Upgrade kit for an ignition key and methods
AssigneeLocal Motion, Inc.
InventorsJohn Stanfield, Eric D. Aeby, Michael Javault, Clement Gires, Brian Ng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One variation of an upgrade kit—for an ignition key corresponding to a vehicle and including an immobilizer transponder and a keyless entry transmitter—includes: a wireless jammer configured to interfere with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder; a wireless receiver configured to receive an unlock request from an external device; a relay configured to actuate the keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to the unlock request; and an enclosure configured to contain the wireless receiver and a portion of the ignition key.
Claims16
An upgrade kit for an ignition key corresponding to a vehicle and including an immobilizer transponder and a keyless entry transmitter, the upgrade kit comprising:
- a wireless jammer arranged adjacent the immobilizer transponder and intermittently interfering with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder;
- a wireless receiver configured to receive an unlock request from an external device;
- a relay configured to actuate the keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to the unlock request;
- and
- an enclosure cooperating with a portion of the ignition key to contain the wireless jammer, the immobilizer transponder, the wireless receiver, the relay, and the keyless entry transmitter.
A method for controlling an ignition key associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:
- enabling a wireless jammer arranged within the ignition key, the wireless jammer adjacent an immobilizer transponder within the ignition key;
- wirelessly pairing the ignition key with an external device;
- at the ignition key, in response to receiving a door unlock signal from the external device, wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command from the ignition key to the vehicle;
- and
- at the ignition key, in response to receiving an authorization signal from the external device, disabling the wireless jammer.
A method for sharing a vehicle, comprising:
- wirelessly pairing a diagnostic port dongle arranged within the vehicle with an ignition key associated with the vehicle, the ignition key comprising:
- a wireless jammer adjacent an immobilizer transponder and intermittently interfering with wireless transmission from the immobilizer transponder,
- a wireless receiver,
- a relay actuating a keyless entry transmitter to unlock a door of the vehicle in response to a door unlock command received at the wireless receiver, and
- an enclosure containing the wireless jammer, the immobilizer transponder, the wireless receiver, the relay, and the keyless entry transmitter;
- in a first mode, at the diagnostic port dongle,
- receiving a vehicle unlock request from a remote computer network, and
- wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command to the wireless receiver of the ignition key arranged within the vehicle;
- in a second mode, at the diagnostic port dongle,
- wirelessly pairing with a mobile computing device,
- authenticating the mobile computing device,
- receiving a vehicle unlock request from the mobile computing device, and
- wirelessly transmitting a door unlock command to the wireless receiver of the ignition key arranged within the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.