Wireless electrical interface system

• US 9,908,488 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2015
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: 1A Smart Start, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jessie James Shafer
• Inventors: Shafer, Jessie James
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US15/092,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 2, 705 30
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

The invention comprises a wireless electrical interface system and method for establishing a non-intrusive interface with the vehicle'"'"'s electrical subsystems required for the operation of an aftermarket electrical device, such as an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) or a GPS tracking device with integrated immobilizer technology. Said non-intrusive interface is established through utilizing engineered connectors for electrical connections to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, and by incorporating wireless interface technology to establish a wireless electrical interface between the vehicle'"'"'s electrical subsystems accessible only within the passenger compartment and the vehicle'"'"'s electrical subsystems accessible only within the engine/trunk compartment, eliminating the conventional hardwired electrical interface between aftermarket electrical devices and the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

Claims

1. A vehicle interface system for connecting aftermarket electronic devices to a vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, comprising:

a master control module directly connected to a vehicle'"'"'s ODBII port for transferring information and commands between a first aftermarket device and the vehicle'"'"'s control system; and

at least one slave control module wherein each slave control module is directly connected to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system through a corresponding fuse box for controlling electrical devices within the vehicle by commands, from a second aftermarket device, received through the master control module, and for communicating with the master control module,

wherein the master and the at least one slave modules are in wireless communication such that the master module controls the slave module and forms a pico net.

2. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket device is a breath alcohol ignition interlock device or a GPS tracking device with immobilizer circuit.

3. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication between the master and slave modules uses a Bluetooth or ZigBee communications protocol.

4. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the master control module further comprises a terminal block for connecting to the first aftermarket electrical device.

5. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the master control module further comprises a wireless microprocessor for wireless communication with the first aftermarket electrical device.

6. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the master control module further comprises a connection to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system through a direct connection to a fuse box not connected to a slave control module.

7. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, further comprising add-a circuit fuses to connect the slave module to the fuse box.

8. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the slave module connects to a plurality of fuse connections to form a terminal block.

9. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the slave control module further comprises a crank enable/disable circuit to control the operation of the engine.

10. The vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein the slave control module further comprises an ignition status circuit.

11. A method of establishing an interface between an aftermarket electrical device and a vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, comprising:

connecting a master control module to the ODBII port of the vehicle;

connecting at least one slave control module to at least one fuse box in the vehicle;

establishing a wireless connection between the master control and the slave control module to form a pico net;

connecting an aftermarket electrical device to the master control module; and

transferring data and/or commands between the aftermarket device and the master control module and wirelessly relaying the data and/or commands to the slave control module if the data and/or commands are intended for the slave module.