Vehicle security system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 20030030549A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,696,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A vehicle security system includes a vehicle security sensor and associated sensor bus interface, an alarm indicator and associated alarm indicator bus interface, and an alarm controller and associated alarm controller bus interface for interfacing the alarm controller. The vehicle security system is for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices. The security system preferably further includes a desired signal enabling circuit for enabling the alarm controller to operate using a set of desired signals for a desired vehicle from among a plurality of possible sets of signals for different vehicles.

Claims

1. A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the remote control system comprising:

at least one remote transmitter;

a receiver within the vehicle;

a vehicle function controller operatively connected to said receiver; and

a signal enabler and a vehicle function controller bus interface associated therewith to define a data bus adaptor connected to said vehicle function controller and the vehicle data communications bus for adapting said vehicle function controller to communicate with at least one of the vehicle devices based upon at least one signal for the vehicle and responsive to said at least one remote transmitter.

2. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein said vehicle function controller comprises an alarm controller for generating an alarm responsive to the vehicle security sensor.

3. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of vehicle devices comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks movable between locked and unlocked positions;

and wherein said vehicle function controller comprises a door lock controller for moving the vehicle door locks between locked and unlocked positions responsive to said at least one remote transmitter.

4. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 where said plurality of vehicle devices comprises a vehicle engine starter;

and wherein said vehicle function controller comprises a remote start controller for operating the vehicle engine starter responsive to said at least one remote transmitter.

5. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said signal enabler comprises a memory for storing the at least one signal for the vehicle.

6. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a second vehicle controller;

and wherein said vehicle function controller is operatively connected to said second vehicle controller.

7. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle data communications bus is a multiplexed data bus;

and wherein said vehicle function controller bus interface comprises a multiplex interface for interfacing with the multiplexed data bus.

8. A remote control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said at least one remote transmitter generates changing code signals.

9. A data bus adaptor to be connected to a vehicle data communication bus and a vehicle function controller in a vehicle, the vehicle function controller being responsive to at least one remote transmitter, the data bus adaptor comprising:

a signal enabler and a vehicle function controller bus interface associated therewith to connect to the vehicle function controller and the vehicle data communications bus for adapting the vehicle function controller to communicate with at least one vehicle device based upon at least one signal for the vehicle and responsive to the at least one remote transmitter.

10. A data bus adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises an alarm controller for generating an alarm responsive to the vehicle security sensor.

11. A data bus adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks movable between locked and unlocked positions;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises a door lock controller for moving the vehicle door locks between locked and unlocked positions responsive to the at least one remote transmitter.

12. A data bus adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle engine starter;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises a remote start controller for operating the vehicle engine starter responsive to the at least one remote transmitter.

13. A data bus adaptor according to claim 9 wherein said signal enabler comprises a memory for storing the at least one signal for the vehicle.

14. A data bus adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the vehicle data communications bus is a multiplexed data bus;

and wherein said vehicle function controller bus interface comprises a multiplex interface for interfacing with the multiplexed data bus.

15. A method for adapting a vehicle function controller to communicate over a vehicle data communication bus with at least one vehicle device and responsive to at least one remote transmitter, the method comprising:

connecting a signal enabler and a vehicle function controller bus interface associated therewith to the vehicle function controller and the vehicle data communications bus for adapting said vehicle function controller to communicate with at least one of the vehicle devices based upon at least one signal for the vehicle and responsive to the at least one remote transmitter.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle security sensor;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises an alarm controller for generating an alarm responsive to the vehicle security sensor.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the at least one vehicle device comprises a plurality of vehicle door locks movable between locked and unlocked positions;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises a door lock controller for moving the vehicle door locks between locked and unlocked positions responsive to said at least one remote transmitter.

18. A method according to claim 15 where the at least one vehicle device comprises a vehicle engine starter;

and wherein the vehicle function controller comprises a remote start controller for operating the vehicle engine starter responsive to the at least one remote transmitter.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein the signal enabler comprises a memory for storing the at least one signal for the vehicle.