DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Prime and multiple prime notation are used in alternate embodiments to indicate similar elements.

[0036] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a vehicle remote start control system 20 for use in a vehicle 21 of a type including a data communication bus 30 is now described. The system 20 includes at least one vehicle device associated with starting the engine 22 of the vehicle 21 , a remote start transmitter 34 , a receiver 32 at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote start transmitter, and a vehicle remote start controller 25 . The vehicle remote start controller 25 is illustratively connected to the data communications bus 30 for communicating with the at least one vehicle device. The controller 25 is also connected to the receiver 32 and is responsive to signals from the remote start transmitter 34 to cause starting of the vehicle.

[0037] By remote starting is meant initially starting the vehicle engine 38 and allowing it to idle while unattended by the vehicle owner as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, whether the remote start controller 25 will allow the engine 38 to be started and continue to idle may be based upon any of a number of conditions at the vehicle, some representatives examples of which are described in greater detail below.

[0038] The at least one vehicle device associated with starting the engine 38 of the vehicle 21 may comprise at least one controller, such as the engine management controller 45 a or the transmission controller 45 c , for example. One or more other controllers 45 b ma also be communicated with by the remote start controller 25 . Alternately, or additionally, the at least one vehicle device associated with starting the engine 38 of the vehicle 21 may comprise at least one vehicle sensor 44 a - 44 d . For example, the vehicle sensor may be one or more of a brake sensor 44 b , a transmission sensor 44 c , a hood sensor 44 a , and an engine speed sensor 44 d . Other similar sensors are also contemplated by the present invention.

[0039] The remote start controller 25 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 36 which may perform the necessary signal processing and logic functions to control starting and subsequent running or shut-down of the engine 38 as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. For example, the engine 38 may be prevented from starting or shut down if the gear shift lever is in or moved to a position other than Park. Similarly, the engine may be shutdown if the engine RPM exceeds a predetermined value. In addition, the engine starter 29 may only need be operated until the engine RPM indicates that the engine is running. The engine 38 may be prevented from running or shut down if the vehicle hood is open. Many other vehicle conditions may also be taken into account by the remote start controller 25 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Further details regarding logical operation of the remote start controller 25 based upon exemplary vehicle device conditions may be found in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,578 to Drew, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] Of course, the vehicle 21 would typically include an engine starter circuit 26 as illustrated in the lower righthand portion of FIG. 1 . The starter circuit 28 may include an ignition switch 28 , a starter relay 27 connected to the ignition switch and the vehicle battery 24 for supplying electrical power to the engine starter 29 as will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art.

[0041] The vehicle 21 may also include the illustrated security immobilizer circuit connected to the engine starter circuit 26 . The security immobilizer circuit illustratively includes a passive transponder 47 carried adjacent the ignition key 48 , and reader 46 for powering and reading the coded signal from the transponder as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Such an immobilizer circuit may be of a conventional type and needs no further description herein. The remote start controller 25 includes a hardwired interface 42 connected to the immobilizer to bypass this circuit when remote starting is desired. Thus, the engine starter circuit 26 may be enabled in response to presentation of the properly coded passive transponder 47 in proximity to the reader 46 .

[0042] Of course, in other embodiments other types of immobilizer circuits can be used. The engine ignition could be disabled by the engine management controller 45 a unless a predetermined code from a transponder reader was generated on the data bus 30 , for example. In such a system, a code could be generated on the data communications bus by the bus interface 41 of the remote start controller 25 to effectively bypass such a transponder immobilizer operating over the data communications bus 30 as would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. The bus interface 41 includes circuitry for interfacing to the proper signal levels and formats on the data communications bus 30 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art without further discussion herein.

[0043] In another example, the coded resistor key approach described in the Drew patent may also be selectively bypassed by the remote start controller 25 to enable remote starting as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Other immobilizer circuits and devices may also be readily bypassed to enable starting.

