LOCKABLE COVER FOR ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT

• US 20080173494A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lang, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/289
• 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 electronic control unit (ECU) may include a central processing unit (CPU); an interface that can engage with at least one vehicle component; and, a lockable ECU cover that covers at least a portion of the ECU and that limits access to the ECU.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a locomotion device;

an ECU assembly supported to the frame and comprising;

(a) a CPU;

(b) an interface that engages with at least one locomotion related component; and

,

(c) a lockable ECU cover that covers at least a portion of the ECU and that limits access to the ECU;

a key that can unlock the ECU cover and that can be used to start the locomotion device; and

,

a theft-deterrent system that is operatively connected to the ECU assembly and that prevents the locomotion device from starting unless the key is a pre-determined key.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

the locomotion device comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

the ECU comprises an ignition ECU.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

the locomotion device comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

the ECU comprises a fuel injection ECU.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 further comprising:

a fuse box; and

,

a security device positioned in the fuse box that is operatively connected to the ECU assembly and the theft-deterrent system.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the lockable ECU cover comprises:

a key cylinder.

6. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle with an ECU; and

,

limiting access to the ECU with a lockable ECU cover, supported by the vehicle, that covers at least a portion of the ECU.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

accessing the ECU by unlocking the ECU cover with a key that can also be used to access the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of, accessing the ECU by unlocking the ECU cover with a key that can also be used to access the vehicle, comprises the step of:

unlocking the ECU cover only with a key that can also be used to access the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle with a locomotion device; and

,

accessing the ECU by unlocking the ECU cover with a key that can also be used to start the locomotion device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

providing a theft-deterrent system that prevents the locomotion device from starting unless the key is a pre-determined key.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of, accessing the ECU by unlocking the ECU cover with a key that can also be used to start tie locomotion device, comprises the step of:

unlocking the ECU cover only with a key that can also be used to start the locomotion device.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle with a locomotion device that comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

providing the ECU to comprise a fuel injection ECU.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle with a locomotion device that comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

providing the ECU to comprise an ignition ECU.

14. An ECU assembly comprising:

a CPU;

an interface that can engage with at least one associated vehicle component; and

,

a lockable ECU cover that covers at least a portion of the ECU and that limits access to the ECU.

15. The ECU assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a key that can unlock the ECU cover and that can be used to access the associated vehicle.

16. The ECU assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a key that can unlock the ECU cover and that can be used to start a locomotion device on the associated vehicle.

17. The ECU assembly of claim 16 wherein:

the locomotion device comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

the ECU comprises a fuel injection ECU.

18. The ECU assembly of claim 16 further comprising:

a theft-deterrent system that prevents the locomotion device from starting unless the key is a pre-determined key.

19. The ECU assembly of claim 16 wherein:

the locomotion device comprises an internal combustion engine; and

,

the ECU comprises an ignition ECU.

20. The ECU assembly of claim 14 wherein the lockable ECU cover comprises:

a key cylinder.