US5937823A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safely disabling a land vehicle using a selective call radio signal
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1998-01-05
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Granted: 1999-08-17
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Expires: 2018-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A selective call module (102), installed in a land vehicle having an engine with an ignition system (118), has a selective call receiver (104), a microprocessor (106) and a non-volatile memory (108). The selective call module is connected to an engine control module (116) of the land vehicle. The microprocessor decodes received selective call signals and causes the selective call module to enter into a shutdown state upon decoding of a shutdown page. In the shutdown state, the selective call module measures the engine speed and immediately shuts down the engine by completely turning off the ignition system if the engine speed is less than a pre-set value. The selective call module gradually shuts down the engine by interrupting the ignition system for gradually increasing durations if the engine speed is greater than the pre-set value.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan Reeder
- 👤 Poh-Tin Wong
- 👤 William J. Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:22
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P11/00; F02P11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for disabling a land vehicle having an engine with an ignition system, comprising: a tachometer connected to the engine; and a selective call module electrically coupled to the tachometer and to the ignition system, the selective call module including a radio receiver for receiving a selective call signal, and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the radio receiver, the microprocessor programmed to control the ignition system in response to the selective call signal and in response to a reading of the tachometer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for disabling a land vehicle having an engine with an ignition system, comprising: a tachometer connected to the engine; and a selective call module electrically coupled to the tachometer and to the ignition system, the selective call module including a radio receiver for receiving a selective call signal, and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the radio receiver, the microprocessor programmed to control the ignition system in response to the selective call signal and in response to a reading of the tachometer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 in which the microprocessor causes the ignition system to cease operation upon occurrence of a pre-set tachometer reading.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 in which the microprocessor causes the ignition system to cease operation upon two occurrences of a pre-set tachometer reading, the two occurrences spaced apart in time a pre-determined RPM re-measure interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 in which the microprocessor causes intermittent operation of the ignition system by gradually increasing interrupt ignition durations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 4 in which the microprocessor causes the ignition system to cease operation upon occurrence of a relatively low, pre-set tachometer reading.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 4 in which the microprocessor causes the ignition system to temporarily cease operation during a pre-selected interrupt ignition duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1, in which the selective call module includes a non-volatile memory and in which the selective call module enters into a shutdown state upon receiving a selective call signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving at the vehicle a selective call radio signal; decoding the selective call radio signal as a shutdown page; setting a non-volatile memory in the vehicle to a shutdown state; measuring speed of the engine; comparing a speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; and disabling the ignition system if the speed of the engine is less than the pre-set speed, until the non-volatile memory is re-set away from the shutdown state.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving at the vehicle a selective call radio signal; decoding the selective call radio signal as a shutdown page; setting a non-volatile memory in the vehicle to a shutdown state; measuring speed of the engine; comparing a speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; and disabling the ignition system if the speed of the engine is less than the pre-set speed, until the non-volatile memory is re-set away from the shutdown state.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine in response to wirelessly receiving a shutdown page by a selective call module, comprising the steps of: (a) pre-selecting an interrupt ignition duration and a restore ignition duration to initial values; (b) disabling the ignition system for the interrupt ignition duration; (c) enabling the ignition system for the restore ignition duration; (d) measuring speed of the engine; (e) comparing a speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; and (f) disabling the ignition system if the speed of the engine is less than the pre-set speed.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine in response to wirelessly receiving a shutdown page by a selective call module, comprising the steps of: (a) pre-selecting an interrupt ignition duration and a restore ignition duration to initial values; (b) disabling the ignition system for the interrupt ignition duration; (c) enabling the ignition system for the restore ignition duration; (d) measuring speed of the engine; (e) comparing a speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; and (f) disabling the ignition system if the speed of the engine is less than the pre-set speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9, including, after step (f), the steps of: (g) increasing the interrupt ignition duration for an incremental amount of time; (h) decreasing the restore ignition duration for the incremental amount of time; and (i) repeating steps (b) through (h) until the ignition system is disabled.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine, comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving a selective call signal; setting a non-volatile memory to a shutdown state; measuring a first speed of the engine; comparing the first speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; in response to the first speed of the engine being less than the pre-set speed, re-measuring a second speed of the engine a pre-determined period after measuring the first speed; re-comparing a second speed of the engine to the pre-set speed; and in response to the second speed of the engine being less than the pre-set speed, disabling the ignition system until the non-volatile memory is re-set from the shutdown state.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of disabling an ignition system of an engine, comprising the steps of: wirelessly receiving a selective call signal; setting a non-volatile memory to a shutdown state; measuring a first speed of the engine; comparing the first speed of the engine to a pre-set speed; in response to the first speed of the engine being less than the pre-set speed, re-measuring a second speed of the engine a pre-determined period after measuring the first speed; re-comparing a second speed of the engine to the pre-set speed; and in response to the second speed of the engine being less than the pre-set speed, disabling the ignition system until the non-volatile memory is re-set from the shutdown state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A selective call module, comprising: a radio receiver; and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the radio receiver, programmed to gradually disable an ignition system of an engine upon decoding of a shutdown page received by the radio receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A selective call module, comprising: a radio receiver; and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the radio receiver, programmed to gradually disable an ignition system of an engine upon decoding of a shutdown page received by the radio receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The selective call module of claim 12, in which the microprocessor gradually disables the ignition system of the engine by alternately turning off the ignition system for gradually increasing periods of time and turning on the ignition system for gradually decreasing periods of time, in response to speed of the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The selective call module of claim 12, including a non-volatile memory electrically coupled to the microprocessor, and in which the non-volatile memory is set to a shutdown state upon decoding of the shutdown page.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The selective call module of claim 14, in which the microprocessor gradually disables the ignition system of the engine by alternately turning off the ignition system for gradually increasing periods of time and turning on the ignition system for gradually decreasing periods of time, in response to speed of the engine.
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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) | 2002-08-16 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-16 | 2007-02-15 | 2007-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-16 | 2011-02-15 | 2011-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |