Methods for blocking and unblocking electronic accelerator

Abstract

The invention discloses a system for blocking and unblocking a vehicle electronic accelerator (30) using methods for blocking and unblocking a vehicle electronic accelerator (30) which comprises a control module (10) of the vehicle electronic accelerator (30), a TAG type presence remote device (20) and the use of commercial use smartphone (50) (Android or iOS) with a specific application. The blocking and unblocking of the electronic accelerator (30) rely on a remote device (20) which operates as an active approach TAG which uses Bluetooth 5.2 technology operating in Beacons transmission mode for the control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30). This TAG approach function can also be executed by a smartphone (50) by means of a specific application. Further, the invention provides a blocking and unblocking method of the electronic accelerator (30) by means of a tracking device / vehicle alarm (70). Wherein the control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30) is connected to a tracking device (70) by means of a wire (60). In case of theft of the vehicle, the tracking command center (70) will emit a command to the control module (10) initiating the progressive blocking of the electronic accelerator (30), using the wire (60) to receive the command and implement the blocking and will maintain in this state until it receives an unblocking command via wire (60) from the tracking device (70).

Description

METHODS FOR BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING ELECTRONICACCELERATORTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present patent application discloses an automotive electronic accelerator system using electronic accelerator blocking methods which comprises a control module of the automotive electronic accelerator, a TAG type remote presence device and the use of a commercial use smartphone (Android or iOS ) with a speci fic application .

[0002] More speci fically, the electronic accelerator blocking comprises a remote device which works as an approach active TAG which uses Bl uetooth 5 . 2 technology operating in Beacons transmission mode for the control module of the electronic accelerator . This TAG approach function can also be executed by a smartphone by means of a speci fic application .BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Worldwide statistics on car thefts and robberies reveal that this practice is common throughout the world . Thus , the search for automotive protection alternatives against thefts and robberies has been intensi fying more and more .

[0004] In this way, several kinds of automotive safety devices were created to avoid losses for the large part of the population which has a car . Some of the car safety devices refer to monitoring systems which emit a sound signal in case there is opening of doors , hoods or even forced window breaking . Other forms of car safety devices are represented by systems which block the car by fuel inj ection pump cutout , or vehicle ignition motor cutout , passing by trackers with theuse of GPS systems (Global Positioning System) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) .

[0005] However, these methods are usually able to be overcome or bypassed, apart from not offering immediate control of the vehicle.

[0006] With the advent of the electronic accelerators, there arose the possibility of blocking the vehicle by means of control of the accelerator. This method offers a more sophisticated blocking manner since it allows the electronic control over the accelerator of the vehicle. However, it requires manual intervention by the user whenever the blocking must be activated or deactivated, which does not offer the desired convenience, apart from still leaving room for human errors .

[0007] In order to avoid the theft or robbery of vehicles the owners use some of the above cited technologies. However, it is possible to observe that said technologies are not very safe and effective, since thefts and robberies are growing more and more throughout the world.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention has the purpose of providing methods which aim at offering greater safety to vehicle owners, by means of the partial or total blocking of the electronic accelerator. The methods rely on TAG type remote control devices and / or commercial use smartphone and integrate an electronic accelerator control module which is connected by plug and play manner between the electronic accelerator pedal and the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.

[0009] The TAG type remote device disclosed in the invention is a TAG presence signaler for said controlmodule . The remote device uses Bl uetooth 5 . 2 technology operating in Beacon mode ( signaler ) which is transmitted at set intervals regularly and intermittently . These Beacons are detected by the control module for presence signal of the remote device . In case the control module no longer detects the signals , due to distancing of the remote device within the detection range of the control module for a certain period of time , the electronic accelerator enters a progressive blocking process limiting the acceleration of the vehicle progressively until the complete or partial blocking of the acceleration . The unblocking will only occur when the Beacon signal of the device is once again identi fied by the control module .

