Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02415041 2005-03-29
VEHIChE ALERT SYSTEM FOR VEHIChE HAVING A DATA BUS
AND ASSOCIATED 1!~THODS
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of vehicle-related
electronics, and, more particularly to vehicle alert
systems and related methods for alerting a user when away
from the vehicle.
Background of the Invention
Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter
vehicle theft, prevent theft of v~.luables from a vehicle,
deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and
occupants. A typical automobile security system, for
example, includes a central processor or controller
connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors,
for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors,
windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the
vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors,
vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential
pressure sensors, and switches may be used
CA 02415041 2002-12-20
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as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to
monitor the area proximate the vehicle.
The controller typically operates to give an alarm
indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle
5 sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a
flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the
vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel
supply and/or ignition power may be selectively
disabled based upon an alarm condition.
10 A typical security system also includes a receiver
associated with the controller that cooperates with one
or more remote transmitters typically carried by the
user as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No.
4,383,242 to Sassover et al. and U.S. Patent No.
15 5,146,215 to Drori. The remote transmitter may be used
to arm and disarm the vehicle security system or
provide other remote control features from a
predetermined range away from the vehicle. Also related
to remote control of a vehicle function U.S. Patent No.
20 5,252,966 to Lambropoulous et al. discloses a remote
keyless entry (RKE) system for a vehicle. The RKE
system permits the user to remotely open the vehicle
doors or open the vehicle trunk using a small handheld
transmitter.
25 Unfortunately, the majority of vehicle security
systems need to be directly connected by wires to
individual vehic~_e devices, such as the vehicle horn or
door switches of the vehicle. In other words, a
conventional vehicle security system is hardwired to
30 various vehicle components, typically by splicing into
vehicle wiring harnesses or via interposing T-harnesses
and connectors. The number of electrical devices in a
vehicle has increased so that the size and complexity
of wiring harnesses has also increased. For example,
35 the steering wheel may include horn switches, an
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airbag, turn-signal and headlight switches, wiper
controls, cruise control- switches, ignition wiring, an
emergency flasher switch, and/or radio controls.
Likewise, a door of a vehicle, for example, may include
5 window controls, locks, outside mirror switches, and/or
door-panel light switches.
In response to the increased wiring complexity and
costs, vehicle manufacturers have begun attempts to
reduce the amount of wiring within vehicles to reduce
10 weight, reduce wire routing problems, decrease costs,
and reduce complications which may arise when
troubleshooting the electrical system. For example,
some manufacturers have adopted multiplexing schemes to
seduce cables to three or four wires and to simplify
15 the exchange of data among the various onboard
electronic systems as disclosed, for example, in "The
Thick and Thin of Car Cabling" by Thompson appearing in
the IEEE Spectrum, Feb. 1996, pp. 42-45.
Implementing multiplexing concepts .in vehicles in
20 a cost-effective and reliable manner may not be easy.
Successful implementation, for example, may require the
development of low or error-free communications in what
can be harsh vehicle environments. With multiplexing
technology, the various electronic modules or devices
25 may be linked by a single signal wire in a bus also
containing a power wire, and one or more ground wires.
Digital messages are communicated to all modules over
the data communications bus. Each message may have one
or more addresses associated with it so that the
30 devices can recognize which messages to ignore and
which messages to respond to or read.
The Thompson article describes a number of
multiplexed networks for vehicles. In particular, the
Grand Cherokee made by Chrysler. is described as having
35 five multiplex nodes or controllers: the engine
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controller, the temperature controller, the airbag
controller, the theft alarm, and the overhead console.
Other nodes for different vehicles may include a
transmission controller, a trip computer, an instrument
5 cluster controller, an antilock braking controller, an
active suspension controller, and a body controller for
devices in the passenger compartment.
A number of patent references are also directed to
digital or multiplex communications networks or
10 circuits, such as may be used in a vehicle. For
example, U.S. Patent No. 4,538,262 Sinniger et al.
discloses a multiplex bus system including a master
control unit and a plurality of receiver-transmitter
units connected thereto. Similarly, U.S. Patent No.
15 4,055,772 to Leung discloses a power bus in a vehicle
controlled by a low current digitally coded
communications system. Other references disclosing
various vehicle multiplex control systems include, for
example, U.S. Patent No. 4,760,275 to Sato et al..; U.S.
