Vehicle control system with piggyback controller and associated methods

• US 6,628,196 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/094,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/539.11, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/825.22, 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/5.25, 340/5.31, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 340/825.69, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 701/2
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A vehicle control system for a vehicle having a door lock actuator includes a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to the RKE receiver for selectively operating the door lock actuator based on signals from the RKE transmitter. A piggyback controller at the vehicle is connected to the door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the door lock actuator by the RKE controller. The piggyback controller may switch to a feature programming mode based on selective operation of the door lock actuator. When in the feature programming mode, the piggyback controller may permit feature selection also based on selective operation of the door lock actuator. The piggyback controller may also be switched to an override or valet mode based on selective operation of the door lock actuator.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising:

a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to said RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from said RKE transmitter; and

a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to said at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by said RKE controller;

said piggyback controller switching to a feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator;

said piggyback controller, when in the feature programming mode, permitting feature selection also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

2. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator in a predetermined pattern.

3. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by said RKE controller.

4. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

and wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the manually operable door lock switch.

5. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller, when in the feature programming mode, permits feature selection also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by said RKE controller.

6. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

wherein said piggyback controller, when in the feature programming mode, permits feature selection also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the at least one manually operable door lock switch.

7. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

8. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

9. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 further comprising a position determining device cooperating with said piggyback controller.

10. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller is switchable to the feature programming mode based on selective activation of at least one other vehicle device.

11. A vehicle control system according to claim 10 wherein the at least one other vehicle device comprises a vehicle ignition switch.

12. A vehicle control system according to claim 10 wherein said piggyback controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes;

and wherein said piggyback controller is switchable to the feature programming mode from the disarmed mode and not the armed mode.

13. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller is also switchable to a valet mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

14. A vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said piggyback controller is also switchable to an override mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

15. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising:

a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to said RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from said RKE transmitter; and

a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to said at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by said RKE controller;

said piggyback controller switching to a feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

16. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator in a predetermined pattern.

17. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by said RKE controller.

18. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

and wherein said piggyback controller switches to the feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the manually operable door lock switch.

19. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

20. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

21. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 further comprising a position determining device cooperating with said piggyback controller.

22. A vehicle control system according to claim 15 wherein said piggyback controller is switchable to the feature programming mode based on selective activation of at least one other vehicle device.

23. A vehicle control system according to claim 22 wherein the at least one other vehicle device comprises a vehicle ignition switch.

24. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising:

a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to said RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from said RKE transmitter; and

a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to said at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by said RKE controller;

said piggyback controller switching to a feature programming mode in which selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator provides feature selection.

25. A vehicle control system according to claim 24 wherein said piggyback controller, when in the feature programming mode, permits feature selection based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by said RKE controller.

26. A vehicle control system according to claim 24 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

wherein said piggyback controller, when in the feature programming mode, permits feature selection also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the at least one manually operable door lock switch.

27. A vehicle control system according to claim 24 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

28. A vehicle control system according to claim 24 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

29. A vehicle control system according to claim 24 further comprising a position determining device cooperating with said piggyback controller.

30. A vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising:

a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to said RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from said RKE transmitter; and

a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to said at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by said RKE controller;

said piggyback controller switching to at least one of an override mode and a valet mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

31. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein said piggyback controller switches to at least one of the override and valet modes based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator in a predetermined pattern.

32. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein said piggyback controller switches to at least one of the override and valet modes based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by said RKE controller.

33. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

and wherein said piggyback controller switches to at least one of the override and valet modes based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the manually operable door lock switch.

34. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

35. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

36. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 further comprising a position determining device cooperating with said piggyback controller.

37. A vehicle control system according to claim 30 wherein said piggyback controller is switchable to at least one of the override and valet modes based on selective activation of at least one other vehicle device.

38. A vehicle control system according to claim 37 wherein the at least one other vehicle device comprises a vehicle ignition switch.

39. A method for operating a vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to the RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from the RKE transmitter, the method comprising:

providing a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to the at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by the RKE controller; and

switching the piggyback controller to a feature programming mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein switching is based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator in a predetermined pattern.

41. A method according to claim 39 wherein switching is based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the RKE controller.

42. A method according to claim 39 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

and wherein switching is based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the manually operable door lock switch.

43. A method according to claim 39 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

44. A method according to claim 39 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

45. A method according to claim 39 wherein switching is further based on selective activation of at least one other vehicle device.

46. A method according to claim 39 further comprising selecting features also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

47. A method according to claim 39 further comprising switching the piggyback controller to at least one of an override mode and a valet mode also based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

48. A method for operating a vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising at least one door lock actuator, the vehicle control system comprising a remote keyless entry (RKE) system including an RKE transmitter carried by a user, an RKE receiver at the vehicle, and an RKE controller connected to the RKE receiver for selectively operating the at least one door lock actuator based on signals from the RKE transmitter, the method comprising:

providing a piggyback controller at the vehicle and connected to the at least one door lock actuator for performing at least one desired piggyback control function based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator by the RKE controller; and

switching the piggyback controller to at least one of an override mode and a valet mode based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein switching is based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator in a predetermined pattern.

50. A method according to claim 48 wherein switching is based on selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the RKE controller.

51. A method according to claim 48 wherein the vehicle also comprises at least one manually operable door lock switch connected to the at least one door lock actuator;

and wherein switching is based upon selective operation of the at least one door lock actuator caused by the manually operable door lock switch.

52. A method according to claim 48 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function comprises switching between armed and disarmed modes.

53. A method according to claim 48 wherein the at least one desired piggyback control function relates to remote engine starting.

54. A method according to claim 48 wherein switching is based on selective activation of at least one other vehicle device.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein the at least one other vehicle device comprises a vehicle ignition switch.