System and method for shared vehicle tire pressure monitoring, remote keyless entry, and vehicle immobilization

For use with an automotive vehicle, a combined vehicle remote access, tire monitoring and vehicle immobilization system comprising:

• a tire monitor for mounting in a vehicle tire for monitoring at least one tire parameter, the monitor including a transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency tire data signal representing information concerning the at least one tire parameter;
• a handheld remote vehicle access transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency vehicle access signal for use in performing at least one vehicle access function, wherein the remote vehicle access transmitter utilizes signal modulation from the group consisting of on-off keying and amplitude shift keying;
• a vehicle activation transponder for receiving an interrogation signal and transmitting a vehicle activation signal for use in a vehicle immobilization function;
• and
• a control module for mounting on-board the vehicle, the control module including a receiver for receiving the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals, and a controller for processing the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals and generating a display signal operative to display to a vehicle operator the information represented by the tire data signal, a vehicle access control signal operative to perform the at least one vehicle access function, and a vehicle immobilization control signal operative to immobilize the vehicle if the controller fails to authenticate the vehicle activation signal, wherein the control module further comprises an amplifier and a data slicer, and wherein the receiver comprises an integrated circuit including a frequency shift keying demodulator for demodulating the tire data signal, and a received signal strength indicator for providing a received signal strength output signal to the data slicer through the amplifier for demodulating the vehicle access signal.

For use with an automotive vehicle, a method for combined vehicle remote access, tire monitoring and vehicle immobilization comprising:

• providing a tire monitor for mounting in a vehicle tire for monitoring at least one tire parameter, the monitor including a transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency tire data signal representing information concerning the at least one tire parameter;
• providing a handheld remote vehicle access transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency vehicle access signal for use in performing at least one vehicle access function;
• providing a vehicle activation transponder for receiving an interrogation signal and transmitting a vehicle activation signal for use in a vehicle immobilization function, wherein the vehicle activation transponder comprises a battery-less, inductively coupled transponder and the vehicle activation signals comprises a low frequency signal;
• and
• providing a control module for mounting on-board the vehicle, the control module including a receiver for receiving the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals, and a controller for processing the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals and generating a display signal operative to display to a vehicle operator the information represented by the tire data signal, a vehicle access control signal operative to perform the at least one vehicle access function, and a vehicle immobilization control signal operative to immobilize the vehicle if the controller fails to authenticate the vehicle activation signal.

For use with an automotive vehicle, a method for combined vehicle remote access, tire monitoring and vehicle immobilization comprising:

• providing a tire monitor for mounting in a vehicle tire for monitoring at least one tire parameter, the monitor including a transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency tire data signal representing information concerning the at least one tire parameter;
• providing a handheld remote vehicle access transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency vehicle access signal for use in performing at least one vehicle access function, wherein the remote vehicle access transmitter utilizes signal modulation from the group consisting of on-off keying and amplitude shift keying;
• providing a vehicle activation transponder for receiving an interrogation signal and transmitting a vehicle activation signal for use in a vehicle immobilization function;
• and
• providing a control module for mounting on-board the vehicle, the control module including a receiver for receiving the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals, and a controller for processing the tire data, vehicle access, and vehicle activation signals and generating a display signal operative to display to a vehicle operator the information represented by the tire data signal, a vehicle access control signal operative to perform the at least one vehicle access function, and a vehicle immobilization control signal operative to immobilize the vehicle if the controller fails to authenticate the vehicle activation signal, wherein the control module further comprises an amplifier and a data slicer, and wherein the receiver comprises an integrated circuit including a frequency shift keying demodulator for demodulating the tire data signal, and a received signal strength indicator for providing a received signal strength output signal to the data slicer through the amplifier for demodulating the vehicle access signal.