T-harness connection for vehicle remote starters

• US 8,249,759 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psi Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Psi Patents, LLC
• Inventors: Lazzara, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US13/271,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 307/10.6, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/425.5, 340/531, 340/5.64, 340/539.1, 180/287
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit

Abstract

In one embodiment there is a remote starter system for a vehicle having an ignition connected to vehicle controllers by a serial data interface. The remote starter system includes a T-Harness connector having at least a first, second, and third serial data connectors and a remote starter module. The remote starter module having at least a remote starter connector, wherein the first serial data connector of the T-Harness connector is coupled to the remote starter connector, and the second and third serial data connectors are separately coupled between the pair of interconnected vehicle serial data connectors. Data from the remote starter module is thereby communicated to the vehicle controller modules and the ignition module.

Claims

1. A remote starter system for a vehicle having an ignition module connected to vehicle controller modules by a serial data interface, the serial data interface having vehicle serial data wires and vehicle power supply wires and the serial data interface having a pair of interconnected vehicle serial data connectors to communicate serial data and power to and from the vehicle controller modules and the ignition module through the vehicle serial data wires and vehicle power supply wires, the remote starter system comprising:

a T-Harness connector having T-Harness serial data wires and T-Harness power supply wires and having at least first, second, and third serial data connectors, the second and third serial data connectors being interconnected between the pair of vehicle serial data connectors, wherein;

the T-Harness serial data wires being configured to communicate only between the first and second serial data connectors and only between the first and third serial data connectors, such that all of the serial data to and from the second and third serial data connectors must communicate through the first serial data connector;

the T-Harness power supply wires being configured to, communicate between the first and second serial data connectors, between the first and third serial data connectors, and between the second and third serial data connectors; and

a remote starter module having at least a remote starter connector, wherein the first serial data connector of the T-Harness connector is coupled to the remote starter connector, whereby all of the serial data from the vehicle controller modules and from the ignition module must communicate through the remote starter module before being communicated to the vehicle controller modules and to the ignition module.

2. The remote starter system of claim 1, wherein the ignition module sends and receives information as data packets to one or more of the following controllers permitting the vehicle to change operation states:

an engine controller, wherein the change in operating state is starting and running the engine;

a transmission controller, wherein the change in operating state is unlocking the transmission permitting vehicle movement;

or

a heater/air conditioning controller, wherein the change in operating state is turning on the heater/air conditioning.

3. A remote starter system for a vehicle having an ignition module connected to vehicle controller modules by a serial data interface, the serial data interface having an interconnected pair of vehicle serial data connectors, the remote starter system comprising:

a T-Harness connector having at least a first, second, and third serial data connectors, wherein the second and third serial data connectors are further interconnected between the pair of vehicle serial data connectors, and the T-Harness connector further having at least serial data wires specifically configured to communicate all serial data to and from the second and third serial data connectors through the first serial data connector; and

a remote starter module having at least a remote starter connector, wherein the first serial data connector of the T-Harness connector is coupled to the remote starter connector, and the second and third serial data connectors are separately coupled between the pair of interconnected vehicle serial data connectors, such that all of the serial data from the vehicle controller modules and from the ignition module must communicate through the remote starter module before being communicated to the vehicle controller modules and to the ignition module.

4. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the serial data interface is a serial data bus, CANBUS, FLEXRAY, UN or MOST.

5. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle controller modules are an engine controller, heat controller, air conditioning controller, or transmission system controller.

6. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the ignition module is an electronic device with a receptacle where an ignition key is inserted to allow access to vehicle functions.

7. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the ignition module is a “

push to start”

button switch.

8. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the ignition module sends and receives information as data packets to one or more of the following controllers permitting the vehicle to change operation states:

an engine controller, wherein the change in operating state is starting and running the engine;

a transmission controller, wherein the change in operating state is unlocking the transmission permitting vehicle movement;

or

a heater/air conditioning controller, wherein the change in operating state is turning on the heater/air conditioning.

9. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is a break in the serial data lines re-directing the serial data lines to the remote starter system for modification of the data packets.

10. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is further configured to route serial data lines and power lines to the remote starter module for purposes of access to power supply and data packets.

11. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is further configured to route a vehicle ground reference line to the remote starter module.

12. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is further configured to route a vehicle power supply to the remote starter module.

13. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is further configured to route the serial data lines from the ignition module to the remote starter module.

14. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector is further configured to route the serial data lines from a vehicle data network to the remote starter module.

15. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector requires all data packets moving between the ignition module and the vehicle controller modules must communicate through the remote starter module.

16. The remote starter system of claim 3, wherein the T-Harness connector permits the remote starter module to control the movement of data packets.

17. A remote starter system for a vehicle having an ignition module connected to vehicle controller modules by a serial data interface, the serial data interface having a pair of interconnected vehicle serial data connectors, the remote starter system comprising:

a T-Harness connector having at least first, second, and third serial data connectors, and having serial data wires being configured to communicate only between the first and second serial data connectors and only between the first and third serial data connectors, such that all of the serial data to and from the second and third serial data connectors must communicate through the first serial data connector; and

a remote starter module having at least a remote starter connector, wherein the first serial data connector of the T-Harness connector is coupled to the remote starter connector, and the second and third serial data connectors are separately coupled between the pair of interconnected vehicle serial data connectors, such that data from the remote starter module is communicated to the vehicle controller modules and the ignition module and wherein all data packets moving between the ignition module and the vehicle controller modules must communicate through the remote starter module before being communicated to the vehicle controller modules and to the ignition module.

18. The remote starter system of claim 17, wherein the serial data interface is a serial data bus, CAN BUS, FLEXRAY, LIN or MOST.

19. The remote starter system of claim 17, wherein the ignition module sends and receives information as data packets to one or more of the following controllers permitting the vehicle to change operation states:

an engine controller, wherein the change in operating state is starting and running the engine;

a transmission controller, wherein the change in operating state is unlocking the transmission permitting vehicle movement;

or

a heater/air conditioning controller, wherein the change in operating state is turning on the heater/air conditioning.

20. The remote starter system of claim 17, wherein the T-Harness connector routes serial data lines and power lines to the remote starter module for purposes of access to power supply and data packets.