Wireless Transponder Reprogramming for Vehicle Immobilizers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle software update systems require significant labor and time due to the need for physical disconnection or removal of electronic components from vehicles, especially in fleets, where each component must be accessed individually for updates.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables wireless communication between a transponder and vehicle systems, allowing programming sequences to be transferred while components are installed, using a vehicle engine controller with a wireless communication signal receiver and an update recognition module to interface with a transponder and update software without physical disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a direct physical connection is used to update component software, then the software can be updated, but significant labor and time are required due to component removal or disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (physical cables and direct computer-to-component connections) with a wireless communication system. The transponder uses radio frequency communication to transfer programming sequences to the immobilizer, eliminating the need for physical disconnection or removal of components. This substitution of mechanical interaction with electromagnetic communication resolves the contradiction by enabling software updates without the time-consuming mechanical connection and disconnection processes.
2Reliability
If a direct physical connection is used to update component software, then the software can be updated, but significant labor is required due to component removal or disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless transponder system replaces the complex mechanical operation of component removal, cable connection, and computer interface setup with a simple wireless communication process. The transponder can be updated by merely bringing it near the vehicle, eliminating the need for technicians to physically manipulate components and connections, thereby significantly improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If components are physically removed or disconnected for updates, then software can be updated, but the process is inefficient for fleet vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless update system enables rapid sequential updating of multiple transponders without the repetitive mechanical operations required by traditional methods. Each transponder can be updated quickly by wireless communication, allowing fleet operators to process numerous vehicles in sequence without the cumulative time loss of repeated physical disconnections and reconnections, thereby dramatically improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transponder can be programmed with update information before being brought to the vehicle, and the wireless transfer process can begin immediately upon proximity. This preliminary preparation of update data eliminates the need for on-site component manipulation, allowing the actual update to occur rapidly when the transponder is near the vehicle, thus improving fleet-wide update efficiency.
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
This approach reduces labor and time required for software updates by enabling in-vehicle updates of electronic components, such as immobilizers, through wireless communication, facilitating faster and more efficient software modifications across multiple vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the electronic component and the vehicle engine controller including a wireless communication signal receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reprogramming an automotive device writes a programming sequence to a transponder read/write memory, interfaces the transponder with at least one vehicle system while the at least one vehicle system is installed in a vehicle, and transfers the programming sequence to the at least one vehicle system.