Feature enabler unit

• US 7,729,813 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Frashure, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/860,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 2, 701/29, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An enabling unit for activating a feature in an electronic control unit on a vehicle includes a port for communicating with an electronic control unit included on the vehicle. A processor, which communicates with the port, includes a message for enabling a dormant feature included on the electronic control unit.

Claims

1. An electronic module, comprising:

a portable connector selectively connected to a communication link of a vehicle, an electronic control unit on the vehicle communicating with the communication link; and

a controller selectively communicating with the electronic control unit via the portable connector and transmitting software code to the electronic control unit for enabling a feature included on the electronic control unit.

2. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the software code a predetermined number of times.

3. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller receives a reply software code from the electronic control unit after transmitting the software code.

4. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, further including:

an output device indicating communications between the controller and the electronic control unit.

5. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a switch for activating the controller to transmit the software code to the electronic control unit.

6. The electronic module as set forth in claim 5, wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.

7. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the connector is configured to communicate with a serial communication link of a vehicle; and

the electronic control unit communicates with the communication link.

8. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a wireless transmitter, the connector communicating with the electronic control unit via the wireless transmitter.

9. The electronic module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the software code is previously burned into the controller.

10. An enabling unit for activating a feature in an electronic control unit on a vehicle, comprising:

a port, which is a connector configured to connect with a connector on the vehicle, communicating with the electronic control unit on the vehicle; and

a processor, communicating with the port, transmitting a message to the electronic control unit for enabling a dormant feature included on the electronic control unit.

11. An enabling unit for activating a feature in an electronic control unit on a vehicle, comprising:

a port, which is a transmitter communicating with the electronic control unit via radio frequency waves; and

a processor, communicating with the port, transmitting a message to the electronic control unit for enabling a dormant feature included on the electronic control unit.

12. An electronic module, comprising:

a port communicating with an electronic control unit on a vehicle; and

a processor for communicating software code, via the port, for enabling a feature on the electronic control unit.

13. The electronic module as set forth in claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether to communicate the software code to the electronic control unit as a function of whether the software code has previously been transmitted to the electronic control unit.

14. The electronic module as set forth in claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether to communicate the software code to the electronic control unit as a function of an identifier stored in the electronic control unit.

15. A system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit on the vehicle for controlling a vehicle system;

a communication link on the vehicle communicating with the electronic control unit; and

an electronic module, including;

a port communicating with the electronic control unit; and

a controller, communicating with the port, transmitting a software message to the electronic control unit for enabling a feature included on the electronic control unit.

16. The system for controlling a vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein the controller transmits the message to the electronic control unit as a function of an identifier stored in the electronic control unit.