20 Patent No. 4,697,092 to Roggendorf et al.; and U.S.
Patent No. 4,792,783 to Burgess et al.
Several standards have been proposed for vehicle
multiplex networks including, for example, the Society
of Automotive Engineers "Surface Vehicle Standard,
25 Class B Data Communications Network Interface", SAE
J1850, July 1995. Another report by the SAE is the
"Surface Vehicle Information Report, Chrysler Sensor
and Control (CSC) Bus Multiplexing Network for Class
'A' Applications", SAE J2058, .July 1990. Many other
30 networks are also being implemented or proposed for
communications between vehicle devices and nodes or
controllers.
Unfortunately, conventional vehicle security
systems for hardwired connection to vehicle devices,
35 such as aftermarket vehicle security systems, are not
CA 02415041 2002-12-20
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readily adaptable to a vehicle including a data
communications bus. Moreover, a vehicle security system
if adapted for a communications bus and devices for one
particular model, model year, and manufacturer, may not
5 be compatible with any other models, model years, or
manufacturers. Other. systems for remote control of
vehicle functions may also suffer from such
shortcomings.
Yet another shortcoming of vehicle security
systems to the extent they may be compatible with a
vehicle having a data communications bus, is that such
systems provide only a local indication of an alarm
trigger, for example. Accordingly, should the user be
unable to hear the alarm indication at the vehicle,
15 such as when the user is in an adjacent building, the
user is not alerted to 'the alarm and can take no
preventive action.
Summar~r of the Invention
In view of the foregoing background, it is
therefore an object of the present invention to provide
a system and method for alerting a user when away from
the vehicle regarding vehicle security o:r other
vehicle-related information when the vehicle includes a
data communications bus.
This and other objects, features and advantages in
accordance with the present invention are provided by a
vehicle alerting system comprising at least one device
at the vehicle, such as for generating security signals
30 on the data communications bus, a remote receiver to be
carried by a user, a local transmitter at the vehicle,
and a paging controller at the vehicle. The paging
controller is connected to the local transmitter and
data communications bus. The paging controller is for
causing the local transmitter to transmit to the remote
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receiver based upon security signals on t:he data
communications bus to thereby alert the user when away
from the vehicle.
The system may further include an indicator
connected to the remote receiver for providing an
indication to the user relating to secur_Lty of the
vehicle. For example, the indicator may comprise at
least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indicator.
The at least one security device may comprise at
least one of a door switch, trunk switch, hood switch,
motion sensor, and proximity sensor. Alternately or in
addition, the at least one security device may comprise
a security controller. For the security controller,
the security signals generated may be at least one of
15 an alarm signal and a security controller status
signal. For example, the security signals could relate
to triggering of the alarm, or changing the status of
the security controller from an armed to disarmed mode
or vice-versa.
20 The system may also include a remote transmitter
to be carried by the user, and a local receiver at the
vehicle connected to the security controller for
receiving signals from the remote transmitter. In a
variation, a common housing may contain both the remote
25 transmitter and the remote receiver.
In some embodiments, the transmission from the
local transmitter to the remote receiver may be a
direct path. In other embodiments, at least one
additional. communications link may be provided for
30 relaying signals from the local transmitter to the
remote receiver.
Another optional aspect of the invention relates
to adaptability to a variety of vehicles, or, more
particularly, to different signal sets for different
35 vehicle makes or models. In other words, the paging
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controller may include desired signal enabling means
for causing the local transmitter to transmit to the
remote receiver based upon predetermined signals for a
corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets
5 of signals for different vehicles. The desired signal
enabling means may comprise a memory for storing a
plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles,
and a selector for selecting predetermined signals from
the plurality of different sets of signals for
10 different vehicles. The selector may include a user
selector for permitting a user to select the
predetermined signals. In other embodiments, the
desired signal enabling means may comprise bus learning
means for learning the predetermined signals based upon
15 signals on the data communications bus. The desired
signal enabling rr~eans may also comprise download
learning means for learning the predetermined signals
from a downloading device.
A method aspect of the invention is for alerting a
20 user when away from a vehicle. The vehicle is
preferably of a type comprising a data communications
bus, and at least one device at the vehicle for
generating signals on the data communications bus. The
method preferably comprises the steps of providing a
25 remote receiver to be carried by the user, and
installing a paging unit in the vehicle. The paging
unit preferably includes a local transmitter and a
paging controller connected thereto for causing the
local transmitter to transmit to the remote receiver
30 based upon signals on the data communications bus.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle
alerting system i.n accordance with the present
35 invention.
