System for indicating status of a vehicle

• US 6,556,135 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Witte, Markus Valter, Petersson, Mats, Attring, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/022,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/539, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator

Abstract

This invention relates to a system for indicating status of a vehicle, comprising a monitoring unit (1), positioned within the vehicle, comprising a first memory circuit (4) connected with a first transceiver (3). The monitoring unit (1) is arranged to monitor a selected set of parameters (22) in the vehicle (2), whereby the current status (22a) of each parameter in said set of parameters (22) is detected and stored in said first memory circuit (4). The system further comprises a portable fob unit (7) having a second transceiver (9). The transceivers (3,9) are arranged to establish a short-distance wireless communication link (8) between said fob unit (7) and monitoring unit (1) when within a communication range from each other. The system further comprises a register (23) arranged to store a preferred or pre-set status (22b) of each parameter in said set of parameters (22), and a comparator (25). The comparator (25) is arranged to compare the contents of said first memory unit (4) and the register (23), and output an alert signal (F) if the status of any parameter in the monitored set of parameters (22) differs from its preferred or pre-set status (24) as stored in said register (23). The alert signal (F) is finally transmittable to an alert device (28) in said fob unit (7).

Claims

1. A system for indicating status of a vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring unit, positioned within the vehicle, comprising a first memory circuit connected with a first transceiver, said monitoring unit being arranged to monitor a selected set of parameters in the vehicle, whereby the current status of each parameter in said set of parameters is regularly detected and stored in said first memory circuit; and

a portable fob unit having a second transceiver;

said transceivers being arranged to establish a short-distance wireless communication link between said fob unit and monitoring unit when within a communication range from each other,

said system further comprising a first register arranged to store a preferred or pre-set status of each parameter in said set of parameters, and a comparator, wherein the comparator is arranged to compare the contents of said first memory unit and the first register, and output an alert signal if the status of any parameter in the monitored set of parameters differs from its preferred or pre-set status as stored in said register, said alert signal being transmittable to an alert device in said fob unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the comparator is arranged to compare the contents of said first memory unit and the first register when receiving a trigger signal generated in a trigger device.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said trigger signal is arranged to be generated in said trigger device when a locking or unlocking signal is transmitted from the fob unit to the vehicle, to lock/unlock at least one vehicle door.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said trigger signal is arranged to be generated in said trigger device when an enter or exit signal, indicating that the fob unit is moved between a position inside the vehicle and a position outside a vehicle, reaches said trigger device.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first register and said comparator is located in said monitoring unit, and said alert signal is arranged to be transferred over said communication link to said fob unit.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said alert signal comprises a difference identity signal, unique for essentially each possible parameter status difference, making identification of an occurred alteration of a vehicle parameter possible in said fob.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said alert device comprises a display for displaying information regarding parameter differences.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein the fob unit further comprises a second memory circuit, whereby the parameters stored in the first memory circuit are arranged to be transmitted over said communication link to said second memory circuit, when the alert signal has been sent to the fob unit, at least in a case when a locking signal or an exit signal has been transmitted to the vehicle from the fob unit.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring unit is connected with at least one vehicle data network, such as a controller area network, within said vehicle.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said monitoring unit further comprises a programmable selector, for selecting parameters from said vehicle data network.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one parameter stored in said first register having a changeable preferred or pre-set status, such as the gasoline level of the vehicle, is arranged to be automatically updated with the current status as stored in the first memory circuit, when an alert signal has been transmitted.