US 6,184,779 B2 · Vehicle security system having wireless function-programming capability

Abstract

A vehicle security system for performing selectable vehicle security functions that are programmable in a wireless manner. The system has a microcontroller controlling a vehicle security interface including at least a siren control unit and a vehicle head/signal light controlling unit. A physically independent remote programming unit is used for transmitting function-programming information to the microcontroller, and a radio receiver is connected to the microcontroller for receiving function-programming information transmitted by the remote programming unit. The remote programming unit includes a switch array for setting up a security function code pattern representing the selected security functions. The remote programming unit also includes a radio transmitter for sending, in an electromagnetic transmission, the function-programming command in a signal string representing the security function code pattern to the microcontroller. The microcontroller stores, in an onboard memory, data identifying the security functions conveyed in a security function code pattern received from the remote programming unit. The programmed functions control the various vehicle security function units. The security system provides an easy function-programming capability without having to remove any system components from the vehicle and without having to use any special and expensive additional equipment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A remote programmer for downloading at least one user selectable command string to a base microcontroller via a wireless link, said remote programmer comprising:

plurality of user selectable switches, each of the user selectable switches capable of being switched to either an on state or an off state;
a controller in connection with said user selectable switches, to monitor the on and off states of the user selectable switches;
in combination said user selectable switches defining at least one said user selectable command string, said string transmitted to said base microcontroller, to program said string representing user selected functions in a memory associated with said base microcontroller when said base microcontroller is in a learn mode;
and
an electromagnetic signal transmitter connected to the controller to transmit said command string remotely to said base microcontroller,
wherein the base microcontroller determines whether or not a function-programming request code is received,
wherein the base microcontroller implements a function-programming operation to initiate an alarm signal in response to the function-programming request code,
wherein the base microcontroller stores said user selected functions in an electrically erasable-programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),
wherein the base microcontroller determines whether a security event has occurred in a default system monitoring operation if the function-programming request code is not received by the base microcontroller, and
wherein the base microcontroller initiates an alarm function in response to a determination that a security event has occurred.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle security system having wireless function-programming capability

Life of this patent

Vehicle security system having wireless function-programming capability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20