Remote function control system with wireless databus device and associated wireless security sensor for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 9,656,631 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US14/993,297
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340 51- 55, 340 101- 106, 34042613
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4221 being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired electrical power system. A wireless data bus device may be coupled to the power system and include a wired interface coupled to the data bus, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device may be coupled to the power system and include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and a controller to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device(s) coupled to the data bus. A wireless security sensor may be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the power system, and wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device.

Claims

1. A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the system comprising:

a wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising

a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and

a first wireless device coupled to said wired interface;

a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising

a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with said first wireless device,

a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and

a controller coupled to said second and third wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus; and

a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system, said wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to said first wireless device.

2. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm;

and wherein said wireless data bus device is configured to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to said wireless security sensor.

3. The remote function control device of claim 1 wherein said wireless data bus device is configured to cause said controller to send an alert to the remote control device via said third wireless device based upon said wireless security sensor.

4. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a trunk sensor, door sensor, hood sensor, and a window sensor.

5. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a vibration sensor, sound sensor, pressure sensor, and a radar sensor.

6. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

7. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

8. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of said first wireless device.

9. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of said first wireless device.

10. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller permits communication for the remote control device to read data from the wireless security sensor.

11. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein said controller permits communication for the remote control device to command the wireless security sensor.

12. A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the system comprising:

a wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising

a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and

a first wireless device coupled to said wired interface;

a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising

a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with said first wireless device,

a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and

a controller coupled to said second and third wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle alarm coupled to the vehicle data communications bus; and

a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system, said wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to said first wireless device;

said wireless data bus device being configured to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to said wireless security sensor, and to cause said controller to send an alert to the remote control device via said third wireless device based upon said wireless security sensor.

13. The remote function control system of claim 12 wherein said wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a trunk sensor, door sensor, hood sensor, and a window sensor.

14. The remote function control system of claim 12 wherein said wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a vibration sensor, sound sensor, pressure sensor, and a radar sensor.

15. The remote function control system of claim 12 wherein said controller permits communication for the remote control device to read data from the wireless security sensor.

16. The remote function control system of claim 12 wherein said controller permits communication for the remote control device to command the wireless security sensor.

17. A method of remotely controlling a vehicle function with a wireless data bus device coupled to a wired vehicle electrical system in a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, the wireless data bus device comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface, the method comprising:

using a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system to

wirelessly communicate via a second wireless communication device within the vehicle with the first wireless device,

wirelessly communicate via a third wireless device with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and

permit communication via a controller coupled to the second and third wireless devices between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus; and

wirelessly communicate via the first wireless device with a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm;

and further comprising using the wireless data bus device to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to the wireless security sensor.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising using the wireless data bus device to send an alert to the remote control device via the third wireless device responsive to the wireless security sensor.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a trunk sensor, door sensor, hood sensor, and a window sensor.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a vibration sensor, sound sensor, pressure sensor, and a radar sensor.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different vehicle device bus codes.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of the first wireless device.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible controller operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of the first wireless device.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising using the controller to permit communication for the remote control device to read data from the wireless security sensor.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising using the controller to permit communication for the remote control device to command the wireless security sensor.