Vehicle immobilizer systems and methods including RFID enabled computer and associated license plate with RFID tag

• US 20090267757A1
• Filed: 11/28/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RFID Options LLC
• Original Assignee: RFID Options LLC
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hap
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.110
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

Vehicle occupant identification and safety systems and methods include an RFID equipped vehicle including a computer system for controlling operating functions of the vehicle, an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of the vehicle, and processing logic associated with the computer system for determining when the vehicle has concluded operation and for detecting a signal from the passenger RFID emitter so that the computer system may be activated to send a distress signal when the passenger has remained in the vehicle after a predetermined time from when the vehicle has discontinued operation. Other embodiments of the system include an embedded RFID tag in a license plate to disable operation of a vehicle when the license place is removed from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant identification and safety system, said system comprising:

an RFID equipped vehicle including a computer system for controlling operating functions of said vehicle;

an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of said vehicle, said RFID emitter in communication with said vehicle computer system when said passenger is in said vehicle; and

processing logic associated with said computer system for determining when said vehicle has concluded operation and for detecting a signal from said passenger RFID emitter so that said computer system may be activated to send a distress signal when said passenger has remained in said vehicle after a predetermined time from when said vehicle has discontinued operation.

2. A vehicle identification and immobilizer system, said system comprising:

an RFID equipped vehicle including a computer system for controlling operating functions of said vehicle;

an RFID tag associated with a license plate of said vehicle, said license plate for display in a pre-determined location on said vehicle;

an RFID reader positioned proximate said pre-determined location for said display of said license plate, said RFID reader being linked to said computer system and in communication with said RFID tag in said license plate when displayed in said pre-determined location on said vehicle; and

processing logic associated with said computer system for determining when said license plate has been removed from said pre-determined location so that said computer system may be activated to send a disable signal to at least one of said operating functions of said vehicle.

3. A method for vehicle occupant identification and safety, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an RFID equipped vehicle including a computer system for controlling operating functions of said vehicle;

providing an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of said vehicle, said RFID emitter in communication with said vehicle computer system when said passenger is in said vehicle; and

providing processing logic associated with said computer system for determining when said vehicle has concluded operation and for detecting a signal from said passenger RFID emitter so that said computer system may be activated to send a distress signal when said passenger has remained in said vehicle after a predetermined time from when said vehicle has discontinued operation.