Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter

• US 20090278656A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secured Mobility LLC
• Original Assignee: Secured Mobility LLC
• Inventors: Laranang, Michael Penano, Lopez, Emmanuel Enrique
• Granted Patent: US 8,466,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.720
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• 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 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remote wireless keyless entry transmitter includes a communications interface for connecting the transmitter directly to an in-vehicle network for registering the transmitter with the vehicle access system. The interface is further connectable to a personal computer to load a set of control codes and programming codes corresponding to a vehicle. The transmitter is programmable to operate multiple functions for multiple vehicles, separately or simultaneously. The transmitter can include a transponder circuit, a display, an accelerometer and a key coupler. A wireless transponder is operationally associated with a vehicle security system by physically connecting the transponder to a vehicle data port with a temporary data link and transferring data between the security system and the transponder over the data link to enable subsequent wireless operation of the security system with the transponder. The transmitter can include an audible signal generator and be programmable to respond to a pager signal.

Claims

1. A wireless transmitter for use with a vehicle having an access system, the transmitter comprising:

a handheld housing;

a wireless signal generator positioned within the housing for communication with the vehicle access system;

controls accessible on the exterior of the housing and operable to activate the wireless signal generator;

a processor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the signal generator and controls; and

a communication interface operably coupled to the processor and configured to be temporarily and releasably connected to a data port of the vehicle to establish a temporary, wired programming connection between the processor and the vehicle access system.

2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is connectable to the in-vehicle network by physical connection to a data port that also serves as a vehicle diagnostic port.

3. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is connectable to the in-vehicle network via a wireless networking protocol.

4. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises one of a wireless receiver and wireless transmitter configured to communicate with one of a wireless transmitter and wireless receiver physically connected to the in-vehicle network.

5. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is further operably connectable to a personal computer for loading of control codes and programming codes.

6. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a transponder circuit and wherein the communication interface is operably connectable to the in-vehicle network via an RFID wireless networking protocol.

7. The transmitter of claim 6, wherein one of the transponder circuit and a vehicle engine immobilizer system is programmable via the communications interface connected to the in-vehicle network to interact with the other of the transponder circuit and the vehicle engine immobilizer.

8. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a display operably connected to the processor for displaying multiple selectable transmitter functions.

9. The transmitter of claim 8, further comprising an accelerometer switch operably connected to the processor and configured to enable selection of transmitter functions corresponding to vehicle access system functions of multiple vehicles via movement of the transmitter.

10. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising an expansion port in communication with the processor for receiving a removable medium having transmission codes stored thereon.

11. A programmable remote keyless entry key fob for controlling a wireless vehicle access system, the fob comprising:

a signal generator for transmitting control codes to a vehicle access system;

a processor coupled to the signal generator;

a switch coupled to the processor and operable to cause the signal generator to transmit the control codes to the vehicle access system; and

a communications interface coupled to the processor and configured to connect the fob to an in-vehicle network, the processor configured to transmit programming codes to place the in-vehicle network in a programming mode to register the fob with the vehicle access system whereby the vehicle access system will respond to the control codes.

12. The fob of claim 11, wherein the communications interface is connectable to a personal computer to load the control codes and programming codes onto the fob.

13. The fob of claim 11, wherein the communications interface is connectable to a data port on a personal computer and to a data port on a vehicle.

14. The fob of claim 13, further comprising a data interface cable configured for temporary wired connection to a data port on a personal computer or a data port on a vehicle.

15. The fob of claim 13, wherein the data port on the personal computer is a USB port and the data port on the vehicle is and OBD diagnostic port.

16. The fob of claim 11, further comprising an audible signal generator and wherein the processor is configured to register a paging signal, whereby the fob can be located using a paging signal of another device.

17. The fob of claim 16, wherein the paging signal is a telephone handset paging signal.

18. A method of operationally associating a wireless transponder with a security system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

physically connecting the transponder to a data port of the vehicle with a temporary data link;

transferring data between the security system and the transponder over the data link to enable subsequent wireless operation of the security system with the transponder; and

disconnecting the transponder from the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising first physically connecting the transponder to a data port on a personal computer and transferring from the personal computer to the fob a set of control codes.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transferring from the personal computer to the transponder a set of programming codes useful to place the vehicle security system in a programming state to register the transponder with the vehicle security system.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the data comprises control code data corresponding to access system features, the method further comprising transmitting the code data wirelessly between the transponder and vehicle access system to activate a particular access system feature.

22. A method of programming a vehicle access system keyless access fob, the method comprising:

connecting the fob to a personal computer;

loading onto the fob from the personal computer a set of vehicle access system control code data and programming code data associated with a selected vehicle manufacturer;

then

connecting the fob directly to an in-vehicle network port of a vehicle having a vehicle access system; and

registering the fob with the vehicle access system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein registering comprises transmitting the programming code data to the vehicle access system in a programming mode and transmitting from the fob a portion of the control code data.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising connecting the fob to an in-vehicle network of a second vehicle and registering the fob with a vehicle access system of the second vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising mapping a vehicle access system feature to a fob control.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising assigning a hierarchy of vehicle access system features to a fob control.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the hierarchy includes prioritization of first and second vehicle access system features.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising displaying on the fob the hierarchy for selection of features by a user.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising mapping a fob control to first and second vehicle access system functions for simultaneous operation of a function of the vehicle access system of both the first and second vehicles.