Smartphone controller of vehicle settings

• US 8,751,065 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/714,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701/49, 701/86, 455/39, 455/41.2, 455/73, 455/96, 340/426.12, 340/426.13, 340/426.2, 340/426.28, 340/426.36, 340/426.35, 340/4.62, 340/5.2, 340/5.8
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A vehicle control system that contains a control module configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device to upload and download user specific settings that may be stored on the mobile device. The mobile device may also be configured to enable the ignition system once the vehicle authenticates the mobile device and remote keyless entry system. The memory of the mobile device is read and write capable, allowing for data to be used by the control module in conjunction with several automobile systems, and allowing for data to be transferred from said systems to the portable memory device by the control module, thus facilitating vehicle operation.

Claims

1. A vehicle operation system comprising:

a vehicle having an ignition system, a control module, a first wireless transponder, and a remote keyless entry antenna wherein the control module is coupled to the ignition system, the first wireless transponder and a remote keyless entry antenna;

a key fob, wherein the key fob and remote keyless entry antenna communicate wirelessly to authenticate the key fob to the vehicle;

a mobile device having a memory for storing user preference data, a second wireless transponder coupled to the memory, the first wireless transponder configured to communicate with the second wireless transponder;

wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate with the control module through the first wireless transponder once the key fob is authenticated to the vehicle, said control module transmitting at least one vehicle user setting to the mobile device through said first wireless transponder to be stored in the mobile device memory when the ignition system is turned off.

2. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein, once key fob is authenticated the mobile device communicates with the ignition system through the control module.

3. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device contains a battery.

4. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication between the first and second transponder is performed using near field communication.

5. The vehicle operation system according to claim 4, wherein the near field communication wirelessly charges the battery of the mobile device through a near field communication pad.

6. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication between the first and second transponder is performed blue tooth wireless communication.

7. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, wherein the user setting comprises adjustable features of the vehicle that are set by a user.

8. The vehicle operation system according to claim 7, wherein the adjustable features comprises at least one of a driver seat, a passenger seat, a HVAC system, a infotainment system, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a side view mirror.

9. The vehicle operation system according to claim 1, further comprising the user settings stored in the mobile device can be communicated wirelessly to the vehicle control module from the mobile device.

10. A operation system comprising:

a vehicle;

a ignition system;

a passenger cabin in the vehicle;

a control module in the vehicle;

a first antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data;

a second antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data with a key fob; and

a mobile device wherein the mobile device has a third antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data;

a memory for storing data, the third antenna and memory are electronically linked, the first antenna, second antenna and ignition system are coupled to the control module, wherein the first antenna and third antenna communicate wirelessly, the mobile device communicates to the control module to start the ignition system after the control module authenticates the key fob and mobile device.

11. The operation system comprising according to claim 10, wherein the control module transmits user specific data to the memory of the mobile device.

12. The operation system comprising according to claim 11, wherein the transmission of user specific data occurs when the ignition system is shut off.

13. The operation system comprising according to claim 11, wherein the mobile device wirelessly transmits user specific data to the control module once the key fob is authenticated.

14. The operation system comprising according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication between the first and third antenna is of near field communication technology.

15. The operation system comprising according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication between the first and third antenna is of blue tooth technology.

16. The operation system comprising according to claim 10, wherein the mobile device further comprises a user interface screen, the interface screen displaying;

an engine start icon on the screen when the vehicle ignition is off, an engine stop icon when the vehicle ignition is on.

17. The operation system according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one user setting stored in the control module, the control module is electronically connected to adjustable features of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle operation system according to claim 17, wherein the adjustable features comprises at least one of a driver seat, a passenger seat, a HVAC system, a infotainment system, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a side view mirror.

19. The vehicle operation system according to claim 11, further comprising;

a passenger cabin in the vehicle;

a console in the passenger cabin of the vehicle;

a near field communication pad on the console;

wherein

the mobile device has a battery, the near field communication pad wirelessly charges the mobile device battery.

20. A vehicle control system comprising:

a vehicle;

a ignition system;

a passenger cabin in the vehicle;

a control module in the vehicle;

a first antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data;

a near field communication pad in the vehicle;

a second antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data with a key fob; and

a cell phone wherein the cell phone has a third antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data;

a memory for storing data, the third antenna and memory are electronically coupled, the first antenna, second antenna and ignition system are coupled to the control module, the first antenna and third antenna communicate wirelessly, the cell phone communicates to the control module to start and stop the ignition system.