Methods and apparatus to facilitate vehicle locking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10155499-B1
Application number	US-201815894689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2018
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate vehicle locking. An example vehicle comprises an engine, wheels, a door, a door lock, a torque lock, and a processor and memory. The torque lock is to disable torque transfer from the engine to the wheels. The door lock is to secure the door. The processor and memory are in communication with the torque lock and the door lock and configured to: engage the torque and door locks based on receipt of at least one lockout code and, if received authentication information matches the at least one lockout code, disengage the torque and door locks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a torque lock to disable torque transfer from an engine to wheels;
a door lock to secure a door; and
a processor and memory in communication with the torque and door locks and configured to:
engage the torque and door locks based on receipt of at least one lockout code; and
if received authentication information matches the at least one lockout code, disengage the torque and door locks.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an infotainment head unit (IHU), a mobile device, an exterior keypad, and a sensor wherein:
the processor is in communication with the at least one of the IHU, the mobile device, the exterior keypad, and the sensor; and
the at least one lockout code is submitted to the processor via the at least one of the IHU, the mobile device, the exterior keypad, and the sensor.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:
the sensor measures biometric attributes;
the processor is configured generate a biometric signature based on the biometric attributes; and
the at least one lockout code includes the biometric signature.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the biometric signature includes at least one of a fingerprint map, a voice sample, or a retina map.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the authentication information is submitted to the processor via the at least one of the IHU, the mobile device, the exterior keypad, and the sensor.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a shifter; and
a sensor to generate engine run state information;
wherein the processor is in communication with the shifter and the sensor and is further configured to:
determine whether the engine is running based on the engine run state information;
if the engine is running, lock the shifter with the torque lock; and
if the engine is not running, disable the engine with the torque lock.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one lockout code is a first lockout code and a second lockout code;
the received authentication information is a first unlock request and a second unlock request; and
the processor is configured to:
engage the torque lock in response to the first lockout code;
engage the door lock in response to the second lockout code;
if the first unlock request matches the first lockout code, disengage the torque lock; and
if the second unlock request matches the second lockout code, disengage the door lock.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
detect a torque request; and
if no torque request is detected after expiration of a timeout threshold, re-engage the torque and door locks.

9. A method comprising:
responsive to receipt of at least one lockout code, engaging, with a processor, a torque lock to disable torque transfer from an engine to wheels and a door lock to secure a door;
determining, with the processor, whether received authentication information matches the at least one lockout code; and
if the authentication information matches the at least one lockout code, disengaging, with the processor, the torque and door locks.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising submitting the at least one lockout code to the processor via at least one of an infotainment head unit (IHU), a mobile device, an exterior keypad, or a sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
measuring, with the sensor, biometric attributes; and
generating, with the processor, a biometric signature, wherein the at least one lockout code includes the biometric signature.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the biometric signature includes at least one of a fingerprint map, a voice sample, or a retina map.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising submitting the authentication information to the processor via at least one of an infotainment head unit (IHU), a mobile device, an exterior keypad, or a sensor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising
generating, with the sensor, engine run state information;
determining, with the processor, whether the engine is running based on the engine run state information;
wherein engaging the torque lock includes:
if the engine is running, locking a shifter with the torque lock; and
if the engine is not running, disabling the engine with the torque lock.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one lockout code is a first lockout code and a second lockout code; and
the authentication information is a first unlock request and a second unlock request;
engaging the torque lock and the door lock includes:
engaging the torque lock in response to the first lockout code; and
engaging the door lock in response to the second lockout code; and

disengaging the torque lock and the door lock includes:
if the first unlock request matches the first lockout code, disengaging the torque lock; and
if the second unlock request matches the second lockout code, disengaging the door lock.

16. A system comprising:
a mobile device to receive at least one driver-entered lockout code and authentication information;
a central facility in communication with the mobile device and having a database to store the at least one lockout code;
a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) transceiver disposed in a vehicle and in communication with the database and the mobile device;
a torque lock disposed in the vehicle to disable torque transfer from an engine of the vehicle to wheels of the vehicle;
a door lock disposed in the vehicle to secure a door of the vehicle; and
a processor in communication with the DSRC transceiver, the torque lock, and the door lock and configured to:
receive the at least one lockout code;
engage the torque lock and the door lock in response to the at least one lockout code;
receive the authentication information;
determine whether the authentication information matches the at least one lockout code; and
if the authentication information matches the at least one lockout code, disengage the torque lock and the door lock.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a shifter disposed in the vehicle to selectively drivably connect the engine to the wheels; and
a sensor disposed in the vehicle to generate engine run state information;
wherein the processor is in communication with the shifter and the sensor is further configured to:
determine whether the engine is running based on the engine run state information;
if the engine is running, lock the shifter with torque lock; and
if the engine is not running, disable the engine with the torque lock.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the mobile device includes a sensor;
the sensor measures biometric attributes;
the mobile device is configured to generate a biometric signature based on the biometric attributes; and
the lockout code includes the biometric signature.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the biometric signature includes at least one of a fingerprint map, a voice sample, or a retina map.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one lockout code is a first lockout code and a second lockout code;
the authentication information is a first unlock request and a second unlock request; and
the processor is configured to:
engage the torque lock in response to the first lockout code;
engage the door lock in response to the second lockout code;
if the first unlock request matches the first lockout code, disengage the torque lock; and
if the second unlock request matches the second lock

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mazaira Jordan
• Armstrong Brandon Evans
• Beeney Michael David
• Vrampas George Hart

Classifications

• B60R25/01

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• B60R25/04 Primary

  operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor · CPC title

• B60R25/10

  actuating a signalling device · CPC title

• B60R25/23

  using manual input of alphanumerical codes · CPC title