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FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a unit to
be carried by the user and including the remote
transmitter and remote receiver as may be used in the
system of FIG. 1.
5 FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the desired signal
enabling portion of the pager controller in accordance
with the invention.
FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the desired
signal enabling portion of the pager controller in
10 accordance with the invention.
FIG. 5 is a third embodiment of the desired signal
enabling portion of the pager controller in accordance
with the invention..
FIG. 6 is a fourth embodiment of the desired
15 signal enabling portion of the pager controller in
accordance with the invention.
FIG. 7 i_s a fifth embodiment of the desired signal
enabling portion of the pager controller in accordance
with the invention.
20
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The present invention will now be described more
fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the
25 invention are shown. This invention may, however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that
this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will
30 fully convey the scope of the invention to those
skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout. Prime notation is used to
indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments.
Referring now initially to FIG. 1, a first
35 embodiment of a vehicle alerting system 10 is now
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described. The system 10 includes a data
communications bus 12 connected to a number of vehicle
devices. In particular, as shown in the illustrated
embodiment, a security controller 14 is connected to
5 the bus, along with an engine controller 16, and one or
more other controllers 17. The controllers exchange
data between one another and/or with other devices
connected to the bus 12 and in the vehicle 11 as will
be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.
10 Those of skill in the art will also recognize that not
all of the illustrated controllers, or different
controllers may also be connected to the data
communications bus 12.
The security controller 14 is also illustratively
15 connected to a local receiver 13 for receiving signals
from a remote transmitter unit 50. The remote
transmitter unit 50 is carried by a user. The remote
transmitter unit 50 includes a housing 51 which carries
a number of user depressable buttons or switches
20 thereon. For example, the housing 51 may carry a door
lock button 52, a door unlock button 53, and trunk
release button 54. On the reverse side, a panic button
may be provided to permit the =user to sound the horn at
the vehicle as will be appreciated by those skilled in
25 the art. In addition, the housing 51 is illustratively
coupled to a vehicle key 55 as will also be appreciated
by those skilled in the art.
The remote transmitter unit 50 could additionally
or alternately include switches for switching between
30 armed and disarmed modes. In the armed mode, the
security controller 14 could generate an alarm
indication at the vehicle, for example, by sounding a
siren or the vehicle horn responsive to the triggering
of a security sensor.
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In one embodiment, the local receiver 13 is of the
changing code type as will be readily appreciated by
those skilled in the art. By changing code is meant
that the remote transmitter unit 50 sends a signal
5 including a series of bits modulated on a radio
frequency carrier, for example. These bits would
typically include fixed code portions as well as
changing code portions. The changing code portion
provides additional security so that unauthorized
10 transmitters cannot be used to activate the security
controller 14. In particular, the term changing code
is meant to cover fairly short repeating codes, such as
are generally described as rolling codes. Such rolling
codes may repeat as often as every eight transmissions,
15 for example. In addition, changing code is also
intended to cover pseudorandom codes that may only
repeat after many thousands or even millions of
operations as will be understood by those skilled in
the art. The remote transmitter unit 50 and local
20 receiver 13 are synchronized together with each having
the changing code pattern stored therein or generated
internally as will be readily understood by those
skilled in the art.
The security controller 14 may communicate with
25 one or more vehicle sensors 23, such as door pin
switches, a hood switch, trunk switch, a motion sensor,
and/or a proximity sensor. Such sensors are
conventional for security systems and need no further
discussion herein. In the illustrated embodiment,
30 these sensors 23 are shown connected to the data
communications bus 12, and, hence, the sensors may
include individual bus interface or transceiver
circuits, or several sensors may share a common bus
interface, as will be appreciated by those skilled in
CA 02415041 2002-12-20
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the art. As will also be appreciated by those skilled
in the art, one or more of such sensors 23 may be
directly connected to the security controller 14 as
indicated by the dashed line extending therebetween.
