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

• US 9,919,682 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US14/993,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• 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 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/30 Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation

Abstract

A remote function control system is 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 may include a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus and including an interior wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle, an exterior wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and a controller coupled to the interior and exterior wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The system may further include a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system, with the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the interior 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 remote function control system comprising:

a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus and comprising

an interior wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle,

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

a processor coupled to the interior and exterior 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 and not electrically connected to the vehicle data communications bus, the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the interior wireless device.

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

and wherein the processor is configured to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to the wireless security sensor.

3. The remote function control device of claim 1 wherein the remote function device further comprises a satellite positioning receiver coupled to the processor.

4. The remote function control device of claim 1 wherein the remote function device further comprises a portable housing carrying the interior and exterior wireless devices and the processor, and wherein the portable housing is removably coupled to the data communications bus.

5. The remote function control device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to send an alert to the remote control device via the exterior wireless device based upon the wireless security sensor.

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

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

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

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

10. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein the remote function device comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote function device operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications protocols of the internal wireless device.

11. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein the remote function device comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote function device operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different wireless communications codes of the internal wireless device.

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

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

14. 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 remote function control system comprising:

a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus and comprising

an interior wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle,

an exterior wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle,

a satellite positioning receiver,

a processor coupled to the interior and exterior wireless devices and the satellite positioning receiver, the processor permitting communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus, and

a portable housing carrying the interior and exterior wireless devices, the satellite positioning receiver and the processor, and wherein the portable housing is removably coupled to the data communications bus; and

a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and not electrically connected to the vehicle data communications bus, the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the interior wireless device.

15. The remote function control system of claim 14 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm;

and wherein the processor is configured to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to the wireless security sensor.

16. The remote function control device of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to send an alert to the remote control device via the exterior wireless device based upon the wireless security sensor.

17. The remote function control system of claim 14 wherein the wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a trunk sensor, door sensor, hood sensor, and a window sensor.

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

19. The remote function control system of claim 14 wherein the processor permits communication for the remote control device to read data from the wireless security sensor.

20. The remote function control system of claim 14 wherein the processor permits communication for the remote control device to command the wireless security sensor.

21. A method of remotely controlling a vehicle function in 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 method comprising:

using a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus to

wirelessly communicate via an interior wireless device with a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and not electrically connected to the vehicle data communications bus,

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

permit communication via a processor coupled to the interior and exterior wireless devices between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle alarm;

and further comprising using the processor to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to the wireless security sensor.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the remote function device further comprises a satellite positioning receiver coupled to the processor.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the remote function device further comprises a portable housing carrying the interior and exterior wireless devices and the processor, and wherein the portable housing is removably coupled to the data communications bus.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising using the processor to send an alert to the remote control device via the exterior wireless device based upon the wireless security sensor.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the wireless security sensor comprises at least one of a trunk sensor, door sensor, hood sensor, and a window sensor.

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