[0010] The commercial use smartphone mentioned in the invention uses a speci fic application which emits intermittent Beacon signals , in case of use of the Android operational system, or background connections , in case the iOS operating system is used, even with a locked screen . In case the control module ceases to detect the signal and the vehicle is turned of f , the electronic accelerator enters a progressive blocking process , limiting the acceleration of the vehicle progressively until the complete or partial blocking of the vehicle . The unblocking will only occur when the Beacon signal emitted by the smartphone is recogni zed .

[0011] Additionally, the invention provides a method of blocking the electronic accelerator by means of a tracker, vehicle alarm or any other safety device . The control module of the electronic accelerator is connected to a tracking device by means of a wire . In case of vehicle theft , the command center of the tracker will emit a command to the control module initiating the progressive blocking of theelectronic accelerator, using the wire to receive the command and implement the blocking .DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] The present invention will be better understood by means of the figure described below .

[0013] Figure 1 discloses the control module 10 installed in pl ug and play manner between the electronic accelerator pedal 30 and the electronic inj ection center (ECU) 11 . It further discloses the TAG type remote device 20 in communication via Bl uetooth with the control module 10 . Further, it discloses the automotive tracking / alarm device 70 and the lock signal input wire 60 and the smartphone 50 .DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The electronic accelerator 30 blocking methods described in the present invention represent an innovative solution which provides more safety to vehicles and ease of use to the users . The methods are comprised of a speci fic control module 10 for electronic accelerator 30 , which is connected in a pl ug and play manner between the electronic accelerator pedal 30 and the ECU 11 , a TAG type presence remote device 20 , commercial use smartphone 50 and a wire for external blocking 60 .

[0015] The blocking method of the electronic accelerator 30 relies on the use of a TAG type presence remote device 20 which operates with Bl uetooth 5 . 2 technology and transmits Beacon signals at fixed intervals regularly and intermittently to the control module 10 . Additionally, the TAG type presence remote device 20 can be configured by means of the smartphone 50 with a speci fic application installed andpreviously registered in the electronic accelerator 30 control module 10 .

[0016] The remote device 20 acts as a blocking inhibitor of the electronic accelerator 30 while it is close to the control module 10 transmitting Beacon signals at fixed intervals regularly and intermittently to the control module 10 . In case the control module 10 no longer detects the signal , due to a distancing of the remote device 20 within the detection range of the control module 10 for a certain period of time , the control module 10 will start a gradual reduction process of the acceleration of the electronic accelerator 30 by means of the progressive limitation of the acceleration until the partial or total suppression, depending on the configuration defined in the smartphone application 50 .

[0017] The time for initiating the blocking of the electronic accelerator will be determined by the user by means of the speci fic commercial use smartphone 50 . In this way, the time for initiating the blocking will be 1 minute up to 20 minutes , that is , after the stipulated time , the progressive blocking of the electronic accelerator 30 will begin .

[0018] The full restoration of the electronic accelerator 30 will only be possible in case the control module 10 once again detects the Beacon presence signal transmitted by the remote device 20 . Restoring the electronic accelerator 30 can also occur by means of the connection of a smartphone 50 previously registered in the control module 10 by means of a speci fic application . In case of connection of the smartphone 50 with the control module 10 , the control module 10 immediately unblocks the electronic accelerator 30 .

[0019] Each remote device has a unique identi fier code ( ID) , that is , the information transmitted by the remote device 20 contains the coded identi fier ( ID) .

[0020] To increase the safety of the signals emitted by the remote device 20 and avoid data violation by technically able individuals , a dynamic encryption algorithm was developed using a cryptographic key known only to the manufacturer and present in the remote device 20 and in the control module 10 , which purpose is to disable the tracking of passwords embedded in the codes emitted periodically by the remote device 20 .

[0021] Apart from the blocking method provided by the TAG type presence remote device 20 , the user can use a commercial use smartphone 50 equipped with a speci fic application . This smartphone 50 with the speci fic application emits intermittent Beacon signals (when using an Android system) or background connections (when using iOS system) even when the screen is blocked . The control module 10 upon immediately noticing the presence of signals sent intermittently by the smartphone 50 will immediately unblock the electronic accelerator 30 . In case the control module 10 does not detect the signals and the vehicle is turned of f , the control module 10 will maintain the electronic accelerator 30 fully blocked . The unblocking will only be carried out after recognition of the signal emitted by the smartphone 50 .

