Keypad module and method for electronic access security and keyless entry of a vehicle

• US 7,034,655 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tri/Mark
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: Houdek, Julie M., Magner, Dave, McIntosh, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/213,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.54, 340/5.64, 340/5.67, 340/5.72, 340/5.22, 340/426.36, 340/543, 307/10.2, 307/4, 701/2, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

The present invention is a keypad module for a vehicle. The keypad module includes a housing having a front side, a back side, and side members, the front side having a flange adapted for mounting to a vehicle, a plurality of buttons operatively connected to the housing and recessed in the front side, a circuit board disposed within the housing, an intelligent control mounted to the circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of buttons, and a network transceiver electrically connected to the intelligent control, the intelligent control adapted to transmit a vehicle access message through the network transceiver. The present invention also includes a method.

Claims

1. A keypad module for a vehicle entry system, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a back side, and side members, the front side having a flange adapted for mounting to a vehicle;

a plurality of buttons operatively connected to the housing and recessed in the front side of the housing;

a circuit board disposed within the housing;

a intelligent control mounted to the circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of buttons, wherein the intelligent control is adapted to receive user input from the plurality of buttons and create a vehicle access message based in part on the user input and the vehicle access message comprising a plurality of characters; and

a network transceiver electrically connected to the intelligent control, the intelligent control adapted to transmit the vehicle access message through the network transceiver to a remote location within the vehicle.

2. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising at least one lighting device electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing visual feedback associated with a user pressing one of the plurality of buttons.

3. The keypad module of claim 2 wherein the at least one lighting device includes at least one lighting device for each of the plurality of buttons.

4. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising an audio circuit electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing audio feedback associated with a user pressing one of the plurality of buttons.

5. The keypad module of claim 4 wherein the audio circuit includes a buzzer.

6. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of buttons is press resistant to provide tactile feedback.

7. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the vehicle access message includes a security code at least three digits in length.

8. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the vehicle access message includes an unlock command.

9. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising at least two apertures in the flange for accepting external fasteners to mount to the vehicle.

10. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising graphical representations on each of the plurality of buttons.

11. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buttons includes five buttons.

12. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising a sealing member between the circuit board and the housing.

13. The keypad module of claim 12 wherein the sealing member includes an elastomer membrane.

14. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the vehicle access message comprises a command based on user input received by the plurality of buttons.

15. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the vehicle access message further comprises a security code.

16. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to learn programming.

17. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to change programming.

18. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to lock all doors.

19. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to change security codes.

20. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to unlock a zone.

21. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to unlock all zones.

22. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to toggle an auxiliary output.

23. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to send a pulse output.

24. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to change status.

25. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to send a sustained output.

26. The keypad module of claim 14 wherein the command is to sequentially actuate a plurality of locks.

27. The keypad module of claim 1 further comprising at least one lighting device electrically connected to the intelligent control and wherein the intelligent control is programmed to control the at least one lighting device to indicate error conditions of the keypad module.

28. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is further adapted to determine the status of the keypad module.

29. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is programmed to verify at least one security code.

30. The keypad module of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is programmed to associate a plurality of codes for controlling vehicle functions with each of the at least one security code.

31. The keypad module of claim 30 wherein the at least one security code is a plurality of security codes and wherein each of the plurality of security codes is associated with a separate plurality of codes for controlling vehicle functions.

32. A keypad module for a vehicle entry system, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a back side, and side members, the front side having a flange adapted for mounting to a vehicle;

a plurality of buttons operatively connected to the housing and recessed in the front side of the housing, each of the plurality of buttons dented such that a user receives tactile feedback;

a circuit board disposed within the housing;

a intelligent control mounted to the circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of buttons;

a network transceiver electrically connected to the intelligent control, the intelligent control adapted to transmit a vehicle access message through the network transceiver, the vehicle access message based in part on input from the user received through the plurality of buttons and the vehicle access message comprising a plurality of characters;

at least one lighting device electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing visual feedback associated with each of the plurality of buttons; and

a audio circuit electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing audio feedback associated with a user pressing one of the plurality of buttons.

33. The keypad module of claim 32 wherein the vehicle access message includes a security code.

34. The keypad module of claim 33 wherein the security code is at least three digits in length.

35. The keypad module of claim 32 wherein the vehicle access message includes an unlock command.

36. A method for providing secured access to a vehicle with a keypad module operatively connected to the vehicle, the keypad module having a plurality of buttons, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of at least one button;

providing tactile, visual, and audio feedback to the user of the user selection;

generating a security code at least partially based on the user selection;

generating a vehicle access message by the keypad module, the vehicle access message comprising a plurality of characters and including a command;

sending the vehicle access message over a network to a remote device within the vehicle.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the vehicle command is selected from a set comprising a learn programming command, a change programming command, a lock all doors command, a change security codes command, an unlock a zone command, an unlock all zones command, a toggle an auxiliary output command, a send a pulse output command, send a change status command, send a sustained output command, and a sequentially actuate a plurality of locks command.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the vehicle access message further comprises the security code.

39. An access module for use in a vehicle access system having at least one control module and adapted for network communications with the at least one control module, comprising:

a housing adapted for mounting to a vehicle;

at least one user input operatively connected to the housing;

a intelligent control disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the at least one user input;

a network transceiver disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the intelligent control;

wherein the intelligent control is adapted to selectively transmit one of a plurality of vehicle access messages through the network transceiver to the at least one control module at least partially based upon input received from the user input;

wherein the plurality of vehicle access messages includes at least one command string to control at least one vehicle function of the vehicle; and

wherein each of the plurality of vehicle access messages comprises a plurality of characters.

40. The access module of claim 39 wherein the intelligent control is adapted to receive at least one of the plurality of vehicle access messages from a second access module.

41. The access module of claim 39 wherein the intelligent control is adapted to receive a change access code command from the at least one user input.

42. The access module of claim 39 wherein the one of the plurality of vehicle access messages includes an access module identifier.

43. The access module of claim 39 wherein the intelligent control is adapted to receive a security code received from the at least one user input.

44. The access module of claim 43 wherein the intelligent control is further adapted to receive an access code for performing the at least one vehicle function.

45. The access module of claim 44 wherein the intelligent control is further adapted to determine if the security code allows for control of the at least one vehicle function associated with the access code and if true, sending at least one command string to perform the at least one vehicle function.