Keysafe Inhibitor System for Secure Signal Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current keyless entry and push button keyless start systems in vehicles lack secure communication control, allowing unauthorized access and starting of vehicles due to unregulated signal transmission between key fobs and vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A keysafe system with a housing, wireless communications interface, and inhibitor system that selectively inhibits or permits communication between key fobs and vehicles using a coil and controller, allowing secure deactivation and activation of key fob signals, ensuring only recognizable signals are transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If keyless entry and push button keyless start systems are implemented without secure communication control, then ease of operation is improved, but vehicle security deteriorates due to unauthorized access and starting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication control system as an intermediary between the key fob and vehicle. This intermediary verifies and controls signal transmission, ensuring that only authenticated key fobs can communicate with the vehicle. The system mediates the interaction by checking signal validity before allowing door unlocking or engine starting, thus maintaining ease of operation for authorized users while preventing unauthorized access.
2Ease of operation
If signal transmission between key fobs and vehicles is unregulated, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to unauthorized access and theft risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by establishing communication control rules before any key fob signal transmission occurs. The system pre-defines authentication protocols and signal validation criteria that must be satisfied before the vehicle responds to key fob commands. This preliminary control structure prevents unauthorized access attempts from succeeding, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of theft and misuse while maintaining convenient operation for legitimate users.
3Reliability
If communication control rules are implemented to prevent unauthorized access, then vehicle security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a communication control system that performs multiple functions through a unified structure. The same control mechanism handles both door unlocking authentication and engine starting authentication, rather than requiring separate systems for each function. This multi-functional approach enhances vehicle security across multiple operations while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by reusing authentication protocols and control logic.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances vehicle security by preventing unauthorized access and starting by ensuring only recognizable signals are exchanged between key fobs and vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of theft and misuse.
Implementation Method 1
The inhibitor system includes a coil disposed around the internal compartment and a controller. The controller is configured to energize the coil to inhibit at least one of (i) a vehicle signal transmitted by the vehicle such that (a) the vehicle signal does not reach the key fob or (b) the vehicle signal is unrecognizable by the key fob
Data Source
AI summary
A keysafe includes a housing, a door, a locking mechanism, a wireless communications interface, and an inhibitor system. The housing defines an internal compartment structured to receive a key fob for a vehicle. The door is positioned to enclose the internal compartment. The locking mechanism is positioned to selectively lock the door to prevent access to the internal compartment. The wireless communications interface is configured to facilitate wireless communication with an external device. The inhibitor system includes a coil disposed around the internal compartment, a battery disposed within the housing and coupled to the coil, and a controller. The controller is configured to energize the coil with the battery to inhibit communication between the key fob and the vehicle, receive a deactivation signal from the external device via the wireless communications interface, and de-energize the coil in response to receiving the deactivation signal to permit the communication.