AFTERMARKET KEYLESS STARTER

• US 20080074234A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automobility Distribution Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An aftermarket keyless starter for a vehicle including a smart ignition system and an OEM security system is provided. The OEM security system includes an OEM transponder for user verification and an OEM reader for reading the OEM transponder when the OEM transponder is within a range R of the OEM reader. The OEM transponder stores an OEM identification code. The aftermarket keyless starter includes a secure box which is outside of the range R for isolating the OEM transponder from the OEM security system, an aftermarket reader, an aftermarket microcontroller, and an aftermarket transmitter. The aftermarket microcontroller is operable to receive the keyless start command and respond thereto by having the aftermarket reader read the OEM identification code and retransmitting the OEM identification code to the OEM reader. The engine start command is transmitted to the smart ignition system subsequent to the sending of the keyless start command.

Claims

1. An aftermarket keyless starter for a vehicle comprising a smart ignition system and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) security system, the smart ignition system being responsive to an engine start command, the OEM security system comprising an OEM transponder for user verification and an OEM reader for reading the OEM transponder when the OEM transponder is within a range R of the OEM reader, the OEM transponder storing an OEM identification code, the OEM security system requiring receipt of the OEM identification code by the OEM reader in order to enable starting of the vehicle, the aftermarket keyless starter comprising:

a) a secure box for isolating the OEM transponder from the OEM security system, the secure box being affixed to the vehicle such that the OEM transponder is outside of the range R when secured within the secure box;

b) an aftermarket reader which is operatively connectable to the OEM transponder and operable to read the OEM identification code when the OEM transponder is secured within the secure box;

c) a programmable aftermarket microcontroller for controlling communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader, the aftermarket microcontroller operatively connected to the aftermarket reader and the OEM reader; and

d) an aftermarket transmitter for sending a keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller;

wherein the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to receive the keyless start command and respond thereto by having the aftermarket reader read the OEM identification code and retransmitting the OEM identification code to the OEM reader, and wherein the engine start command is transmitted to the smart ignition system subsequent to the sending of the keyless start command.

2. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket transmitter is a portable transmitter operable to remotely send the keyless start command, and the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to send the engine start command to the smart ignition system in response to reception of the keyless start command.

3. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 2, wherein the portable transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

4. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 1, wherein the first aftermarket microcontroller is a first microcontroller, the aftermarket keyless starter further comprising a second microcontroller which is operatively connected to the first microcontroller, the OEM reader and the smart ignition system, the second microcontroller operable to receive the OEM identification code from the first microcontroller and transmit the OEM identification code to the OEM reader, the second microcontroller further operable to transmit the engine start command to the smart ignition system.

5. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket transmitter is a push-to-start module comprising a push button, the push-to-start module being mounted within the vehicle and operatively connected to the smart ignition system, the push-to-start module being operable to send the engine start command to the smart ignition system subsequent to sending the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

6. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 5, wherein the push-to-start module comprises a wireless transmitter which is operable to wirelessly transmit the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

7. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 5, further comprising an aftermarket identification device for user verification.

8. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 7, wherein the identification device is an aftermarket long-range transponder storing an aftermarket identification code.

9. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 7, further comprising a sensor, the sensor being operatively connected to the aftermarket microcontroller, the aftermarket microcontroller being operable to verify the presence of the aftermarket identification device when the sensor detects exterior activity, and the aftermarket microcontroller being operable to send an engine stop command to the smart ignition system if the presence of the aftermarket identification device is not verified.

10. An aftermarket keyless starter for a vehicle comprising a smart ignition system and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) security system, the smart ignition system being responsive to an engine start command, the OEM security system comprising an OEM transponder for user verification and an OEM reader for reading the OEM transponder, the OEM transponder storing an OEM identification code, the OEM security system requiring receipt of the OEM identification code by the OEM reader in order to enable starting of the vehicle, the aftermarket keyless starter comprising:

a) a secure box affixed to the vehicle for isolating the OEM transponder from the OEM security system, the secure box operable to block communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader when the OEM transponder is placed therein;

b) a programmable aftermarket microcontroller operatively connected to the secure box for controlling the blocking of communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader by the secure box; and

c) an aftermarket transmitter for sending a keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller;

wherein the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to receive the keyless start command and respond thereto by disabling the blocking of communication by the secure box thereby permitting communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader, and wherein the engine start command is transmitted to the smart ignition system subsequent to the sending of the keyless start command.

11. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the secure box is operable to block radio frequency communication and the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to instruct the secure box to unblock radio frequency communication in order to permit communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader.

12. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 11, wherein the secure box is a metal box and the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to open the metal box.

13. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the secure box further comprises a power supply for supplying power to the OEM transponder, the secure box operative to remove power to the OEM transponder, thereby blocking communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader.

14. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the secure box is operable to electrically block communication between the OEM transponder and OEM reader.

15. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the aftermarket transmitter is a portable transmitter operable to remotely send the keyless start command, and the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to send the engine start command to the smart ignition system in response to reception of the keyless start command.

16. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 14, wherein the portable transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

17. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the first aftermarket microcontroller is a first microcontroller, the aftermarket keyless starter further comprising a second microcontroller which is operatively connected to the first microcontroller and the smart ignition system, the second microcontroller operable to transmit the engine start command to the smart ignition system.

18. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 10, wherein the aftermarket transmitter is a push-to-start module comprising a push button, the push-to-start module being mounted within the vehicle and operatively connected to the smart ignition system, the push-to-start module being operable to send the engine start command to the smart ignition system subsequent to sending the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

19. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 18, wherein the push-to-start module comprises a wireless transmitter which is operable to wirelessly transmit the keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller.

20. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 19, further comprising an aftermarket identification device for user verification.

21. An aftermarket keyless starter for a vehicle comprising an ignition system and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) push-to-start system, the OEM push-to-start system operatively connected to the ignition system and operable to send a push-to-start command thereto for starting the vehicle, the OEM push-to-start system comprising a push-button mounted within the vehicle, an OEM transponder for user verification and an OEM reader for reading the OEM transponder when the OEM transponder is within a range R of the OEM reader, the OEM transponder storing an OEM identification code, the OEM push-to-start system requiring receipt of the OEM identification code by the OEM reader in order to enable starting of the vehicle, the aftermarket keyless starter comprising:

a) a secure box for isolating the OEM transponder from the OEM push-to-start system, the secure box being affixed to the vehicle such that the OEM transponder is outside of the range R when secured within the secure box;

b) an aftermarket reader which is operatively connectable to the OEM transponder and operable to read the OEM identification code when the OEM transponder is secured within the secure box;

c) a programmable aftermarket microcontroller for controlling communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader, the aftermarket microcontroller operatively connected to the aftermarket reader, the OEM reader and the vehicle ignition, the aftermarket microcontroller operatively connected to the vehicle ignition and operable to initiate the sending of the push-button command thereto; and

d) an aftermarket transmitter for sending a keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller;

wherein the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to receive the keyless start command and respond thereto by having the aftermarket reader read the OEM identification code, retransmitting the OEM identification code to the OEM reader and initiating the sending of the push-button command to the vehicle ignition.

22. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 21, further comprising an actuator mounted adjacent the push-button and operative to push the push-button, the actuator being operatively connected to the aftermarket microcontroller and operable to push the push-button upon receipt of instructions to that effect from the aftermarket microcontroller, thereby resulting in the sending of the push-button command to the vehicle ignition.

24. The aftermarket keyless starter of claim 21, further comprising an actuator mounted adjacent the push-button and operative to push the push-button, the actuator being operatively connected to the aftermarket microcontroller and operable to push the push-button upon receipt of instructions to that effect from the aftermarket microcontroller, thereby resulting in the sending of the push-button command to the vehicle ignition.

23. An aftermarket keyless starter for a vehicle comprising an ignition system and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) push-to-start system, the OEM push-to-start system operatively connected to the ignition system and operable to send a push-to-start command thereto for starting the vehicle, the OEM push-to-start system comprising a push-button mounted within the vehicle, an OEM transponder for user verification and an OEM reader for reading the OEM transponder, the OEM transponder storing an OEM identification code, the OEM push-to-start system requiring receipt of the OEM identification code by the OEM reader in order to enable starting of the vehicle, the aftermarket keyless starter comprising:

a) a secure box affixed to the vehicle for isolating the OEM transponder from the OEM push-to-start system, the secure box operable to block communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader when the OEM transponder is placed therein;

b) a programmable aftermarket microcontroller operatively connected to the secure box for controlling the blocking of communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader by the secure box, the aftermarket microcontroller further operatively connected to the vehicle ignition and operable to initiate the sending of the push-button command thereto; and

c) an aftermarket transmitter for sending a keyless start command to the aftermarket microcontroller;

wherein the aftermarket microcontroller is operable to receive the keyless start command and respond thereto by disabling the blocking of communication by the secure box thereby permitting communication between the OEM transponder and the OEM reader, and initiating the sending of the push-button command to the vehicle ignition.