[0022] Additionally, control module 10 provides a method for blocking the electronic accelerator 30 by means of a tracking device or vehicle alarm 70 . The control module 10 of the electronic accelerator 30 is connected to this device 70 by means of a wire 60 . In case of theft of the vehicle thecommand center of the tracking device 70 issues a command to the control module 10 , starting the progressive blocking of the electronic accelerator 30 gradually limiting the acceleration, providing enough time for the driver to park the car safely as foreseen in traf fic legislation .

[0023] In case the control module 10 has received a blocking command by means of the wire 60 and the control module 10 is initially de-energi zed, upon being energi zed the control module 10 will immediately execute the complete blocking of the electronic accelerator 30 and will remain in this state until it receives an unblocking command by means of the wire 60 by the tracking device 70 .

Claims

CLAIMS1. METHOD FOR BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR (30) , comprising a control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30) connected in a plug and play manner between the electronic accelerator pedal (30) and the electronic fuel injection center (11) , further comprising a commercial use smartphone (50) , wherein the method is characterized by comprising:- a TAG type remote device (20) which communicates via Bluetooth transmitting Beacon signals at fixed intervals regularly and intermittently to the control module (10) ;- wherein the remote device (20) is configured by means of a specific application installed in the smartphone (50) and previously registered with the control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30) ; wherein the remote device (20) acts as an electronic accelerator (30) blocking inhibitor when it is close to the control module (10) transmitting Beacon signals at fixed intervals regularly and intermittently to the control module (10) ;- wherein in case the control module (10) does not detect the Beacon signal for a certain period of time, the control module (10) initiates a gradual reduction process of the acceleration of the electronic accelerator (30) until the complete or partial suppression;- wherein the information transmitted by the remote device (20) contains the encoded identifier (ID) ;- wherein the remote device (20) and the control module (10) have a dynamic encryption algorithm using a cryptographic key, disabling the tracking of passwordsembedded in the codes periodically emitted by the remote device (20) ; wherein the unblocking of the electronic accelerator (30) occurs after the control module (10) detects the presence of the Beacon signal transmitted by the remote device (20) ; wherein the unblocking of the electronic accelerator (30) occurs by means of the connection of the smartphone (50) with the control module (10) .

2. METHOD FOR BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR (30) , comprising a control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30) connected in a plug and play mode between the electronic accelerator pedal (30) and the electronic injection center (11) , further comprising a commercial use smartphone (50) , wherein the method is characterized by comprising:- the commercial use smartphone (50) being equipped with a specific application, wherein the smartphone (50) with specific application emits Beacon signals intermittently or background connections even when the screen is blocked;- wherein the control module (10) upon detecting the presence of said signals sent by the smartphone (50) will immediately unblock the electronic accelerator (30) ;- in case the control module (10) no longer detects said signals and the vehicle is turned off, the control module (10) will maintain the electronic accelerator (30) fully blocked;- the unblocking of the electronic accelerator (30) is carried out after the recognition of said signals emitted by the smartphone (50) .

3. METHOD FOR BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR (30) , comprising a control module (10) of the electronic accelerator (30) connected in a plug and play mode between the electronic accelerator pedal (30) and the electronic injection center (11) , further comprising a tracking device or vehicle alarm (70) , characterized by;- the control module 10 of the electronic accelerator (30) being connected to the device 70 by means of a wire 60.- in case of theft of the car, the command center of the tracking device (70) emits a command to the control module (10) initiating the progressive blocking of the electronic accelerator (30) gradually limiting the acceleration; in case the control module 10 has received a blocking command by means of the wire (60) and the control module (10) is initially de-energized, upon being energized the control module (10) will immediately effect the complete blocking of the electronic accelerator (30) and will remain in this state until it receives an unblocking command by means of the wire (60) by the tracking device (70) .

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