Upgrade kit for an ignition key and methods

• US 8,841,987 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zipcar Incorporated (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Local Motion Incorporated (Omikenshi Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stanfield, John, Aeby, Eric D., Javault, Michael, Gires, Clement, Ng, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US14/087,666
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5, 340/51, 701/2
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00476 dynamically
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

One variation of an upgrade kit—for an ignition key corresponding to a vehicle and including an immobilizer transponder and a keyless entry transmitter—includes: a wireless jammer configured to interfere with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder; a wireless receiver configured to receive an unlock request from an external device; a relay configured to actuate the keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to the unlock request; and an enclosure configured to contain the wireless receiver and a portion of the ignition key.

Claims

1. An upgrade kit for an ignition key corresponding to a vehicle and including an immobilizer transponder and a keyless entry transmitter, the upgrade kit comprising:

a wireless jammer arranged adjacent the immobilizer transponder and intermittently interfering with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder;

a wireless receiver configured to receive an unlock request from an external device;

a relay configured to actuate the keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to the unlock request; and

an enclosure cooperating with a portion of the ignition key to contain the wireless jammer, the immobilizer transponder, the wireless receiver, the relay, and the keyless entry transmitter.

2. The upgrade kit of claim 1, further comprising a battery arranged within the enclosure and powering the wireless jammer and the relay.

3. The upgrade kit of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a feature configured to transiently engage a key dock arranged within the vehicle.

4. The upgrade kit of claim 3, further comprising a sensor configured to detect proximity of the key dock and to actuate the wireless jammer in response to removal of the enclosure from the key dock, and further comprising a visual indicator coupled to the enclosure and configured to display a visual alarm in response to removal of the enclosure from the key dock.

5. The upgrade kit of claim 1, wherein the wireless jammer comprises a circuit comprising a conductive coil arranged about the immobilizer transponder.

6. The upgrade kit of claim 5, wherein the wireless receiver receives a signal indicating authorization of operation of the vehicle from the external device, and wherein the wireless jammer opens the circuit in response to the signal.

7. The upgrade kit of claim 1, wherein the wireless jammer comprises a secondary wireless transmitter configured to output a secondary wireless signal substantially simultaneously with a primary wireless signal output by the immobilizer transponder, the secondary wireless signal of a signal strength greater than a signal strength of the primary wireless signal.

8. The upgrade kit of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor arranged within the enclosure, and further comprising a processor configured to activate the wireless jammer in response to detected motion of the enclosure.

9. The upgrade kit of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver receives a new token from the external device, and further comprising a processor arranged within the enclosure, generating a local token according to a security algorithm, and comparing the new token to the local token to authenticate communication with the external device.

10. A method for controlling an ignition key associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:

enabling a wireless jammer arranged within the ignition key, the wireless jammer adjacent an immobilizer transponder within the ignition key;

wirelessly pairing the ignition key with an external device;

at the ignition key, in response to receiving a door unlock signal from the external device, wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command from the ignition key to the vehicle; and

at the ignition key, in response to receiving an authorization signal from the external device, disabling the wireless jammer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to detecting a key dock adjacent the ignition key and receiving a door lock signal from the external device, transmitting a door lock command from the ignition key to the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein wirelessly transmitting the door unlock command to the vehicle comprises actuating a relay coupled to a door unlock circuit within the ignition key.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein wirelessly pairing the ignition key with the external device comprises generally a local code based on a security algorithm and a counter stored in memory at the ignition key, receiving a rolling code from the external device, and pairing the ignition key with the external device in response to a detected match between the local code and the rolling code.

14. A method for sharing a vehicle, comprising:

wirelessly pairing a diagnostic port dongle arranged within the vehicle with an ignition key associated with the vehicle, the ignition key comprising;

a wireless jammer adjacent an immobilizer transponder and intermittently interfering with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder,

a wireless receiver,

a relay actuating a keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to a door unlock command received at the wireless receiver, and

an enclosure containing the wireless jammer, the immobilizer transponder, the wireless receiver, the relay, and the keyless entry transmitter;

in a first mode, at the diagnostic port dongle,

receiving a vehicle unlock request from a remote computer network, and

wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command to the wireless receiver of the ignition key arranged within the vehicle;

in a second mode, at the diagnostic port dongle,

wirelessly pairing with a mobile computing device,

authenticating the mobile computing device,

receiving a vehicle unlock request from the mobile computing device, and

wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command to the wireless receiver of the ignition key arranged within the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the vehicle unlock request from the remote computer network in the first mode comprises receiving the vehicle unlock request from the remote computer network in response to a telecommunication signal strength at the diagnostic port dongle exceeding a threshold telecommunication signal strength, and wherein receiving the vehicle unlock request from the mobile computing device in the second mode comprises receiving the vehicle unlock request from the mobile computing device in response to the telecommunication signal strength at the diagnostic port dongle falling below the threshold telecommunication signal strength.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein authenticating the mobile computing device in a second mode comprises receiving a rolling code from a smartphone and authenticating the mobile computing device based on the rolling code.