[0044] The remote start transmitter 34 may be a small portable unit including a housing, function control switches carried by the housing, a battery within the housing, and the associated transmitter circuitry. This type of remote handheld transmitter is commonly used in conventional vehicle remote start systems. The communications from the remote start transmitter 34 to the receiver 32 at the vehicle is typically a direct radio frequency link, that is, there is no intervening communications links. However, in other embodiments, the remote start transmitter 34 may indirectly communicate with the receiver 32 via other communications infrastructure, such as via satellite, or cellular communications, via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or over the world wide web or Internet, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0045] The remote start transmitter 34 may also include one or more central station transmitters, such as may be provided by a satellite transmitter or cellular telephone transmitter, for example. Such a central station transmitter may also be connected to other communications infrastructure.

[0046] In some embodiments, the system 20 may optionally include a remote receiver (not shown) in the form of a small handheld device to be carried by the user or at least one central station receiver cooperating with a transmitter (not shown) at the vehicle, such as to provide status information to the user relating to the remote starting.

[0047] In the illustrated system 20 , various sensors 44 a - 44 d are shown connected to the data bus 30 and which are communicated to and from via the bus interface 41 . However, in other embodiments, one or more of these sensors could be directly connected to the hardwire interface 42 . This also applies to the various controllers 45 a - 45 c which may also have hardwire interfaces themselves for certain signals or functions as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0048] The remote start controller 25 also includes one or more memories 40 a , 40 b connected the CPU 36 . Although the memories 40 a , 40 b are illustrated as separate devices, those of skill in the art will recognize that the memories may be combined in a single device or embedded on the same integrated circuit as the processing circuitry of the CPU.

[0049] Another aspect of the invention relates to providing compatibility with different vehicle types. As will now be described, the remote start controller 25 may include features such that it can be considered a multi-vehicle compatible remote start controller. The remote start controller 25 incorporating these optional features may generate at least one set of command signals on the data communications bus 30 for at least one vehicle device. The at least one set of command signals may comprise at least one working command signal and at least one non-working command signal for a given vehicle to thereby provide command compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

[0050] In addition, for reading communications from the vehicle devices, the remote start controller 25 may store a set of device codes for a given vehicle device for a plurality of different vehicles, read a device code from the data communications bus 30 , and determine a match between a read device code and the stored device codes to thereby provide compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

[0051] The vehicle 21 includes a number of electrical/electronic devices 44 a - 44 d and 45 a - 45 c that can be controlled and/or the status thereof read via the data communications bus 30 . The remote start controller 25 may provide its multi-vehicle compatibility in one or both directions of communications via the data communications bus 30 . Referring now additionally to FIG. 2 , the drive or generation of signals on the data bus portion of communication is now further described. The remote start controller 25 illustratively includes a command signal memory 40 a , and the bus interface 41 which can provide both directions of communications.

[0052] In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the remote start controller 25 preferably generates at least one set of command signals on the data communications bus 30 for the at least one vehicle device. The at least one set of command signals preferably comprises at least one working command signal and at least one non-working command signal for a given vehicle to thereby provide compatibility with the plurality of different vehicles. In other words, multiple signals or codes can be generated on the data communications bus 30 , and only that code for the given vehicle and device will cause an operation or response from the vehicle device. This provides for a relatively simple and straightforward approach to interface or cooperate with a vehicle having a data communications bus 30 , and wherein the remote start controller 25 is advantageously compatible with a number of different vehicles. Since typically it may be desired to interface to a plurality of vehicle devices, the remote start controller 25 may generate a respective set of command signals for each of the vehicle devices.

[0053] Such multi-vehicle compatibility provided by the remote start controller 25 is especially advantageous in after-market remote start systems. The ability to interface through the data communications bus 30 also significantly reduces the wiring complexity needed to interface to the associated vehicle devices.

