Electronic passcode key for varying operational parameters of a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle control system, comprising:
- a control module, the control module controlling a vehicle in accordance with at least one parameter of vehicle operation;
an external port, the external port electrically communicating with the control module;
a parameter control device having memory configured to store information indicative of a number of uses left in the parameter control device, the parameter control device being selectively connected to the external port to enable electrical communication between the control module and the parameter control device;
wherein the parameter control device and control module cooperate to modify the at least one parameter, the parameter control device having a predetermined limitation encoded therein on the number of control modules for which it can modify the at least one parameter, the memory of the parameter control device is configured to change the information in the memory in response to the control module having been modified, and the parameter control device and the control module are configured to cooperate to modify the at least one parameter upon connection to the external port in response to the vehicle control module being in a predetermined mode.
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Abstract
An electronic passkey system enables modification of operating profiles of a vehicle. When the passkey is connected to the vehicle controller, the system determines if the passkey has been used previously. If so, the operating profile cannot be modified. If not, the vehicle profile can be modified. In other configurations the passkey can be used to modify the operating profile of multiple vehicles.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system, comprising:
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a control module, the control module controlling a vehicle in accordance with at least one parameter of vehicle operation; an external port, the external port electrically communicating with the control module; a parameter control device having memory configured to store information indicative of a number of uses left in the parameter control device, the parameter control device being selectively connected to the external port to enable electrical communication between the control module and the parameter control device; wherein the parameter control device and control module cooperate to modify the at least one parameter, the parameter control device having a predetermined limitation encoded therein on the number of control modules for which it can modify the at least one parameter, the memory of the parameter control device is configured to change the information in the memory in response to the control module having been modified, and the parameter control device and the control module are configured to cooperate to modify the at least one parameter upon connection to the external port in response to the vehicle control module being in a predetermined mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A parameter key for a vehicle, comprising:
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memory configured to store information indicative of a number of uses left in the parameter key, and data; an interface to a vehicle controller, the parameter key is configured to communicate the data stored in the memory to the vehicle controller upon electrical communication between the parameter key and the vehicle controller; wherein the memory is configured to store identifier information associated with the vehicle and the vehicle controller is configured to modify a vehicle parameter of the vehicle controller in accordance with the identifier information, the parameter key having a predetermined limitation encoded therein on the number of controllers for which it can modify the vehicle parameter, and the parameter key is configured to change the information indicative of the number of uses left in the parameter key or the identifier information in the memory in response to the vehicle parameter having been modified. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A parameter key for a vehicle having a prime mover, the prime mover causing displacement of the vehicle when actuated, a braking system, the braking system reducing a speed of the vehicle when actuated, a control module, the control module controlling at least one parameter of the prime mover or the braking system, and an external port, the external port providing electrical communication with the control module, the parameter key comprising:
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a parameter key port, the parameter key port is configured to be selectively connected to the external port to enable electrical communication between the parameter key and the control module; and memory configured to store key port usage information indicative of a number of uses left in the parameter key wherein the parameter key is configured to cooperate with the control module to modify the at least one parameter, the parameter key is configured to enable a predetermined modification of the at least one parameter, and wherein the parameter key is configured to communicate with the control module to enable the predetermined modification upon connection to the external port when the vehicle control module is in a predetermined mode, and wherein the key port usage information in the memory is configured to be modified in response to the parameter key port communicating with the control module.
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Specification