Motor vehicle having a communications device
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBjoern Mohrmann, Manuel Bojahr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a communications device. The communications device comprises at least one wireless communications module, which facilitates a wireless communications link between at least one vehicle component, which is connected via a communications line to the wireless communications module, and a communications partner. The motor vehicle also comprises an isolator that can be manually actuated and disconnects in hardware the wireless communications link between the vehicle component and the communications partner.
Claims17
A communications device for a vehicle comprising:
- at least one wireless communications module configured to perform autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, configured to facilitate a wireless communications link between at least one vehicle component connected via a communications line to the wireless communications module, and an out-board communications partner;
- and
- an isolator configured to manually disconnect the wireless communications link between the vehicle component and the out-board communications partner to prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle component without disrupting the wireless communication module to maintain the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, wherein the isolator is arranged on a wireless communication line leading to the wireless communications module and is used to de-energize the wireless communications module so as to disconnect the wireless communications link between the vehicle component and the out-board communications partner.
A plurality of vehicle components of a motor vehicle comprising:
- a wireless communications module configured to perform autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, configured to connect, via a communications line, to a component within a vehicle and to establish a communication link between the component and an out-board communications partner;
- and
- an isolator disposed within the communications line, between the component and the wireless communications module, the isolator being configured for manual actuation such that, in response to actuation of the isolator by a vehicle occupant, the component is manually disconnected from the wireless communications module to prevent unauthorized access to the component without disrupting the wireless communication module to maintain the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, wherein the isolator is arranged in the communication line leading to the wireless communications module and is used to de-energize the wireless communications module so as to disconnect the communications link between the vehicle components and the out-board communications partner.
A communication system for a vehicle comprising:
- an engine control module;
- a wireless communications module, for performing autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, connected, via a communication line, to the engine control module such that a communication link between the engine control module and a cellular phone is established through the wireless communication module;
- and
- an isolator disposed within the communication line between the engine control module and the wireless communications module, wherein manual actuation of the isolator manually disconnects the engine control module from the wireless communication module to sever the communication link between the engine control module and the cellular phone without disrupting the wireless communication module to maintain the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions, wherein the wireless communications module is further configured to maintain autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions during actuation of the isolator, and wherein the isolator is arranged in the communication line leading to the wireless communications module and is used to de-energize the wireless communications module so as to disconnect the communications link between the engine control module and the cellular phone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.