[0054] The remote start controller 25 may sequentially generate the different command signals (working and non-working) for an intended vehicle device. To ensure effective communications even in the presence of noise, for example, the remote start controller 25 may generate the set of command signals a plurality of times, such as, for example, two to five times. The need to effectively communicate should be balanced against possible traffic congestion on the data bus 30 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0055] Referring now more specifically to the diagram of FIG. 2 , the operation of the remote start controller 25 is further described. The controller 25 may operate by arranging in the command signals memory 40 a a common table 50 as shown. The CPU 36 upon determining that an action needs to be performed, such as activating the starter relay 27 , for example, would identify the appropriate column from the table 50 from among the columns labeled “vehicle device A” to “vehicle device Z”. For example, the appropriate column may be “vehicle device B”, in which case the CPU would then read the memory locations in this column to generate on the bus 30 the appropriate set of codes to operate the starter relay for each of the N vehicles with which the remote start controller 25 is compatible. Of course, only one of the codes would be a working code, and the other codes would cause no vehicle function to be performed. For example, if vehicle 2 was the vehicle in which the remote start controller 25 were installed, only the code 2 B would cause the starter relay to operate.

[0056] The actual coded signals would be compatible with the particular data communications bus 30 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The codes may be binary codes, which for convenience can be represented more simply by corresponding hexadecimal codes as would also be appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, for an unlock all vehicle doors to be commanded in a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the code may be 03868004, for a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the code may be 0422A00400. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, such codes can be obtained from the manufacturers directly, or may be read from the data bus 30 using any one of a number of commercially available diagnostic tools for reading the data bus 30 , for example.

[0057] The set of command signals may be repeated as mentioned above, and as schematically illustrated at the lower portion of the table 50 . Of course, the memory 40 a may store the actual codes, but may also store data enabling generation of the set of command signals by the CPU 36 . This may be particularly so where certain portions of the code, e.g. preamble, or some other portion, are common across either multiple vehicles, and/or over multiple vehicle devices.

[0058] The number of vehicles and number of devices to be controlled using the multi-vehicle compatibility of the remote start controller 25 can both be relatively large to cover a substantial portion of the vehicle marketplace. Alternatively, the multiple command signal concept may also be advantageously used to provide compatibility for as few as two vehicles, and even a single vehicle device.

[0059] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the other direction of communication is described. In particular, the reverse direction or reading of signals from the data communications bus 30 is now described. Many of the components are the same as those described above, and, hence, need no further description. In the illustrated embodiment, the CPU 36 is connected to a code look-up memory 40 b.

[0060] The compatibility to read a code and determine the message or content thereof for a vehicle device from among a plurality of vehicles can be used alone or in combination with the compatibility for writing or generating signals on the bus described above. More particularly, the remote start controller 25 ″ is for storing a set of device codes for a given vehicle device for a plurality of different vehicles, for reading a device code from the data communications bus 30 , and for determining a match between a read device code and the stored device codes to thereby provide compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles. Such an arrangement provides for a relatively simple and straightforward approach to interface with a vehicle having a data communications bus 30 .

[0061] The remote start controller 25 may comprise the code look-up memory 40 b for the stored device codes, and the processor or CPU 36 cooperating with the memory for determining the match between the read device code and the stored device codes. The at least one vehicle device may include a plurality of vehicle devices, and, accordingly, the memory 40 b of the multi-vehicle compatible controller 25 preferably stores a respective set of device codes for each of the plurality of vehicle devices.