5 The vehicle system 10 also includes a paging unit
which comprises a paging controller 22 and a local
transmitter 30. The paging Controller 22 is connected
to the data communications bus 12 via the bus
transceiver 26. The paging controller 22 also includes
10 a central processing unit (CPU) 28 which controls
and/or performs the various operational functions
described herein. The paging controller 22 may also
include an optional hardwire I/O circuit 24 to
interface directly to one or more vehicle sensors or
15 other devices as will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art.. The paging controller 22 is for causing the
local transmitter 30 to transmit to the remote receiver
carried by the illustrated paging device 31 based upon
security signals on the data communications bus 12 to
20 thereby alert the user when away from the vehicle.
Accordingly, the user could be timely alerted that his
vehicle was being broken into, and could promptly
notify the appropriate authorities.
As shown, the paging device 31 may include a small
25 portable housing 32 to be carried by the user. The
housing 32, in turn, carries electronic circuitry
including the remote receiver. One or more indicators
may be connected to the remote receiver for providing
an indication to the user relating to security of the
30 vehicle. For example, the indicator may comprise
visual indicator, such as an LCD display 32 for
alphanumeric messages. The indicator may be provided
by a speaker 34 or other audible transducer for
providing an alert tone, or a speech message (~~alarm
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triggered") to the user. Of course, the indicator may
provide tactile stimulation to the user, such as by
vibrating as will also be appreciated by those skilled
in the art.
5 Although the paging unit 31 is illustratively in
the compact rectangular form of a conventional pager,
it may take other forms. For example, the remote
receiver could be built into a cellular telephone or
other similar personal communications device carried by
a user.
In one class o.f embodiments, the at least one
security device which communicates with the paging
controller 22 via the data communications bus 12, is
the one or more vehicle sensors 23. In another class
15 of embodiments, the at least one security device which
generates the security signals on the data
communications bus 12 is the security controller 14.
For the security controller 14, the security signals
generated may be at least one of an alarm signal and a
20 security controller status signal. For example, the
security signals could relate to changing of the
security controller 14 from an armed to disarmed mode
or vice-versa. Those of skill in the art will
appreciate other security-related signals that can be
25 read by the paging controller 22 to determine whether
and what message t.o communicate to the user via the
remote receiver and other portions of the paging device
31.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the
30 art, the local transmitter 30 may communicate with the
remote receiver vi.a one or more intervening
communications links or paths. As schematically
illustrated by the dashed cellular tower 36 the relay
function may be provided by one or more cellular
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telephone links. The relay link may be provided by
other types of radio links, such as satellite, and may
also include one or more landline portions as will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art. However,
5 since the user may typir_ally be relatively near the
vehicle, such as at work or home, for many situations a
direct radio link from the local transmitter 30 to the
remote receiver will be adequate.
Turning now additionally to FIG. 2, a variation of
10 the invention. wherein the remote transmitter 43 and
remote receiver 44 are included in a common housing 41
of a combination unit 40 is now described. The
combination unit 40 also includes a battery 42 for
powering the various circuits and devices. A vibrator
15 45 is provided for giving a tactile indication to the
user. A central processing unit (CPU) 47 performs or
controls the various functions of the unit. A panic
switch or button 56 is also carried by the housing 41
for initiating a panic alarm at the vehicle 11. An
20 indicator light 46 is also carried by the housing 41 in
the illustrated embodiment. Those other elements
similar to ones discussed above are indicated with
prime notation and need no further discussion herein.
Turning now additionally to FIG. 3 a first
25 embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 27 is
described. The desired signal enabling means 27
permits the paging controller 22 to operate using a
desired set of signals for a desired vehicle from among
a plurality of possible sets of signals for different
30 vehicles. As would be readily understood by those
skilled in the art, the term different vehicles may
include vehicles from different or the same
manufacturers, different models, or even different trim
levels of the same make and model. Accordingly, the
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desired signal enabling means 27 permits the paging
controller 22, to communicate with the vehicle security
sensor 23 and/or the security controller 14 via the
data communications bus 12.
5 In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the
desired signal enabling means 27 may preferably include
a memory 70 for storing a plurality of sets 72a, 72b
and 72n of signals for different vehicles, and
selecting means for selecting the desired set of
10 signals from the plurality of different sets of signals
for different vehicles. By storing sets of signals is
meant storing information or data necessary to read the
desired signals on the data bus 12 as would be readily
understood by those skilled in the art. The memory 70
15 may include a device address memory for storing a
plurality of different sets of signals representative
of different device addresses for different vehicles.
