Modular vehicle key system

• US 7,394,353 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Fuchs, Dietmar, Ananny, John, Simon, Greg, Schambeck, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/000,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.36, 340/426.1, 340/426.11, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/825.69, 340/5.61, 340/5.8, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 340/426.36
• 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: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

A modular vehicle key device system for controlling vehicle access and operation. The device is formed by joining at least two separable modules, a first key device module containing vehicle access and/or operation authorizing elements, such as a keyless entry transmitter and/or an ignition key, and a module for off-vehicle storage of personal adjustment settings and/or other data. With each use of the modular key device, the data in the storage module is transferred to the vehicle to ensure the operator'"'"'s settings and information are always present. Separating the storage module from the key device module allows others to operate the vehicle while ensuring the operator'"'"'s personal data cannot be lost. Separation also enables easy transfer of an operator'"'"'s settings to a like vehicle. Other embodiments allow the operator to allow vehicle operation by others, such as valets, while limiting use of individual vehicle components, such as radios.

Claims

1. A modular vehicle access device, comprising:

an access authorization module configured to authorize at least one of access to a vehicle and driving of the vehicle;

a data storage module configured to store data, including personal adjustment settings for at least one vehicle component; and

a transmitter located in one of the modules and configured to transmit to a vehicle receiver,

wherein

the data storage module and the transmitter are configured to permit data from the data storage module to be transmitted by the transmitter, and

the access authorization module and the data storage module are configured to be releasably joined together and when joined, the access authorization module is not located within the data storage module, and the data storage module is not located within the access authorization module.

2. The modular vehicle access device of claim 1, wherein

the transmitter is a wireless transmitter located in the access authorization module, and

when the modules are joined, the data storage module is electrically connected to the access authorization module to permit transfer of data from the data storage module to the transmitter.

3. The modular vehicle access device of claim 1, wherein

the transmitter is a wireless transmitter located in the data storage module.

4. The modular vehicle access device of claim 3, wherein

when the modules are joined, the access authorization module is electrically connected to the data storage module to permit transfer of signals from the access authorization module to the transmitter for transmission to the vehicle receiver.

5. The modular vehicle access device of claim 3, further comprising a wireless transmitter located in the access authorization module,

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit vehicle access authorization signals to a keyless entry receiver in the vehicle.

6. The modular vehicle access device of claim 3, wherein

the access authorization module includes one of a vehicle ignition key and a passive keyless access authorization device adapted to wirelessly interact with a vehicle activation proximity detection system.

7. The modular vehicle access device of claim 1, wherein

the access authorization module includes one of a vehicle ignition key and a passive keyless access device adapted to wirelessly interact with a vehicle activation proximity detection system.

8. A modular vehicle operation system, comprising:

a vehicle which includes a vehicle receiver, the vehicle receiver being configured to forward operating commands to vehicle components within the vehicle;

an access authorization module configured to authorize at least one of access to the vehicle and driving of the vehicle;

a data storage module configured to store data, including personal adjustment settings for at least one vehicle component; and

a transmitter located in one of the modules and configured to transmit to the vehicle receiver,

wherein

the access authorization module and the data storage module are configured to be releasably joined together and when joined, the access authorization module is not located within the data storage module, and the data storage module is not located within the access authorization module;

the data storage module and the transmitter are configured to permit data from the data storage module to be transmitted by the transmitter.

9. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 8, wherein

the transmitter is a wireless transmitter located in the access authorization module, and

when the modules are joined, the data storage module is electrically connected to the access authorization module to permit transfer of data from the data storage module to the transmitter.

10. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 8, wherein

the transmitter is located in the data storage module.

11. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 10, wherein

when the modules are joined, the access authorization module is electrically connected to the data storage module to permit transfer of signals from the access authorization module to the transmitter for transmission to the vehicle receiver.

12. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 10, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter located in the access authorization module; and

a keyless entry receiver in the vehicle configured to command operation of vehicle components in response to vehicle access authorization signals transmitted by the transmitter.

13. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 12, wherein

when vehicle access authorization signals are transmitted by the keyless entry transmitter, personal data is transmitted from the data storage module to the vehicle.

14. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 8, further comprising:

a vehicle activation proximity detection system which wirelessly detects the presence of a passive keyless access authorization device and commands operation of vehicle components in response to detection of the passive keyless access authorization device near the vehicle.

15. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 14, wherein

the vehicle activation proximity detection system is configured to command transmission of data from the data storage module to the vehicle when the proximity detection system detects the presence of the passive keyless access authorization device.

16. The modular vehicle operation system of claim 8, wherein

the data storage module stores data in a predetermined standardized format, such that the data associated with the vehicle may be transferred to another vehicle for adjustment of personal vehicle component settings in the another vehicle.

17. A method for operating vehicle components, comprising the acts of:

providing a modular vehicle access device, including

an access authorization module,

a data storage module and

a transmitter located in one of the modules,

wherein the access authorization module and the data storage module are configured to be releasably joined together and when joined, the access authorization module is not located within the data storage module, and the data storage module is not located within the access authorization module;

storing data, including personal settings for adjustment of at least one vehicle component, in the data storage module;

transferring stored data from the data storage module to the transmitter;

transmitting the transferred data from the transmitter to a vehicle receiver; and

adjusting the at least one vehicle component to conform with the personal settings in the data received by the vehicle receiver.

18. A modular vehicle access system, comprising:

a plurality of access authorization modules, each individual access authorization module configured to authorize at least one of access to and driving of a vehicle associated with said individual module; and

a plurality of data storage modules configured to store data, including personal adjustment settings for at least one vehicle component,

wherein

each of the plurality of the access authorization modules is configured to be interchangeably joined together with at least one of the plurality of data storage modules, and when joined, the access authorization module is not located within the data storage module, and the data storage module is not located within the access authorization module.

19. The modular vehicle access system of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of transmitters configured to transmit to at least one vehicle receiver,

wherein

one transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is located in each of the plurality of access authorization modules or in each of the plurality of data storage modules, and

when one of the plurality of access authorization modules is interchangeably joined with one of the plurality of data storage modules, data from the data storage module may be transmitted by said one transmitter.

20. The modular vehicle access device of claim 19, wherein

each of the plurality of transmitters is located in a corresponding one of the plurality of access authorization modules, and

when said one of the data storage modules is interchangeably joined to said one of the access authorization modules, said data storage module and said access authorization module are electrically connected in a manner which permits data to be transferred from said data storage module to the transmitter in said access authorization module.

21. The modular vehicle access device of claim 19, wherein

each of the plurality of transmitters is located in a corresponding one of the plurality of data storage modules, and

when said one of the data storage modules is interchangeably joined to said one of the access authorization modules, said data storage module and said access authorization module are electrically connected in a manner which permits transfer of signals from said access authorization module to the transmitter in said data storage module.