling operation of said motor vehicle; and

a portable data exchange device that is incorporated in said authorization device and that is adapted to carry out a respective data communication respectively with said input/output terminal and with said first data processing device to thereby carry out a data exchange between said first data processing device and said input/output terminal.

2. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said authorization device is a vehicle key.

3. The data exchange system according to claim 2, wherein said motor vehicle includes a mechanically operative ignition lock, and said vehicle key is a mechanically operative ignition key that mates with said ignition lock so as to unlock and operate said ignition lock.

4. The data exchange system according to claim 3, wherein said ignition key includes a key blade protruding from a hand grip, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components encased within said hand grip.

5. The data exchange system according to claim 3, wherein said ignition key includes a key blade protruding from a hand grip having a recess therein, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components integrated on a smart card that is removably received in said recess in said hand grip.

6. The data exchange system according to claim 2, wherein said motor vehicle includes an electronically operative ignition lock, and said vehicle key is an electronically operative key that stores authorization data and communicates said authorization data to said ignition lock to unlock and operate said ignition lock.

7. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said authorization device is a chip card that stores authorization data required for enabling operation of said motor vehicle, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components integrated on said chip card.

8. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein at least one said data communication is only a uni-directional data communication.

9. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein at least one said data communication is a bi-directional data communication.

10. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device stores vehicle-specific data that are specific to said motor vehicle.

11. The data exchange system according to claim 10, wherein said data exchange device further stores driver-specific data that are specific to a particular driver of said motor vehicle to whom said authorization device is allocated.

12. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device stores driver-specific data that are specific to a particular driver of said motor vehicle to whom said authorization device is allocated.

13. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device comprises a memory and a data input/output arrangement including an input portion and an output portion.

14. The data exchange system according to claim 13, wherein said motor vehicle further includes a second data processing device, and said memory includes a first memory area that is allocated to said first data processing device and a second memory area that is distinct from said first memory area and that i'"'"'s allocated to said second data processing device.

15. The data exchange system according to claim 13, wherein said input portion of said data input/output arrangement comprises a receiver and an antenna connected thereto adapted to receive electromagnetic waves.

16. The data exchange system according to claim 13, wherein said output portion of said data input/output arrangement comprises a transmitter and an antenna connected thereto adapted to transmit electromagnetic waves.

17. The data exchange system according to claim 13, wherein said data input/output arrangement comprises an antenna and a transmitter/receiver connected thereto adapted to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves according to the Bluetooth specification.

18. The data exchange system according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said input portion and said output portion of said data input/output arrangement respectively comprises a signal conductor connected to a contact terminal located externally accessibly on said portable authorization device and adapted to carry out a conductor-bound data exchange.

19. The data exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said input/output terminal is a computer terminal connected to the internet.

20. The data exchange system according to claim 19, further comprising a computer at a facility of a manufacturer of said motor vehicle or a facility of a servicing center for servicing said motor vehicle, wherein said computer is connected to and carries out a data exchange with said data exchange device via the internet and said computer terminal.

21. A data exchange system comprising:

a motor vehicle including a first data processing device, a vehicle input/output arrangement connected directly or indirectly to said first data processing device, and a mechanical or electronic vehicle lock that selectively enables and prevents operation of said motor vehicle;

an input/output terminal that is external to and separate from said motor vehicle and that includes a terminal processor and a terminal input/output arrangement connected directly or indirectly to said terminal processor;

a portable mechanical or electronic key that cooperates with and is required for activating said vehicle lock to enable operation of said motor vehicle; and

a portable data exchange device that is incorporated in said key, and that comprises a memory, a processor connected to said memory, and a key input/output arrangement that is connected to said processor and adapted to carry out a communication respectively with said vehicle input/output arrangement and said terminal input/output arrangement.

22. The data exchange system according to claim 21, wherein each one of said input/output arrangements respectively comprises a wireless receiver/transmitter adapted to carry out a wireless reception and transmission of electromagnetic waves carrying data as said communication.

23. The data exchange system according to claim 21, wherein each one of said input/output arrangements respectively comprises signal conductors connected to contacts adapted to carry out a conductor bound reception and transmission of signals carrying data as said communication.

24. A portable handheld device comprising:

a portable authorization device required for enabling operation of a motor vehicle; and

a portable data exchange device that is incorporated in said portable authorization device, and that comprises a data memory, a data input connected directly or indirectly to said data memory, and a data output connected directly or indirectly to said data memory;

wherein said data input and said data output are adapted to communicate with a data processing device included in the motor vehicle and with a data input/output terminal that is external and separate from the motor vehicle.