Remote vehicle function control system using data bus adaptor cartridge and associated methods

• US 6,529,124 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/780,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/427, 340/428, 340/429, 340/531, 340/532, 340/533, 340/539, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.72, 340/825.69, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 439/34, 439/76.2, 439/212, 439/213, 439/620, 439/946
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a remote function controller, and a data bus adaptor cartridge removably coupled to a data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus. The control circuitry may couple to the data bus adaptor cartridge through serial or parallel interfaces. The control circuitry may generate digital command codes, and the data bus adaptor cartridge may convert the digital command codes into data communications bus signals according to a desired protocol. The control circuitry may also read digital codes, and the data bus adaptor cartridge may convert data communications bus signals into digital codes according to a desired protocol for the control circuitry.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the system comprising:

a remote function controller comprising a data bus adaptor cartridge connector, and control circuitry coupled thereto; and

a data bus adaptor cartridge removably coupled to said data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between said control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuitry further comprises a serial interface, and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a serial interface coupled to the serial interface of said control circuitry.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuitry further comprises a parallel interface, and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a parallel interface coupled to the parallel interface of said control circuitry.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuitry generates digital command codes;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge converts the digital command codes into data communications bus signals according to a desired protocol.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

6. A system according to claim 4 wherein said control circuitry generates at least one set of digital command codes comprising at least one working command signal and at least one non-working command signal for a given vehicle to thereby provide command compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuitry reads digital codes;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge converts data communications bus signals into digital codes according to a desired protocol for said control circuitry.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein said control circuitry is for storing a set of device codes for a given vehicle device for a plurality of different vehicles, for reading a device code from the data communications bus, and for determining a match between a read device code and the stored device codes to thereby provide reading compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises:

a memory; and

a download learning interface for storing in said memory at least one of vehicle device codes and a desired protocol for a given vehicle from a downloading device.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a data bus learning circuit for learning at least one of vehicle device codes and a desired protocol for a given vehicle from signals carried on the data bus.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge includes at least one first electrical conductor;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge connector comprises at least one second electrical conductor for engaging said at least one first electrical conductor of said data bus adaptor cartridge.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said remote function controller further comprises a circuit board carrying said data bus adaptor cartridge connector and said control circuitry.

14. A system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one remote transmitter for operating said security controller;

and wherein said control circuitry comprises a receiver and a processor connected thereto.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said remote function controller comprises at least one of a security controller, a remote keyless entry controller, and a remote start controller.

16. A system for a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the system comprising:

a remote function controller comprising circuit board, a data bus adaptor cartridge connector carried by said circuit board, and control circuitry carried by said circuit board and coupled to said data bus adaptor cartridge connector, said control circuitry comprising a serial interface; and

a data bus adaptor cartridge removably coupled to said data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between said control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus, said data bus adaptor cartridge comprising a serial interface for communication with said serial interface of said controller.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said control circuitry generates digital command codes;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge converts the digital command codes into data communications bus signals according to a desired protocol.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

19. A system according to claim 17 wherein said control circuitry generates at least one set of digital command codes comprising at least one working command signal and at least one non-working command signal for a given vehicle to thereby provide command compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

20. A system according to claim 16 wherein said control circuitry reads digital codes;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge converts data communications bus signals into digital codes according to a desired protocol for said control circuitry.

21. A system according to claim 20 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

22. A system according to claim 20 wherein said control circuitry is for storing a set of device codes for a given vehicle device for a plurality of different vehicles, for reading a device code from the data communications bus, and for determining a match between a read device code and the stored device codes to thereby provide reading compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

23. A system according to claim 16 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises:

a memory; and

a download learning interface for storing in said memory at least one of vehicle device codes and a desired protocol for a given vehicle from a downloading device.

24. A system according to claim 16 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a data bus learning circuit for learning at least one of vehicle device codes and a desired protocol for a given vehicle from signals carried on the data bus.

25. A system according to claim 16 further comprising at least one remote transmitter for operating said control circuitry;

and wherein said control circuitry comprises a receiver and a processor connected thereto.

26. A system according to claim 16 wherein said remote function controller comprises at least one of a security controller, a remote keyless entry controller, and a remote start controller.

27. A system for a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the system comprising:

a remote function controller comprising a data bus adaptor cartridge connector and control circuitry coupled thereto; and

a data bus adaptor cartridge removably coupled to said data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between said control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus, said data bus adaptor cartridge comprising

a memory, and

download learning means for storing in said memory at least one of vehicle device codes and a desired protocol for a given vehicle from a downloading device.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge includes at least one first electrical conductor;

and wherein said data bus adaptor cartridge connector comprises at least one second electrical conductor for engaging said at least one first electrical conductor of said data bus adaptor cartridge.

29. A system according to claim 27 further comprising at least one remote transmitter for operating said control circuitry;

and wherein said control circuitry comprises a receiver and a processor connected thereto.

30. A system according to claim 27 wherein said remote function controller comprises at least one of a security controller, a remote keyless entry controller, and a remote start controller.

31. A system for a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the system comprising:

a remote function controller comprising a data bus adaptor device connector, and control circuitry coupled thereto; and

a data bus adaptor device removably coupled to said data bus adaptor device connector for permitting communications between said control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus.

32. A system according to claim 31 wherein said data bus adaptor device comprises a cartridge including a housing and circuitry contained therein.

33. A system according to claim 31 wherein said data bus adaptor device comprises at least one integrated circuit.

34. A system according to claim 33 wherein said data bus adaptor device connector comprises at least one integrated circuit socket.

35. A method for permitting a remote function controller comprising control circuitry to operate in a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the method comprising:

coupling a data bus adaptor cartridge connector to the control circuitry; and

removably coupling a data bus adaptor cartridge to the data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between the control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the control circuitry further comprises a serial interface, and wherein the data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a serial interface for coupling to the serial interface of the control circuitry.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein the control circuitry further comprises a parallel interface, and wherein the data bus adaptor cartridge comprises a parallel interface for coupling to the parallel interface of the control circuitry.

38. A method according to claim 35 wherein the control circuitry generates digital command codes;

and wherein the data bus adaptor cartridge converts the digital command codes into data communications bus signals according to a desired protocol.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

40. A method according to claim 35 wherein the control circuitry reads digital codes;

and wherein the data bus adaptor cartridge converts data communications bus signals into digital codes according to a desired protocol for the control circuitry.

41. A method according to claim 40 wherein the desired protocol is based upon at least one of a desired signal level, a desired signal modulation scheme, and a desired communication rate.

42. A method according to claim 35 wherein the remote function controller comprises at least one of a security controller, a remote keyless entry controller, and a remote start controller.

43. A method for permitting a remote function controller comprising control circuitry to operate in a vehicle including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the method comprising:

coupling a data bus adaptor device to the control circuitry; and

removably coupling a data bus adaptor device to the data bus adaptor device connector for permitting communications between the control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein the data bus adaptor device comprises a cartridge including a housing and circuitry contained therein.

45. A method according to claim 43 wherein the data bus adaptor device comprises at least one integrated circuit.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein the data bus adaptor device connector comprises at least one integrated circuit socket.