Key fob dongle

• US 9,311,815 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc. (Dorman Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc. (Dorman Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ramchandani, Kris, Kumar, Venkataramani
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US14/512,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• 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 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an improvement of methods and systems used to configure electronic components and modules to a vehicle. A low cost programmer tool, or key fob dongle, may manage devices coupled to a vehicle communication network. The system is designed for on-board management of multiple vehicle network protocols to support configuration of various electronic modules to a vehicle. A method for using a key fob dongle is disclosed herein. The method includes inserting the key fob dongle into an on-board diagnostic (OBD)-II connector of a vehicle, transmitting a communication detection request to the OBD-II connector, and beeping a predetermined amount of times in response to the communication detection request, wherein the beeping a predetermined amount of times identifies a vehicle communication protocol.

Claims

1. A dongle for use in programming a key fob transmitter, the dongle comprising:

a connector to connect the dongle to an on-board diagnostic of a vehicle;

a circuit board, wherein the circuit board includes a program to read to the on-board diagnostic of the vehicle and determine what program to use for programming the key fob;

a buzzer, wherein the buzzer indicates the program of the on-board diagnostic of the vehicle and a start to user interaction, and

a light emitting diode (LED), wherein the LED is used to indicate that the programming is complete.

2. The dongle of claim 1, wherein the key fob dongle beeps three times to indicate that the vehicle communication protocol is J1850.

3. The dongle of claim 1, wherein the key fob dongle beeps two times to indicate that the vehicle communication protocol is single wire control area network (SWCAN).

4. The dongle of claim 1, wherein the key fob dongle beeps one time to indicate that the vehicle communication protocol is high speed control area network (HSCAN).

5. The dongle of claim 1, wherein the beeping a predetermined amount of times prompts a user to press and hold the lock and unlock buttons simultaneously of a key fob to program the key fob.

6. The dongle of claim 5, wherein after the user programs the key fob, the key fob dongle beeps again to confirm the key fob is programmed.

7. The dongle of claim 5, wherein after the user programs the key fob, a cluster in the car beeps to confirm the key fob is programmed.