US 12,534,045 B2Granted

Vehicle control system

OwnerJack Wisnia, James Speers +1inventors

InventorsJack Wisnia, James Speers, Robert Nelson

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Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus, method and system for use with a vehicle having passive keyless entry and start (PKES) system including a vehicle unit and a key fob storage unit. The vehicle unit is to be installed with the vehicle having a first transceiver, a first relay transceiver an authentication unit, a first controller for controlling said first relay transceiver allowing said transmission if said user is authenticated. The key fob storage unit comprises at least one housing for securely holding at least one key fob associated with said PKES systems of said vehicles, a second, said second wireless relay w wherein said first relay transceiver and said second relay transceiver allows said PKES system and said key fob to communicate from a distance larger than a range of said PKES system signals.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for use with a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start (PKES) system, said PKES system configured to send challenge messages to a key fob of the vehicle from internal and external antennas, to receive and process response messages from the key fob of the vehicle to authenticate the key fob and to determine if the key fob is inside or outside of the vehicle, the device comprising:

a wireless interface for local communication with a driver's device;
said key fob associated with said PKES system;
a key fob controller for controlling communications of said key fob;
and
a processor operatively connected to said wireless interface and to a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions causing:
(1) determination from a signal of said driver's device as measured by said wireless interface whether said driver's device is located inside or outside said vehicle;
(2) communication with said driver's device to determine if a driver associated with said driver's device is authorized to use said vehicle;
(3) control of said key fob controller to prevent said key fob from communicating with said PKES to prevent said driver from operating said vehicle when said driver is unauthorized to use said vehicle;
and
(4) when said driver is authorized to use said vehicle,
(i) when said determination confirms that said driver's device is inside said vehicle, permit said key fob to receive said challenge messages sent by said PKES system and to permit said key fob to send said wireless response messages to said PKES system so that said key fob may be determined by said PKES to be inside said vehicle;
and
(ii) when said determination confirms that said driver's device is outside said vehicle, (a) permit said key fob to send said response messages to said PKES system and (b) use said key fob controller to control said challenge messages sent by said PKES system to said key fob so that said PKES system determines said key fob as being located outside the vehicle, even when said key fob remains located inside the vehicle.

10 more elements

A method for sharing a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start (PKES) system, said PKES system configured to send challenge messages to a key fob of the vehicle from internal and external antennas, to receive and process response messages from the key fob of the vehicle to authenticate the key fob and to determine if the key fob is inside or outside of the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing said key fob associated with said PKES system;
limiting communication of said key fob with said PKES system;
authenticating a user by wireless communication with said driver's device;
determining from a signal of said driver's device as measured by said wireless interface whether said driver's device is located inside or outside said vehicle;
when said driver's device is determined to be inside said vehicle, allowing said key fob to receive said challenge messages sent by said PKES system and to permit said key fob to send said response messages to said PKES system so that said PKES system detects said key fob inside the vehicle to allow said authenticated user to operate said vehicle;
and
when said determination confirms that said driver's device is outside said vehicle (a) permit said key fob to send said response messages to said PKES system and (b) use said key fob controller to control said challenge messages sent by said PKES system to said key fob so that said PKES system determines said key fob as being located outside the vehicle, even when said key fob remains located inside the vehicle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/186,453Filed 20 Mar 2023 · continuation in part
Priority: 28 Dec 2019
Published: US 2023/0043228 A113 Jul 2023
Granted: 27 Jan 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B60R 25/246
Using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user: characterised by the challenge triggering
B60R 25/209
Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off: remote starting of engine
B60R 25/245
Using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user: where the antenna reception area plays a role
B60R 25/31
Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems: of human presence inside or outside the vehicle

Family

Application62/954,460Us provisional application · filed 28 Dec 2019
Application17/130,849Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Dec 2020
Application17/677,604Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Feb 2022
US 11,285,917 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Mar 2022
Application17/968,033Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Oct 2022
US 2023/0219526 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Jul 2023
US 2022/0180679 A1Published application
US 2023/0043228 A1Published application
US 12,534,045 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.