Vehicle key testing device

• US 9,928,733 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Majtan, Philip T
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US15/083,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20170287326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 340 31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A vehicle key testing device includes a housing, an antenna, and an electrical input. The housing defines an interior space and is configured to have a vehicle key positioned into the interior space. The antenna is mounted in the interior space. The electrical input is configured to activate at least one wireless aspect of the vehicle key.

Claims

1. A vehicle key testing device comprising:

a housing having an output configured to be in communication with a BCM disposed externally to the housing, the housing defining an interior space and configured to have a vehicle key positioned into the interior space;

an antenna mounted in the interior space, the antenna configured to receive and simulate communication of at least one of remote start, door unlocking, liftgate activation and alert, and configured to enable the communication to be transmitted to the output; and

an electrical input configured to activate at least one wireless aspect of the vehicle key to test the vehicle key.

2. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is configured to simulate a vehicle antenna.

3. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 1, further comprising

a low frequency switch connected to the antenna.

4. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 3, wherein

the electrical input is a control circuit connected to the low frequency switch and configured to connect to the vehicle key.

5. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 4, wherein

the control circuit is configured to connect to a control system to control the vehicle key.

6. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 4, wherein

the control circuit is configured to simulate a voltage of a battery of the vehicle key.

7. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 4, wherein

the control circuit is configured to control the at least one wireless aspect of the vehicle key.

8. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 4, wherein

the antenna is a first antenna of a plurality of antennas and the control circuit is configured to selectively activate one of the first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas.

9. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 1, wherein

the housing is configured to prevent signals from the vehicle key from passing through walls thereof.

10. The vehicle key testing device according to claim 1, wherein

the housing is aluminum.

11. A method of testing a vehicle key, comprising:

placing a vehicle key inside a housing of a key testing device;

coupling the vehicle key to a control circuit;

instructing the control circuit to activate at least one wireless aspect of the vehicle key to test the vehicle key;

receiving a signal from the vehicle key with an antenna disposed inside the housing, the antenna receiving and simulating communication of at least one of remote start, door unlocking, liftgate activation and alert;

transmitting the signal to an output disposed on the housing; and

transmitting the signal to a BCM disposed externally to the housing.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the antenna simulates a corresponding antenna on a vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the transmitting the signal to the BCM includes transmitting the signal through a low frequency switch connected to the antenna.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising

connecting the control circuit to a control system, and controlling the vehicle key via the control system.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising

simulating a voltage of a battery of the vehicle key.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein

the antenna is a first antenna of a plurality of antennas, and selectively activating, via the control circuit, one of the first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising

preventing signals from the vehicle key from passing through walls of the housing.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the housing is aluminum.