US 6,144,112 AGranted

Fuel pump immobilization

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorPaul Robert Gilmore

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a motor vehicle security system relating to immobilizing and enabling of a fuel pump for a motor vehicle engine. The system comprises data input means for receiving driver verification data, an engine control unit (ECU) including an ECU processor for controlling engine operation, a pump control unit (PCU) including a PCU processor for controlling the fuel pump, the PCU being separate from the ECU and integrally housed with the fuel pump. Communication links permit communication between the data input means and ECU, and between the ECU and PCU. The ECU processor is activated to control the PCU when valid driver verification data is received. The PCU processor is then activated to communicate a challenge code to the ECU. The ECU and PCU processors then compute respectively a first and a second response code associated with the challenge code. Finally, the PCU immobilizes the fuel pump until such time as the PCU receives from the ECU a first response code which matches the second response code computed by the PCU, whereupon the PCU is activated to control the fuel pump in response to the control of the ECU.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A motor vehicle engine immobilization system comprising:

data input means for receiving driver verification data;
an engine control unit including a first processor for controlling engine operation;
a fuel pump for delivering fuel to the engine;
a pump control unit including a second processor for controlling the fuel pump, the pump control unit being separate from the engine control unit and integrally housed with the fuel pump;
means by which the data input means may communicate with the engine control unit;
and
means by which the engine control unit may communicate with the pump control unit, wherein:
a) the first processor is arranged to be activated to control the engine including the pump control unit when valid driver verification data is communicated from the data input means to the engine control unit;
b) the second processor is arranged to be activated to communicate a challenge code to the engine control unit when the engine control unit has received valid driver verification data;
c) the first and second processors are further arranged to compute respectively a first and a second response code associated with the challenge code;
and
d) the pump control unit is arranged to immobilize the fuel pump until such time as the pump control unit receives from the engine control unit a first response code which matches the second response code computed by the pump control unit, whereupon the pump control unit is activated to control the fuel pump in response to the control of the engine control unit.

9 more elements

A method of enabling a fuel pump for delivering fuel to an engine in a motor vehicle, the vehicle comprising data input means for receiving driver verification data, an engine control unit including a first processor for controlling engine operation, a pump control unit including a second processor for controlling the fuel pump, the pump control unit being separate from the engine control unit and integrally housed with the fuel pump, means by which the data input means may communicate with the engine control unit, and means by which the engine control unit may communicate with the pump control unit, the method comprising:

a) entering driver verification data into the data input means;
b) communicating the data from the data input means to the engine control unit;
c) activating the first processor to control the engine including the pump control unit when the driver verification data is valid;
d) activating the second processor to communicate a challenge code to the engine control unit when the engine control unit has received valid driver verification data;
e) using the first processor means to compute a first response code associated with the challenge code;
f) using the second processor to compute a second response code associated with the challenge code;
g) using the pump control unit to activate the fuel pump following receipt by the pump control unit from the engine control unit of the first response code if this matches the second response code computed by the pump control unit;
or otherwise
h) using the pump control unit to immobilize the fuel pump.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.