[0062] Referring now more specifically to FIG. 3 , the look-up table feature of the remote start controller 25 is now described. A common table 60 may be created which contains a column for the vehicle codes in some predefined sequence, such as in a numerical order beginning with a first code, Code 1, and ending with a last code, Code N, as illustrated. The central column in the illustrated embodiment includes the corresponding vehicle identification with the vehicles extending from a first vehicle, Vehicle A, to a last vehicle, Vehicle Z. The number of codes and vehicles may be selected so that a given remote start controller 25 is useable across an economically large number of vehicles as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0063] The last or rightmost column in the illustrated table 60 is the device data or message corresponding to the associated vehicle and code. These device messages extend from a first message, DM _1A , to a last device message, DM _NZ . The messages may be of many different types, such as driver door open or closed, hood open or closed, shock sensor triggered, brake pressure indicated, gearshift selector in Park, etc. as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0064] By way of example, the common table 60 includes a blocked row schematically illustrating a match for a Code 572 . This code is for a Ford Taurus and indicates that the driver's door is open. This type of data may be useful for remote starting. The CPU 36 would read the code on the data bus 30 and compare the code against the stored codes to determine a match. The CPU 36 is likely to buffer some or all of a code when received to subsequently be compared using the table 60 as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, individual bits or blocks thereof may be compared as they are received.

[0065] An alternate embodiment of the common table 60 is now explained with reference to FIG. 4 . In this case the overall or common table 60 ′, may be considered parsed or divided into a plurality of vehicle table sections. The first table section is for vehicle A, and the last for vehicle Z in the illustrated embodiment. This embodiment also illustrates the driver door for the Ford Taurus as being matched from the read signal from the data communications bus 30 . What is of interest in this embodiment, is that upon initial set-up or an initial learning period, only the codes for the learned vehicle need then later be compared to the read code. Accordingly, a time savings may be realized.

[0066] Those of skill in the art will recognize that the tables 60 and 60 ′ of FIGS. 3 and 4 are exemplary illustrations from among many possible configurations of look-up tables that may be used in accordance with the present invention. Other configurations are also contemplated by the present invention.

[0067] Since it may also be desirable to re-install remote start controller 25 in another vehicle, the controller may be reset and another vehicle learned or configured during an initial set-up. This concept is generally described as an embodiment of a desired signal enabling function or feature in related parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/382,245 filed Aug. 25, 1999, which in turn, is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,460, which in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,551, and the disclosure of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0068] This desired signal enabling is further described below with reference to FIGS. 5 - 10 . The multi-vehicle compatibility may be provided by equipping a remote start controller 55 with a desired signal enabling function 57 . This function or feature is for enabling operation using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles to thereby provide compatibility with a plurality of different vehicles.

[0069] The remote start system 55 does not show or necessarily include the hardwire interface described above. Rather, in this embodiment, the remote start function is implemented by the remote start controller 55 via communication with the engine management controller 45 a which, in turn, is directly connected to the starter relay 27 .

[0070] Turning now additionally to FIG. 6 a first embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 57 is described. The signal enabling means 57 is for enabling the remote start controller 55 to operate using a desired set of signals for a desired vehicle from among a plurality of possible sets of signals for different vehicles. As would be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the term different vehicles may include vehicles from different manufacturers, different models, or even different trim levels of the same make and model. Accordingly, the desired signal enabling means 57 permits the remote start controller 55 , that is, the CPU 36 and bus interface 41 , to communicate with the vehicle sensor 44 , engine management controller 45 a or other vehicle device via the data communications bus 30 so that the CPU is capable of starting the vehicle engine 38 responsive to the receiver 32 receiving a remote start signal from the remote transmitter 34 .

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 6 , one embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 57 may preferably include a memory 70 for storing a plurality of sets 72 a , 72 b and 72 n of signals for different vehicles, and selecting means for selecting the desired set of 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 generate the desired signals on the data bus 30 as would be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The memory 70 may include device address memory means for storing a plurality of different sets of signals representative of different device addresses for different vehicles. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the memory means may comprise protocol memory means for storing a plurality of different protocols for different vehicles.

[0072] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6 , the selecting means may comprise user selecting means 75 for permitting a user to select the desired set of signals. A keypad or other input means may be used to permit the user to select the desired signal set for his vehicle. A valet switch or other control switch, such as on the remote start controller, 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 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.

