US5552789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated vehicle communications system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1994-02-14
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Granted: 1996-09-03
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Expires: 2014-02-14
Abstract
Abstract An integrated vehicle communications system for on-board use within a vehicle which may also communicate with external portions of the system which includes miniaturized, self-contained read/write transponders 20, 22, 30 of the type disclosed in Schuermann U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,774, for providing functions within the vehicle, e.g., for sensing conditions and parameters, The on-board interrogation unit 10 interrogates and receives signals by RF communication provided by on-board antennas 14, 26, 28 between the interrogation unit and respective transponders for read/write responder operation. The processor 33 with display device 34a and/or control circuits 34b carries out on-board functions in response to such interrogation. A transponder 22 may serve as a vehicle operator key by which the system may verify key code, unlock the vehicle doors, as well as select and perform initialization functions including ignition, seat and seat belt adjustment, mirror positioning, and antitheft functions before vehicle entry by the operator. A transponder 30 may access external control data for premises or toll access, and may provide toll or credit or service transactions, as for authorization or verification or toll charge debiting purposes. The system may include also IR links.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef H. Schuermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07B15/063; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/0858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An integrated vehicle communications system for on-board use within a vehicle, the system comprising: miniaturized, self-contained transponder means on-board said vehicle using radio frequency interrogation energy for the respective transponder operation and associated with a vehicle function; interrogation means on-board the vehicle for interrogating and receiving signals from the transponder means; means for providing RF communication between the interrogation means and the transponder means in response to interrogation operation of the interrogation means; and means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An integrated vehicle communications system for on-board use within a vehicle, the system comprising: miniaturized, self-contained transponder means on-board said vehicle using radio frequency interrogation energy for the respective transponder operation and associated with a vehicle function; interrogation means on-board the vehicle for interrogating and receiving signals from the transponder means; means for providing RF communication between the interrogation means and the transponder means in response to interrogation operation of the interrogation means; and means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The integrated vehicle communications system of claim 1 wherein said transponder further includes means for accumulating said radio frequency energy as a source of power.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a key transponder for use by a vehicle operator to replace or supplement a conventional vehicle key for vehicle entry control, the means for providing RF communication provides for communication between the interrogation means and the key transponder for interrogation of the key transponder as the vehicle operator with the key transponder approaches the vehicle, and wherein the means responsive to the interrogation unit permits vehicle entry if the key transponder authorizes such entry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said key transponder also serves as media for access to premises use other than vehicle entry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means responsive to the interrogation means in addition to permitting vehicle entry if the key transponder authorizes such entry selects and performs vehicle initialization functions, such as ignition, seat and seat belt adjustment, if the key transponder authorizes such entry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the key transponder enables credit transactions with a facility external of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the key transponder is enabled to send safety alert functions to the car.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transponder means and means for providing RF communication are adapted for enabling transactions with a facility external of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the transactions with a facility external of the vehicle are for toll authorization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the transactions with a facility external of the vehicle are for premises authorization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transponder means is capable of reading from an external data source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transponder means provides communication to said interrogation means indicative that a part or component of said vehicle is present.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transponder means is capable of reading from an on-board data source representative of the vehicle's condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said condition is temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transponder can be read from and written to by said interrogation means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transponder is operated in read only mode such that said interrogation means reads from but does not write to said transponder means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
An integrated vehicle communications system for on-board use within a vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of miniaturized, self-contained read/write transponders on-board the vehicle, each capable of using energy of radio frequency interrogation as a source of power for a respective read/write transponder operation, and each associated with a vehicle function; an interrogation means on-board the vehicle for interrogating and receiving signals from the respective transponders; and means for providing RF communication between the interrogation means and each of the transponders for read/write responder operation by the transponders in response to interrogation operation of the interrogation means; and means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
An integrated vehicle communications system for on-board use within a vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of miniaturized, self-contained read/write transponders on-board the vehicle, each capable of using energy of radio frequency interrogation as a source of power for a respective read/write transponder operation, and each associated with a vehicle function; an interrogation means on-board the vehicle for interrogating and receiving signals from the respective transponders; and means for providing RF communication between the interrogation means and each of the transponders for read/write responder operation by the transponders in response to interrogation operation of the interrogation means; and means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means for providing RF communication between the interrogation means and each of the transponders comprises a multiplexer interconnected with the interrogation means and respective antenna connected with the multiplexer for RF communication with respective transponders.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The integrated vehicle communications system of claim 18 wherein said interrogation means includes a controller and further including a satellite interrogator controlled or activated by said controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation comprises operator display means for displaying system information to the vehicle operator system information in display format to the operator in response to interrogation/responder operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the means responsive to the interrogation means for carrying out on-board functions in response to such interrogation comprises means for carrying out specific vehicle on-board functions, in response to interrogation/responder operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 and further comprising a key transponder to replace or supplement a conventional vehicle key for vehicle entry control.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein one of the transponders and the means for providing RF communication are adapted for enabling transactions with a facility external of the vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 23 wherein the transactions with a facility external of the vehicle are for toll authorization.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 23 wherein the transactions with a facility external of the vehicle are for premises authorization.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 23 wherein at least one of the transponders is capable of reading from an external data source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 23 wherein at least one of the transponders is capable of writing to and reading from data sources, and at least one of the sources is external of the vehicle to provide information to the operator of the vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 Wherein the interrogation means provides interrogating of the transponders at intervals measured in the order of seconds for a durations measured in the order of a few milliseconds.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of the transponders carries data which uniquely identifies the respective transponder to the interrogation means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein one of said transponder means provide communication to said interrogation means indicative that a part or component of said vehicle is present.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 17 wherein at least one of said transponders is capable of reading from an on-board data source representative of the vehicle's condition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An integrated vehicle communications system as set forth in claim 31 wherein said condition is temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-03 | 2000-03-04 | 2000-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-03 | 2004-03-04 | 2004-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-03 | 2008-03-04 | 2008-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |