System for exchanging data between devices in a motor vehicle and an external input/output terminal

• US 7,212,889 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reimann, Martin, Mann, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US10/826,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/29, 340/505, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.8, 307/9.1, 307 101- 106
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• 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 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A portable data exchange device including a data input, a data output, and a memory is incorporated into a mechanical or electronic key that is required for operating a motor vehicle. The data exchange device can exchange data bi-directionally or uni-directionally with a data processing device in the vehicle and with an external input/output terminal. The data may include vehicle-specific and/or driver-specific data relating to various systems of the vehicle. The data are transmitted to and from the device in the key in a wireless or direct-contacting manner. This device incorporated in the key avoids the need for carrying a separate data unit for exchanging data between the on-board data processing device of the vehicle and the external input/output terminal.

Claims

1. A portable handheld device comprising:

a portable authorization device required for enabling operation of a motor vehicle; and

a portable data exchange device that is incorporated in said portable authorization device, and that comprises a data memory, a data input connected directly or indirectly to said data memory, and a data output connected directly or indirectly to said data memory;

wherein said data input and said data output are configured, arranged and adapted to communicate with both a data processing device included in the motor vehicle as well as a data input/output terminal that is external and separate from the motor vehicle.

2. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein said authorization device is a vehicle key.

3. The portable handheld device according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle includes a mechanically operative ignition lock, and said vehicle key is a mechanically operative ignition key that is adapted to mate with the ignition lock so as to unlock and operate the ignition lock.

4. The portable handheld device according to claim 2, wherein said vehicle key includes a key blade protruding from a hand grip, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components encased within said hand grip.

5. The portable handheld device according to claim 2, wherein said vehicle key includes a key blade protruding from a hand grip having a recess therein, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components integrated on a smart card that is removably received in said recess in said hand grip.

6. The portable handheld device according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle includes an electronically operative ignition lock, and said vehicle key is an electronically operative key that stores authorization data and is adapted to communicate said authorization data to the ignition lock to unlock and operate the ignition lock.

7. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein said authorization device is a chip card that stores authorization data required for enabling operation of the motor vehicle, and said data exchange device comprises electronic circuit components integrated on said chip card.

8. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said data input or said data output is adapted to communicate with at least one of the data processing device or the data input/output terminal via only a unidirectional data communication.

9. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said data input or said data output is adapted to communicate with at least one of the data processing device or the data input/output terminal via a bi-directional data communication.

10. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device stores vehicle-specific data that are specific to the motor vehicle.

11. The portable handheld device according to claim 10, wherein said data exchange device further stores driver-specific data that are specific to a particular driver of the motor vehicle to whom said authorization device is allocated.

12. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device stores driver-specific data that are specific to a particular driver of the motor vehicle to whom said authorization device is allocated.

13. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein said data exchange device comprises a data input/output arrangement including an input portion comprising said data input and an output portion comprising said data output.

14. The portable handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device of the motor vehicle includes a first data processing device and a second data processing device, and said data memory of said data exchange device includes a first memory area that is allocated to the first data processing device and a second memory area that is distinct from said first memory area and that is allocated to the second data processing device.

15. The portable handheld device according to claim 13, wherein said input portion of said data input/output arrangement comprises a receiver and an antenna connected thereto adapted to receive electromagnetic waves.

16. The portable handheld device according to claim 13, wherein said output portion of said data input/output arrangement comprises a transmitter and an antenna connected thereto adapted to transmit electromagnetic waves.

17. The portable handheld device according to claim 13, wherein said data input/output arrangement comprises an antenna and a transmitter/receiver connected thereto adapted to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves according to the Bluetooth specification.

18. The portable handheld device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said input portion or said output portion of said data input/output arrangement respectively comprises a signal conductor connected to a contact terminal located externally accessibly on said portable authorization device and adapted to carry out a conductor-bound data exchange.

19. A data exchange system comprising said portable handheld device according to claim 1, in combination with said motor vehicle including said data processing device, and said data input/output terminal that is external and separate from said motor vehicle.

20. The data exchange system according to claim 19, wherein said data input/output terminal is a computer terminal connected to the internet.

21. The data exchange system according to claim 20, further comprising a computer at a facility of a manufacturer of said motor vehicle or a facility of a servicing center for servicing said motor vehicle, wherein said computer is connected to and carries out a data exchange with said data exchange device via the internet and said computer terminal.

22. A data exchange system comprising said portable handheld device according to claim 1, in combination with

said motor vehicle including said data processing device, and further including a vehicle input/output arrangement connected directly or indirectly to said data processing device, and a mechanical or electronic vehicle lock that selectively enables and prevents operation of said motor vehicle;

and

said data input/output terminal that is external and separate from said motor vehicle and that includes a terminal processor and a terminal input/output arrangement connected directly or indirectly to said terminal processor;

wherein said portable authorization device comprises a portable mechanical or electronic key that cooperates with and is required for activating said vehicle lock to enable operation of said motor vehicle; and

wherein said portable data exchange device is incorporated in said key, and further comprises a processor connected to said data memory, and a key input/output arrangement that includes said data input and said data output, and that is connected to said processor and adapted to carry out a communication respectively with said vehicle input/output arrangement and said terminal input/output arrangement.

23. The data exchange system according to claim 22, wherein each one of said input/output arrangements respectively comprises a wireless receiver/transmitter adapted to carry out a wireless reception and transmission of electromagnetic waves carrying data as said communication.

24. The data exchange system according to claim 22, wherein each one of said input/output arrangements respectively comprises signal conductors connected to contacts adapted to carry out a conductor-bound reception and transmission of signals carrying data as said communication.

25. A portable handheld device comprising:

a portable authorization device required for enabling operation of a motor vehicle; and

a portable data exchange device that is incorporated in said portable authorization device, and that comprises a data memory having a first memory area and a second memory area distinct from said first memory area, a data input connected directly or indirectly to said data memory, and a data output connected directly or indirectly to said data memory;

wherein said data input and said data output are adapted to communicate with first and second data processing devices included in the motor vehicle and with a data input/output terminal that is external and separate from the motor vehicle; and

wherein said first memory area of said data memory of said portable data exchange device is allocated to and adapted to communicate with the first data processing device of the motor vehicle, and said second memory area of said data memory of said portable data exchange device is allocated to and adapted to communicate with the second data processing device of the motor vehicle.