ELECTRONIC ACCESS SECURITY AND KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM

• US 20100321173A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: LAWSON, ROBERT D., MAGNER, DAVE S., REICHLING, ANITA L., SMART, DAVID C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• 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 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00674 with switch-buttons

Abstract

A system for providing secured access to and/or control of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a vehicle network such as a CAN. A remote communications device is used for sending a signal for controlling functions associated with the vehicle. There is a receiver operatively connected to the vehicle network and adapted to receive the signal from the remote communications device. At least one access module is adapted to provide control of functions of the vehicle by a user from outside of the vehicle, the access module is electrically connected to the vehicle network. There is at least one user input device associated with the access module and there are a plurality of outputs associated with the access module wherein the access module is adapted to directly control access to the vehicle through control of the plurality of outputs.

Claims

1. A system for providing secured access to a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle network;

a remote communications device for sending a signal for controlling functions associated with the vehicle;

a receiver operatively connected to the vehicle network and adapted to receive the signal from the remote communications device;

an access module adapted to provide control of functions of the vehicle by a user from outside of the vehicle, the access module electrically connected to the vehicle network;

a user input device associated with the access module; and

a plurality of outputs associated with the access module wherein the access module is adapted to directly control access to the vehicle through control of the plurality of outputs.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the access module is adapted to control access to the vehicle using the plurality of outputs based on a message received over the vehicle network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access module is adapted to send a message over the vehicle network to control functions of the vehicle based on input received from the user input device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user input device is a vehicle-mountable keypad accessible from outside of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the vehicle-mountable keypad requires entry of a security code prior to controlling functions of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle network is a controller area network (CAN).

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote communications device is housed in a key chain fob.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second access module operatively connected to the vehicle network.

9. A system for providing secured access to a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle network;

a remote communications device for sending a signal for controlling functions associated with the vehicle;

a receiver operatively connected to the vehicle network and adapted to receive the signal from the remote communications device;

an access module adapted to provide control of functions of the vehicle by a user from outside of the vehicle, the access module electrically connected to the vehicle network;

a user input device associated with the access module;

a plurality of outputs associated with the access module wherein the access module is adapted to directly control access to the vehicle through control of the plurality of outputs;

wherein the access module is adapted to control access to the vehicle using the plurality of outputs based on a message received over the vehicle network.

wherein the access module is adapted to send a message over the vehicle network to control functions of the vehicle based on input received from the user input device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user input device is a vehicle-mountable keypad accessible from outside of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle-mountable keypad requires entry of a security code prior to controlling functions of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle network is a controller area network (CAN).

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the remote communications device is housed in a key chain fob.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second access module operatively connected to the vehicle network.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of outputs associated with the access module control access associated with a door.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of outputs include a door unlock output.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of outputs include a window control output.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of inputs operatively connected to the access module wherein the access module is adapted to monitor the plurality of inputs directly without using the vehicle network.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the access module is adapted to send a message over the vehicle network to report on state of one or more of the plurality of inputs.

20. A system for providing secured access to a vehicle, comprising:

a remote communications device for sending a signal for controlling a first set of functions associated with the vehicle;

a receiver associated with the vehicle and adapted to receive the signal;

an access module operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted to provide access to control of a second set of functions of the vehicle by a user;

a plurality of actuators disposed within the vehicle and wherein at least a portion of the first set of functions and at least a portion of the second set of functions are associated with at least one of the plurality of actuators;

a controller module electrically connected to the receiver, the access module, and the plurality of actuators; and

wherein the second set of functions is configurable using commands for changing programming.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first set of functions is a subset of the second set of functions.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of zones and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators is associated with each of the zones.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the vehicle-mountable keypad requires entry of a security code prior to controlling the second set of functions of the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote communications device is housed in a key chain fob.

25. The system of claim 20 further comprising a second access module operatively connected to the vehicle, the second access module electrically connected to the controller module and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators disposed within the vehicle is associated with a third set of functions, and wherein the second access module is a vehicle mounted keypad accessible from outside the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the third set of functions is different from the first and second sets of functions.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the actuators is associated with a compartment door.

