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

• US 9,925,956 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• 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:
  US14/993,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 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 bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle 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 with the first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device, 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, with the sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate with the second 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 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 the 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 the first wireless device,

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

a processor coupled to the 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 and not electrically connected to the vehicle data communications bus, the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the second 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 system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to send an alert to the remote control device via the third wireless device responsive to the wireless security sensor.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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 wireless communications protocols of the first wireless device.

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 wireless communications codes of the first wireless device.

10. 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.

11. The remote function control system of claim 1 wherein the processor 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 remote function control 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 the 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 the first wireless device,

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

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

the processor also being configured to activate the vehicle alarm responsive to the wireless security sensor, and to send an alert to the remote control device via the third wireless device responsive to the wireless security sensor.

13. The remote function control system of claim 12 wherein the 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 the 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 the processor 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 the processor 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,

permit communication via a processor 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 second 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.

18. The method of claim 17 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.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising using the processor 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 remote function device comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote function device operable with a plurality of different vehicles using respective different bus protocols.

23. The method of claim 17 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.

24. The method of claim 17 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 first wireless device.

25. The method of claim 17 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 first wireless device.

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