[0073] Referring now additionally to FIG. 7 another embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 57 ′ is described in accordance with the remote start controller 55 ′ of the present invention. In this embodiment, the selecting means may comprise bus determining means 77 for determining the desired set of signals based upon signals on the data communications bus. For example, the bus determining means could determine the desired set of signals based upon sensed voltage levels or based upon the timing of signal pulses on the data communications bus 30 . The other components of this embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 57 ′ are similar to those described above with reference to FIG. 6 and need no further description.

[0074] Yet another embodiment of the security system 55 ″ according to the invention is explained with reference to FIG. 8 . In this illustrated embodiment the desired signal enabling means 57 ″ includes a desired signal set memory 81 operatively connected to the illustrated bus learning means 80 . The bus learning 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 means 80 may permit the user to operate various vehicle devices and store a desired signal set based thereon as would be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The other components of the desired signal enabling means 57 ″ are similar to those described above with reference to FIG. 6 and need no further description.

[0075] Still another embodiment of the desired signal enabling means 57 ′″ is explained with reference to FIG. 9 . The desired signal enabling means 57 ′″ includes a signal set memory 81 operatively connected to the schematically illustrated download learning means 84 . 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 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 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 of the remote start controller 55 ″′ or in a separate microprocessor or circuits.

[0076] Turning now additionally to FIG. 10 , yet 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 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 57 ″″ in this embodiment may be programmed in the vehicle or prior to installation in the vehicle.

[0077] Returning now again to FIG. 1 , we again revisit the command signal concept for driving the communications bus 30 with a plurality of signal codes to provide the multi-vehicle compatibility. In another embodiment, the remote start controller 25 could be segmented or divided into two sections or portions. More particularly, the multi-vehicle compatibility may be provided by a multi-vehicle compatible adaptor which would include the CPU 36 , the command signal memory 40 a , and optionally the bus interface 41 . The adaptor may also include its own housing. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, one scenario where such an adaptor approach may be especially useful is to adapt a conventional remote start controller to operate via the data communications bus 30 . Since the data bus technology is being slowly phased in by automobile manufacturers, suppliers may provide their conventional remote start systems for conventional vehicles, and add such an adaptor with the conventional controller when the vehicle requires interface to the data communications bus 30 . The conventional controller may be provided by a conventional remote start controller, or could be an auxiliary output from a vehicle security controller, for example, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0078] Similar concepts can also be extended to a multi-vehicle compatible adaptor for the other direction of communication, that is, from the data communications bus 30 to one or more vehicle devices. Such an adaptor would include the code look-up memory 40 b as described above. Moreover, the operation of such a multi-vehicle compatible adaptor will be readily understood by those of skill in the art based upon the above provided descriptions relating to FIGS. 1 - 3 without requiring further discussion herein. Of course, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such adaptors may be used independently, may be used together, or may be combined into a single unit.

[0079] A method aspect of the invention is for remotely starting a vehicle engine 38 in a vehicle 21 comprising a data communications bus 30 and at least one vehicle device 44 a - 44 d and 45 a - 45 c associated with starting the vehicle engine. The method preferably comprises receiving signals at the vehicle from a remote start transmitter 34 , connecting a vehicle remote start controller 25 to the data communications bus 30 for communicating with the at least one vehicle device, and using the vehicle remote start controller to start the vehicle engine 38 based upon signals received from the remote start transmitter and based upon communication over the data communications bus with the at least one vehicle device.

[0080] Other features relating to vehicle control systems are disclosed in copending patent applications entitled “MULTI-VEHICLE COMPATIBLE CONTROL SYSTEM GENERATING COMMAND SIGNALS ON A DATA BUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS” (attorney docket no. 16635G) and “MULTI-VEHICLE COMPATIBLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR READING FROM A DATA BUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS” (attorney docket no. 16635H), the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0081] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Accordingly, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, and that other modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.