28. The system of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of sensors associated with the vehicle and electrically connected to the controller module.

29. The system of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of switches disposed within the vehicle and electrically connected to the controller module.

30. The system of claim 20 further comprising a second controller module in network communication with the controller module.

31. The system of claim 20 wherein the controller module is adapted to enable or disable a vehicle function.

32. A configurable system for providing access to a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle network;

a remote communications device for sending a signal for controlling a first set of vehicle functions;

a receiver associated with the vehicle and adapted to receive the signal, the receiver operatively connected to the vehicle network;

an access module operatively connected to the vehicle network and adapted to provide control of a second set of vehicle functions by a user from outside of the vehicle;

wherein the access module includes a plurality of outputs electrically connected to a plurality of electronic devices associated with the vehicle and wherein at least a portion of the first set of functions or at least a portion of the second set of functions are associated with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices;

wherein the access module includes a plurality of inputs electrically connected to sensors for monitoring vehicle state.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the at least one electronically controlled device is an actuator.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the vehicle functions include locking a first door and unlocking the first door using the actuator.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein the vehicle functions include opening a first compartment using the actuator.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein the vehicle functions include switching a light on or off.

37. The system of claim 32 further comprising a second access module for providing a third set of vehicle functions, the second access module electrically connected to the vehicle network.

38. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one sensor is adapted for detecting whether a door is open or closed.

39. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one sensor is adapted for detecting whether a window is open or closed.

40. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one sensor is adapted for detecting that a vehicle engine is running.

41. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one sensor is adapted for detecting that a key is in the ignition.

42. The system of claim 32 wherein the vehicle network is a control area network.

43. An expandable and configurable system for providing secured access to and control of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle network;

a plurality of access modules, each of the access modules electrically connected to the vehicle network;

wherein each of the plurality of access modules includes (a) an input device for receiving input from a user;

(b) at least one input from a sensor of the vehicle; and

(c) at least one output to control an electronic device associated with the vehicle; and

wherein each of the plurality of access modules is adapted to send and receive messages over the vehicle network.

44. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 further comprising a security system receiver electrically connected to the vehicle network.

45. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 further comprising a radio frequency (RF) module adapted for receiving a signal from a remote device, wherein the RF module is electrically connected to the vehicle network.

46. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 wherein one of the access modules is a driver'"'"'s door module.

47. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 wherein one of the access modules is a passenger'"'"'s door module.

48. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 wherein the vehicle network is a controller area network.

49. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 wherein each of the plurality of access modules is adapted to send and receive messages over the vehicle network using a multiplexing messaging protocol.

50. The expandable and configurable system of claim 43 wherein each of the access modules is reconfigurable.

51. A method for installing and configuring a control system associated with a vehicle, comprising:

configuring software of access module for the vehicle;

placing within the vehicle an access module having a user input device to allow a user to gain access to vehicle;

electrically connecting inputs of the access module to one or more sensors;

electrically connecting outputs of the access module to one or more electronic devices;

electrically connecting the access module to a vehicle network.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the access module is a keypad module.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the vehicle network is a control area network.

54. An expandable and configurable system for providing secured access to and control of a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle-mountable keypad modules;

at least one controller module electrically connected to the plurality of vehicle mountable keypad modules and adapted to connect with additional controller modules or keypad modules to thereby provide expandability;

wherein each of the plurality of vehicle mountable keypad modules is adapted to receive a user-entered security code to provide access to controlling a set of functions and then

receive at least one separately entered code for selecting at least one of the set of functions to control after access is provided.

55. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 wherein the set of functions is designated by the security code.

56. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 wherein the set of functions is designated by location of the vehicle mountable keypad module.

57. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 further comprising a plurality of zones associated with the vehicle, each of the plurality of zones comprising one or more devices from the set consisting of at least one switch, at least one sensor, and at least one actuator.

58. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 wherein the set of functions includes functions associated with at least one of the plurality of zones.

59. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 wherein each of the vehicle mountable keypad modules communicates with the controller module via a multiplexing messaging protocol.

60. The expandable and configurable system of claim 54 wherein the set of functions is configurable without rewiring.