Onboard controller system

• US 8,204,646 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magtec Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magtec Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Morisset, Robert J, Hay, Douglas R, Morisset, Michel R, Ochitwa, Mark J
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US13/192,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 36, 701 93- 96, 701/70, 180170-179
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go

Abstract

A system and method for safely slowing or controlling a vehicle'"'"'s speed or engine speed by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or control the vehicle. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed; similarly, a maximum idle engine speed and time to idle before shut-down is enforced by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal, responsive to a set threshold for each. The threshold is set over the air (OTA).

Claims

1. An onboard controller system for a vehicle, comprising:

a. TPS sensor means for receiving a genuine TPS signal from a throttle position sensor, the genuine TPS signal destined for an engine controller;

b. TPS spoof means for generating a spoofed TPS signal;

c. intercept means for intercepting the TPS signal;

d. TPS sender means for sending the spoofed TPS signal or the genuine TPS signal to the engine controller; and

e. a controller for selectively determining whether the TPS sender means sends the genuine TPS signal or the spoofed TPS signal based on the comparison of a vehicle parameter to a threshold parameter.

2. The onboard controller system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle parameter is vehicle speed.

3. The onboard controller system of claim 1, wherein the threshold parameter is throttle position.

4. A method of onboard controlling a vehicle comprising:

a. receiving a genuine TPS signal from a throttle position sensor, the genuine TPS signal being destined for an engine controller;

b. generating a spoofed TPS signal;

c. intercepting the TPS signal;

d. sending the spoofed TPS signal or the genuine TPS signal to the engine controller; and

e. selectively determining by the controller whether the genuine TPS signal or the spoofed TPS signal was sent based on the comparison of a vehicle parameter to a threshold parameter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vehicle parameter is vehicle speed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold parameter is throttle position.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold parameter is throttle position.