Access control system for a work vehicle

• US 6,998,956 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Dix, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US10/431,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 340/5.74, 340/5.25, 340/825.69, 372/02, 373/97
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A system and method for controlling access to a work vehicle includes limiting an unauthorized operator'"'"'s access to the work vehicle by disabling an engine subsystem and additionally limiting access to another vehicle system such as an auxiliary fluid actuator, by disabling at least one of the auxiliary fluid actuators. In this manner, even if a thief hot wires the engine of the work vehicle, he will not be able to use the work vehicle since the engine and the fluid actuators and the fluid controller that controls the actuators are independently disabled.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to a work vehicle having an operating control system including an engine system, a transmission system and an auxiliary fluid actuator system, the work vehicle being accessible with a control key and a transponder, the method comprising:

transmitting data indicative of an authorized degree of access to the operating control system on the vehicle from the transponder;

comparing the transmitted data with data stored in the vehicle operating control system to determine the authorized degree of access to the work vehicle;

limiting access to the work vehicle if a proper level of access is not authorized by the transmitted data by disabling at least two systems of the work vehicle, wherein the step of limiting access includes the step of preventing an unauthorized operator from operating at least one of the auxiliary fluid actuators including a swing actuator, a boom actuator, a dipper actuator, a tilt actuator;

a loader actuator and a lift arm actuator; and

activating the work vehicle using the control key.

2. The method of controlling access to a work vehicle of claim 1, wherein limiting access to the work vehicle includes disabling at least one subsystem, of the engine system including an engine ignition subsystem, an engine fuel subsystem, and an engine starting subsystem.

3. The method of controlling access to the work vehicle of claim 1, wherein limiting access to the work vehicle includes disabling at least one auxiliary fluid actuator subsystem of a plurality of fluid actuators.

4. The method of controlling access to a work vehicle of claim 3, wherein disabling at least one auxiliary fluid actuator comprises electronically preventing the operation of valves for operating the fluid actuators.

5. The method of controlling access to a work vehicle of claim 4, further comprising communicating a packetized message over a serial communication bus that couples at least two microprocessor-based electronic controllers wherein one of the at least two microprocessor-based electronic controllers includes an auxiliary fluid controller coupled to one of the plurality of auxiliary fluid actuators.

6. A control system for controlling access to a work vehicle having an engine with engine subsystems, a transmission, and an auxiliary fluid controller coupled to and configured to control a plurality of fluid actuators, the control system comprising:

a control switch on the work vehicle;

a control key configured to operate the control switch;

a transponder coupled to the control key and containing data indicative of an authorized level of access to the work vehicle; and

a vehicle control system coupled to the control switch and in electronic communication with the engine, the transmission and the auxiliary fluid controller;

wherein the transponder is configured to transmit data indicative of an authorized level of access to the work vehicle control system, and the vehicle control system is configured to responsively compare the transmitted data with data stored in the vehicle control system to determine the authorized level of access and to responsively limit access to the work vehicle by disabling at least one subsystem of the engine and to responsively and additionally limit access to one of the transmission and at least one of the auxiliary fluid actuators by disabling at least one of the transmission and auxiliary fluid actuators;

and wherein the vehicle control system is configured to electronically prevent an unauthorized operator from operating at least one of the auxiliary fluid actuators including a swing actuator, a boom actuator, a dipper actuator, a tilt actuator;

a loader actuator and a lift arm actuator.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the engine subsystems comprise an engine ignition subsystem, and the vehicle control system is configured to control access to the engine by disabling the engine ignition subsystem.

8. The control system of claim 6, wherein the engine subsystems comprise an engine fuel subsystem, and the vehicle control system is configured to control access to the engine by disabling the engine fuel subsystem.

9. The control system of claim 6, wherein the engine subsystems comprise an engine starting subsystem, and the vehicle control system is configured to control access to the engine by disabling the engine starting subsystem.

10. The control system of claim 6, further comprising a serial communication bus coupling an engine controller, a transmission controller and an auxiliary fluid actuator controller of the vehicle control system.

11. The control system of claim 6, wherein the transponder is a radio transponder.

12. A control system for controlling access to a work vehicle having an engine with engine subsystems, a transmission, and an auxiliary fluid controller coupled to and configured to control a plurality of fluid actuators, the control system comprising:

a control switch on the work vehicle;

a control key configured to operate the control switch;

a transponder coupled to the control key and containing data indicative of an authorized level of access to the work vehicle; and

a vehicle control system coupled to the control switch and in electronic communication with the engine, the transmission and the auxiliary fluid controller;

wherein the transponder is configured to transmit data indicative of an authorized level of access to the work vehicle control system, and the vehicle control system is configured to responsively compare the transmitted data with data stored in the vehicle control system to determine the authorized level of access and to responsively limit access to the work vehicle by disabling at least one subsystem of the engine and to responsively and additionally limit access to one of the transmission and at least one of the auxiliary fluid actuators by disabling at least one of the transmission and auxiliary fluid actuators;

and wherein the vehicle control system is configured to prevent an unauthorized operator from using a fluid actuator of one of a backhoe, a front loader, and a work vehicle having a lift arm.