Multi-controller data bus adaptor operable based upon controller downloaded adaptor codes and related methods

• US 9,582,991 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US14/624,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A remote control system may be for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting vehicle devices. The vehicle devices may be operable with a given set of vehicle device codes from among different sets thereof for different vehicles. A vehicle controller that is responsive to a remote transmitter may include a controller data link interface. A data bus adaptor may store the given set of vehicle device codes and include an adaptor data link interface cooperating with the controller data link interface to provide a communication link for adapting the vehicle controller to communicate with a vehicle device via the data communications bus. The data bus adaptor may be operable based upon a set of adaptor codes from among different sets thereof. The vehicle controller may include a controller download interface for downloading the set of adaptor codes to operate the data bus adaptor.

Claims

1. A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting a plurality of vehicle devices within the vehicle, the vehicle devices operable with a given set of vehicle device codes from among a plurality of different sets of vehicle device codes for different vehicles, the remote control system comprising:

a vehicle controller carried by the vehicle, being responsive to a remote transmitter, and comprising a controller data link interface; and

a data bus adaptor carried by the vehicle and having stored therein the given set of vehicle device codes and comprising an adaptor data link interface cooperating with said controller data link interface to provide a communication link for adapting said vehicle controller to communicate with at least one vehicle device via the data communications bus, said data bus adaptor being operable based upon a given set of adaptor codes from among a plurality of different sets of adaptor codes for different adaptors;

said vehicle controller comprising a controller download interface for downloading the given set of adaptor codes to be able to operate said data bus adaptor.

2. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said controller download interface comprises a wireless controller download interface.

3. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said controller download interface comprises a wired controller download interface.

4. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said controller data link interface comprises a wireless controller data link interface and said adaptor data link interface comprises a wireless adaptor data link interface to establish a wireless communication link therebetween.

5. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said controller data link interface comprises a wired controller data link interface, and said adaptor data link interface comprises a wired adaptor data link interface to establish a wired communication link therebetween.

6. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller comprises a processor and a memory coupled thereto for storing the given set of adaptor codes.

7. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said data bus adaptor comprises a processor and a memory coupled thereto for storing the given set of vehicle device codes.

8. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said controller data link interface and said adaptor data link interface establish a serial communication link therebetween.

9. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller comprises:

a vehicle positioning determining device;

at least one wireless communications device; and

a processor coupled to said vehicle position determining device, said wireless communications device, and said controller data link interface.

10. The remote control system of claim 9 wherein said processor cooperates with said vehicle position determining device and said at least one wireless communications device to wirelessly send vehicle position information.

11. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller is for performing a vehicle starting function responsive to the remote transmitter.

12. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller is for performing a vehicle security function responsive to the remote transmitter.

13. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller is for performing a vehicle convenience function responsive to the remote transmitter.

14. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said data bus adaptor comprises an adaptor download interface for downloading the given set of vehicle device codes.

15. The remote control system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle controller comprises a controller housing and controller circuitry carried thereby;

and wherein said data bus adaptor comprises an adaptor housing and adaptor circuitry carried thereby.

16. A vehicle controller for a remote control system comprising a data bus adaptor having stored therein a given set of vehicle device codes for operating a plurality of vehicle devices and comprising an adaptor data link interface for adapting the vehicle controller to communicate with at least one vehicle device via a data communications bus extending throughout a vehicle, the data bus adaptor being carried by the vehicle and operable based upon a given set of adaptor codes from among a plurality of different sets of adaptor codes for different adaptors, the vehicle controller to be carried by the vehicle and comprising:

a controller data link interface to be coupled to the adaptor data link interface;

a processor coupled to said controller data link interface and operable to communicate with the at least one vehicle device via the data communications bus based upon the given set of adaptor codes; and

a controller download interface coupled to said processor for downloading the given set of adaptor codes to be able to operate the data bus adaptor.

17. The vehicle controller of claim 16 wherein said controller download interface comprises a wireless controller download interface.

18. The vehicle controller of claim 16 wherein said controller download interface comprises a wired controller data link interface.

19. The vehicle controller of claim 16 wherein said controller data link interface comprises a wireless controller data link interface.

20. The vehicle controller of claim 16 wherein said controller download interface comprises a wired controller download interface.

21. The vehicle controller of claim 16 further comprising a memory coupled to said processor for storing the given set of adaptor codes.

22. The vehicle controller of claim 16 further comprising:

a vehicle positioning determining device coupled to said processor; and

at least one wireless communications device coupled to said processor.

23. The vehicle controller of claim 22 wherein said processor cooperates with said vehicle position determining device and said at least one wireless communications device to wirelessly send vehicle position information.

24. A method of using a remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting a plurality of vehicle devices within the vehicle, the vehicle devices operable with a given set of vehicle device codes from among a plurality of different sets of vehicle device codes for different vehicles, the remote control system comprising a vehicle controller carried by the vehicle, being responsive to a remote transmitter, and comprising a controller data link interface, a data bus adaptor carried by the vehicle and having stored therein the given set of vehicle device codes and comprising an adaptor data link interface cooperating with the controller data link interface to provide a communication link for adapting the vehicle controller to communicate with at least one vehicle device via the data communications bus, the data bus adaptor being operable based upon a given set of adaptor codes from among a plurality of different sets of adaptor codes for different adaptors, the vehicle controller comprising a controller download interface, the method comprising:

using the vehicle controller with the given set of adaptor codes downloaded from the controller download interface to operate the data bus adaptor.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the controller download interface comprises a wireless controller download interface.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the controller download interface comprises a wired controller download interface.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the controller data link interface comprises a wireless controller data link interface, and the adaptor data link interface comprises a wireless adaptor data link interface to establish a wireless communication link therebetween.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the controller data link interface comprises a wired controller data link interface, and the adaptor data link interface comprises a wired adaptor data link interface to establish a wired communication link therebetween.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the vehicle controller comprises a processor and a memory coupled thereto for storing the given set of adaptor codes.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the data bus adaptor comprises a processor and a memory coupled thereto for storing the given set of vehicle device codes.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the controller data link interface and the adaptor data link interface establish a serial communication link therebetween.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein using the vehicle controller comprises using the vehicle controller for performing a vehicle starting function responsive to the remote transmitter.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein using the vehicle controller comprises using the vehicle controller for performing a vehicle security function responsive to the remote transmitter.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein using the vehicle controller comprises using the vehicle controller for performing a vehicle convenience function responsive to the remote transmitter.