System for controlling vehicle parameters

• US 8,948,926 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US12/885,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/70, 701/79, 701/93, 340/901, 340/904, 340/988, 340/989, 340991-993, 340/425.5, 34042613-42617, 340/426.35, 340/441
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system is provided which is capable of controlling one or more parameters of a vehicle, such as vehicle speed or engine RPM. The system involves communication between a transmitter and a controller. The transmitter has memory containing information that corresponds to a vehicle parameter setting. The information is operatively transmitted from the transmitter to the controller. Once the controller receives the information, the vehicle parameter setting is identified by the controller. When the setting is identified, the controller may adjust at least one mechanism on the vehicle so as modify the vehicle parameter accordingly. One scenario in which the parameter modification is generally provided is if the controller determines that the vehicle parameter is exceeding the identified setting, which corresponds to the vehicle being operated at a level higher than that intended for the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A system for modifying operability of a vehicle by controlling a vehicle parameter, comprising:

a controller located on a vehicle, the controller having a memory, the memory configured for storing at least a first code sequence, a second code sequence, and a third code sequence, each of the first, second, and third code sequences corresponding to a different skill level for a vehicle operator, the first code sequence corresponding to a beginner skill level and allowing for operation of the vehicle up to a first speed greater than zero, the second code sequence corresponding to an intermediate skill level and allowing for operation of the vehicle up to a second speed greater than the first speed, and the third code sequence corresponding to an expert skill level and allowing for operation of the vehicle at a speed greater than the second speed, and the controller is configured to initially set the vehicle parameter to an initial code sequence corresponding with the first code sequence during an initial operation of the vehicle;

a transmitter including an integrated chip having preprogrammed memory configured for storing a code sequence, the stored code sequence corresponding to one skill level for the vehicle operator, the transmitter configured for communication with the controller, the communication involving transmission of a signal from the transmitter to the controller, the signal containing the stored code sequence, the controller adapted to identify the one skill level for the operator corresponding to the stored code sequence;

at least one mechanism located on the vehicle, the at least one mechanism configured for adjustment based on the one skill level identified, the at least one mechanism electrically coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to adjust the at least one mechanism so as to modify operability of the vehicle based on the one skill level identified, the controller being configured to initially adjust the at least one mechanism according to one of the first, second, and third code sequences; and

a vehicle sensor configured to measure a vehicle parameter, wherein the operability modification of the vehicle is based on the identification of the one skill level in combination with a reading from the vehicle sensor, and the controller is configured to adjust the at least one mechanism so as to modify the vehicle parameter if the vehicle parameter measured by the sensor exceeds a predefined vehicle parameter corresponding to the one skill level identified by the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the transmitter and the controller is configured to occur only when the transmitter is within a certain distance from the controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a RFID tag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is coupled to an ignition key for the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver located on the vehicle within transmitting range of the controller, and whereby the communication between the transmitter and the controller is configured to occur via the transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes software configured to compare the one code sequence with the plurality of code sequences stored in the memory of the controller so as to identify the one skill level for the operator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one skill level corresponds to one vehicle setting for a certain vehicle parameter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism is configured for adjustment so as to modify a vehicle parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle parameter is vehicle speed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter has an attribute that outwardly identifies one setting for the predefined vehicle parameter corresponding to the code sequence stored on the transmitter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter the initial code sequence only if the transmitter communicates with the controller.

13. A system for controlling a parameter of a vehicle, comprising:

means for initially setting the vehicle parameter to an initial code sequence during an initial operation of the vehicle;

means for transmitting a code sequence query signal from the vehicle;

means for receiving the query signal by a transportable transmitter, the transmitter transmitting a preprogrammed code sequence signal to a controller in response to the query signal, the code sequence signal containing a code sequence corresponding to one setting for the vehicle parameter;

means for receiving the transmitted code sequence signal;

means for identifying the one setting for the vehicle parameter corresponding to the code sequence from the received code sequence signal;

means for altering the initial code sequence when the code sequence signal differs from the initial code sequence;

means for sensing the current value of the vehicle parameter on the vehicle; and

means for adjusting a mechanism on the vehicle in order to modify the current value of the vehicle parameter if the current value of the vehicle parameter measured by the sensing means exceeds the one setting corresponding to the code sequence.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the initial code sequence corresponds with a beginner skill level.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for altering the initial code sequence only if the transmitter communicates with the controller.