Onboard controller system

• US 20070271022A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magtec Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magtec Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Morisset, Mitch, Ochitwa, Mark, Hay, Douglas, Morisset, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go

Abstract

A system and method for safely slowing or stopping a vehicle by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or stop a vehicle in a gradual or stepped manor. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed, thus forcing the vehicle to slow to the threshold speed. The threshold is gradually reduced over time, causing the operator to stop the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for interfering with the operation of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. determining the vehicle speed;

b. selecting a threshold speed; and

c. controlling the vehicle by allowing operator control if the vehicle speed is less than the threshold speed and interfering with operator control if the vehicle speed is greater than the threshold speed wherein the vehicle speed is reduced to the threshold speed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d. determining the vehicle acceleration;

e. providing an override allowing operator control if the vehicle acceleration is greater than or equal to zero.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a trigger signal to initiate the method.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the trigger signal is sent over the air (OTA).

5. An onboard controller system for a vehicle, comprising

a. TPS sensor means for receiving a genuine TPS signal from a throttle position sensor, the genuine TPS signal destined for an engine controller;

b. TPS spoof means for generating a spoofed TPS signal;

c. intercept means for intercepting the TPS signal;

d. TPS sender means for sending the spoofed TPS signal or the genuine TPS signal to the engine controller; and

e. a controller for selectively determining whether the TPS sender means sends the genuine TPS signal or the spoofed TPS signal based on the comparison of a vehicle parameter to a threshold parameter.

6. The onboard controller system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle parameter is vehicle speed.

7. The onboard controller system of claim 5, wherein the threshold parameter is throttle position.