Vehicle security system having unlimited key programming

• US 6,501,369 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Treharne, William David
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/546,776
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 340/825.74, 340/825.76, 340/426, 340/539, 340/5.65, 340/5.64, 340/5.31, 455/101, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/151.4, 455/152.1, 307/10.5, 701/29, 701/32
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• 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 2009/00992 mechanical key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A vehicle security system 10 including a controller 12 which allows a vehicle to be operated only with an authorized key 36. The system 10 includes a diagnostic tool 32 which cooperates with the controller 12 to allow a user to selectively and securely program an unlimited number of keys 36 which allow the vehicle to be operated.

Claims

1. A security system for use in combination with a vehicle having a propulsion system which is selectively activated by use of a switch, said security system comprising:

a key which is adapted to fit within said switch and to actuate said switch;

an electronic assembly which is mounted upon said key and which selectively stores and transmits a first code and a second code; and

a controller which is connected to said switch and to said propulsion system, said controller having a plurality of stored first values and a stored second value which is selectively programmable, said controller being effective to receive said first code and said second code, and being further selectively switchable between a first mode in which said controller is effective to activate said propulsion system only if said first code matches a unique one of said plurality of stored first values and said second code matches said stored second value, and a second mode in which said controller is effective to activate said propulsion system only if said second code matches said second value.

2. The security system of claim 1 further comprising:

a diagnostic assembly which is selectively coupled to said control unit and which is effective to selectively program said second value, and to cause said controller to switch between said first mode and said second mode.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said electronic assembly comprises a transponder.

4. The security system of claim 1 further comprising an antenna which is disposed in relative close proximity to said ignition switch, said antenna being communicatively coupled to said controller and being effective to receive said first code and said second code from said electronic assembly.

5. The security system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of second keys which are adapted to fit within said switch and to allow said switch to move from said first position to said second position;

a plurality of second electronic assemblies, each of which is mounted upon a unique one of said plurality of second keys and each of which selectively stores and transmits a plurality of third codes and a plurality of fourth codes; and

wherein said controller is further effective to selectively program each of said plurality of fourth codes to match said second value, thereby allowing each of said plurality of second keys to activate said propulsion system when said controller is in said second mode.

6. A security system for use in combination with a vehicle having an ignition switch, said security system comprising:

a key which is selectively inserted into said ignition switch and which includes an identification code and a programmable security code; and

a controller which is selectively operable in an unlimited key mode in which said controller is effective to read said security code and to allow said vehicle to be operated based upon said security code, said controller being further selectively operable in a normal key mode in which said controller is effective to read said identification code and said security code and to allow said vehicle to be operated based upon said identification code and said security code.

7. The security system of claim 6 wherein said identification code and said security code are stored within a transponder which is operatively mounted on said key.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said controller is effective to compare said security code to a first stored value and to allow said vehicle to be operated only if said security code matches said first stored value when said controller is operating in said unlimited key mode.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein said controller is effective to compare said security code to a second stored value and to compare said identification code to a plurality of third stored values, and to allow said vehicle to be operated only if said security code matches said first stored value and said identification code matches a unique one of said plurality of third stored values when said controller is operating in said normal key mode.

10. The security system of claim 9 further comprising:

a diagnostic assembly which is selectively and communicatively coupled to said controller, and which is effective to selectively switch said controller between said normal key mode and said unlimited key mode, and which is effective to selectively program said first value.

11. The security system of claim 10 wherein said controller is further effective to selectively program said security code to match said first value when said controller is operating in said unlimited key mode.

12. The security system of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of second keys having a plurality of second security codes, and wherein said controller is further effective to selectively program each of said plurality of second security codes to match said first value, thereby allowing each of said plurality of second keys to operate said vehicle when said controller is operating in said unlimited key mode.

13. The security system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of second keys comprises an unlimited number of second keys.

14. A method for providing a security system for a vehicle including an ignition switch, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a controller which stores an electronic security code and which is effective to allow said vehicle to be operated only by use of a key which contains said electronic security code; and

causing said controller to selectively operate in an unlimited key mode in which said controller is effective to selectively program a plurality of keys to contain said electronic security code only after a first key containing said electronic security code and a first electronic identification code and a second key containing said electronic security code and a second electronic identification code which is different than said first electronic identification code have been inserted into said ignition switch within a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing said plurality of keys to operate said vehicle, wherein said plurality of keys comprises an unlimited number of keys.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said controller further stores a plurality of electronic identification codes, said method further comprising the steps of:

causing said controller to selectively operate in a normal key mode in which said controller is effective to allow said vehicle to be operated only by use of a key which contains a unique one of said electronic identification codes.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

providing a diagnostic assembly having a security access code;

selectively connecting said diagnostic assembly to said controller;

entering said security access code; and

utilizing said diagnostic assembly to cause said controller to selectively operate in said unlimited key mode and said normal key mode.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said security system is further adapted for use in combination with at least one second vehicle, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one second controller; and

selectively programming said electronic security code within said at least one second controller by use of said diagnostic assembly, effective to cause said at least one second controller to allow said at least one second vehicle to be operated only by use of a key which contains said electronic security code.