Electronic Passcode Key for Varying Operational Parameters of a Vehicle

• US 20120215413A1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Johnson, Gary D., Kluka, Robert J., Lawson, John Lewis, White, Kelly J., White, Tonya L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces

Abstract

An electronic passkey system enables modification of operating profiles of a vehicle. When the passkey is connected to the vehicle controller, the system determines if the passkey has been used previously. If so, the operating profile cannot be modified. If not, the vehicle profile can be modified. In other configurations the passkey can be used to modify the operating profile of multiple vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a control module, the control module controlling a vehicle in accordance with at least one parameter of vehicle operation;

an external port, the external port providing electrical communication between the control module and an external device;

a parameter control device, the parameter control device being selectively connected to the external port to enable electrical communication between the controller and the parameter control device;

wherein the parameter control device and control module cooperate to modify the at least one parameter, the parameter control device having a predetermined limitation encoded therein on the number of controllers of which it can modify the at least one parameter, and wherein the parameter control device and control module cooperate to modify the at least one parameter upon connection to the external port when the vehicle control module is in a predetermined mode.

2. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the parameter control device enables modifying the at least one parameter for a single vehicle.

3. The vehicle control system of claim 2, wherein the parameter control device enables modifying the at least one parameter for a single vehicle only once and is thereafter disabled from again enabling modifying the at least one parameter of the single vehicle.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the parameter control device enables modifying the at least one parameter for a plurality of vehicles.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 4, wherein the parameter control device enables modifying the at least one parameter for each of the plurality of vehicles only once and is thereafter disabled from again enabling modifying the at least one parameter of the plurality of vehicles.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the parameter control device is configured to enable modifying the at least one parameter for a single vehicle a second time once the parameter control device has enabled modifying the at least one parameter for the single vehicle at first time.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 6, wherein the parameter control device enables modifying the at least one parameter for the single vehicle once paired with the single vehicle.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of upper speed limit, lower speed limit, acceleration profile, deceleration profile, or braking profile.

9. A parameter key, comprising:

memory for storing data;

an interface to a vehicle controller, the parameter key communicating the data stored in memory to the vehicle controller upon electrical communication between the parameter key and the vehicle controller;

wherein the memory stores identifier information associated with the vehicle and the vehicle controller modifies a vehicle parameter in accordance with the identifier information, the parameter key having a predetermined limitation encoded therein on the number of controllers of which it can modify the control parameter.

10. The parameter key of claim 9, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying a single vehicle.

11. The parameter key of claim 10, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying a single vehicle only once and is thereafter disabled from again modifying the single vehicle.

12. The parameter key of claim 9, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying a plurality of vehicles.

13. The parameter key of claim 12, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying the plurality of vehicles only once and is thereafter disabled from again modifying the at least any of the plurality of vehicles.

14. The parameter key of claim 9, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying the at least one parameter for a single vehicle a second time once the parameter key has enabled modifying the at least one parameter for the single vehicle.

15. The parameter key of claim 14, wherein the parameter key is encoded to enable modifying the at least one parameter for the single vehicle once paired with the single vehicle.

16. The parameter key of claim 9 wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of upper speed limit, lower speed limit, acceleration profile, deceleration profile, or braking profile.

17. A parameter key for a vehicle, having a primary mover, the primary mover causing displacement of the vehicle when actuated, a braking system, the braking system reducing a speed of the vehicle when actuated, a control module, the control module controlling at least one parameter of the primary mover or the braking system, and an external port, the external part providing electrical communication with the control module, the parameter key comprising:

a parameter key port, the parameter key port being selectively connected to the external port to enable electrical communication between the parameter key and the control module; and

memory storing key port usage information wherein the parameter key cooperates with the control module to modify the at least one parameter, the parameter key enabling a predetermined modification of the at least one parameter, and wherein the parameter key communicates with the controller to enable the predetermined modification upon connection to the external port when the vehicle control module is in a predetermined mode.