Alternatively, or i.n addition thereto, the memory may
comprise a protocol memory for storing a plurality of
20 different protocols for different vehicles.
The selecting means may comprise a user selector
75 for permitting a user to select the desired set of
signals. A keypad or other input device may be used to
permit the user to select the desired signal set for
25 his vehicle. A valet switch, for example, may also be
operated by the user to select the desired signal set.
The user may select the desired set of signals by
entering a unique digital code similar to the selection
of signals for a home electronics universal remote
30 control. Other techniques for permitting the user to
select the desired signal set from a plurality of
stored sets are also contemplated by the invention as
would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the
art.
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Referring now additionally to FIG. 4 another
embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 27' is
described in accordance with the present invention. In
this embodiment, the selecting means may comprise a bus
5 determining selector 77 for determining the desired set
of signals based upon signals on the data
communications bus. For example, the bus determining
selector could determine the desired set of signals
based upon sensed voltage levels or based upon the
10 timing of signal pulses on the data communications bus
12. The other components of this embodiment of the
desired signal enabling means 27' are similar to those
described above with reference to FIG. 3 and need no
further description.
15 In yet another embodiment of the desired signal
enabling means 27" as shown in FIG. 5, the desired
signal enabling means comprises a desired signal set
memory 81 operatively connected to the illustrated bus
learning circuit or means 80. The bus learning circuit
20 or means 80 may determine and store in the signal set
memory 81 the protocol and/or device addresses for the
vehicle devices. For example, the bus learning circuit
or means 80 may permit the user to operate various
vehicle devices and store a desired signal set based
25 thereon as would be readily understood by those skilled
in the art. The other components of the desired signal
enabling means 27" are similar to those described above
with reference to FIG. 3 and need no further
description.
30 Still another embodiment of the desired signal
enabling means 27 "' is explained with reference to FIG.
6. The desired signal enabling means 27"' includes a
signal set memory 81 operatively connected to the
schematically illustrated download learning means 84.
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The download learning means 84 may include an interface
connected to the illustrated vehicle cellular telephone
86 to permit learning or downloading of the desired
signal set from a remote or central monitoring and
5 control station 88, for example. The desired signal set
may also alternately be learned from the central
station 88 through the satellite link provided by the
satellite 110 and vehicle mounted satellite receiver
111 and associated antennas. As would be readily
10 understood by those skilled in the art, the download
learning means, as well as the other desired signal
enabling leans may be implemented by software in the
CPU 28 of the paging controller 22 or in a separate
microprocessor or circuits.
15 Turning now additionally to FIG. 7, another
variation of programming, learning or downloading of
the download learning means 84 is explained. In this
variation the download learning means 84 is temporarily
connected to a computer, such as the illustrated
20 portable laptop computer 115. The connection, may be
via a wire cable or wireless communications link as
will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.
Of course, the desired signal enabling means 17"" in
this embodiment may be programmed in the vehicle or
25 prior to installation in the vehicle. The laptop
computer 115 may receive the desired signal set from an
Internet website, for example, as will be readily
appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Returning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method aspect
30 of the invention is for alerting a user when away from
a vehicle. The vehicle 11 preferably is of a type
comprising a data communications bus 12, and at least
one device at the vehicle for generating signals on the
data communications bus. The method preferably
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comprises the steps of: providing a remote receiver 43
to be carried by the user; and installing a paging unit
in the vehicle and comprising a local transmitter 30
and a paging controller 22 connected thereto for
5 causing the local transmitter to transmit to the remote
receiver based upon signals on the data communications
bus. The at least one device may preferably be for
generating security signals on the data communications
bus. For example, the at least one security device may
10 comprise one or more senors 23 and/or a security
controller 14 as described above.
The paging unlit and features described herein may
have applications other than the broad category of
vehicle security. For example, the invention may also
15 be applicable to maintenance or diagnostic activities,
and may be responsive to signals generated on the data
communications bus 12 by the engine controller 16 or
other controller 17 as will be readily understood by
those skilled in the art. The paging unit may also
20 give an indication to the user that the vehicle engine
has been started when the vehicle is equipped with a
remote start controller that periodically starts the
engine. Of course, many modifications and other
embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of
25 one skilled in the art having the benefit of the
teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and
the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be
understood that the invention .is not to be limited to
the specific embodiments disclosed, and that
30 modifications and embodiments are intended to be
included within the scope of the appended claims.
