US5995898A — RFID system in communication with vehicle on-boar…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer system including a first microprocessor; a radio frequency transponder in communication with the on-board computer system, the radio frequency transponder including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a second microprocessor, and a common housing enclosing both the vehicle on-board computer system and the radio frequency transponder, the housing being sized for insertion in a vehicle engine compartment.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 75 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer system including a first microprocessor; a radio frequency transponder in communication with the on-board computer system, the radio frequency transponder including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a second microprocessor, and a common housing enclosing both the vehicle on-board computer system and the radio frequency transponder, the housing being sized for insertion in a vehicle engine compartment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a sensor coupled to the vehicle on-board computer, wherein the radio frequency transponder is configured to transmit information measured by the sensor in response to a radio frequency interrogation by an interrogator.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an oil pressure sensor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an engine knock sensor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an engine temperature sensor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an exhaust gas sensor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is a battery voltage sensor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an alternator current sensor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sensor is an engine RPM sensor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 78 words

A vehicle system capable of communicating with radio frequency interrogators provided along a road or highway, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer; and a radio frequency identification device in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor and configured to provide an identification code; wherein the radio frequency identification device transmits the identification code to interrogators that the system passes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 78 words

A vehicle system capable of communicating with radio frequency interrogators provided along a road or highway, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer; and a radio frequency identification device in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor and configured to provide an identification code; wherein the radio frequency identification device transmits the identification code to interrogators that the system passes.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 130 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in a vehicle including an internal combustion engine the system comprising: an oil pressure sensor configured to sense the oil pressure in the internal combustion engine; a vehicle on-board computer; a radio frequency transponder in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency transponder including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor coupled to the transmitter and receiver; an engine temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the engine; and a battery voltage sensor, wherein the radio frequency transponder is configured to transmit information measured by a selected one of the sensors by radio frequency transmission in response to a radio frequency interrogation by an interrogator and depending on what information is requested by the interrogator.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 130 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data in a vehicle including an internal combustion engine the system comprising: an oil pressure sensor configured to sense the oil pressure in the internal combustion engine; a vehicle on-board computer; a radio frequency transponder in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency transponder including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor coupled to the transmitter and receiver; an engine temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the engine; and a battery voltage sensor, wherein the radio frequency transponder is configured to transmit information measured by a selected one of the sensors by radio frequency transmission in response to a radio frequency interrogation by an interrogator and depending on what information is requested by the interrogator.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 177 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer system; a radio frequency identification device in communication with the on-board computer system, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor; an oil pressure sensor, the oil pressure sensor being in communication with the on-board computer system and configured to communicate oil pressure to the on-board computer system, the radio frequency identification device transmitting the data communicated to the on-board computer system in response to a radio frequency interrogation being received by the radio frequency identification device from an interrogator; an engine temperature sensor, the engine temperature sensor being in communication with the on-board computer system and configured to communicate the temperature of the engine to the on-board computer system; and a battery voltage sensor, wherein the radio frequency transponder transmits information measured by a selected one of the sensors by radio frequency in response to a radio frequency interrogation by an interrogator and depending on what information is requested by the interrogator.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 177 words

A system for telemetry of vehicle performance data, the system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer system; a radio frequency identification device in communication with the on-board computer system, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor; an oil pressure sensor, the oil pressure sensor being in communication with the on-board computer system and configured to communicate oil pressure to the on-board computer system, the radio frequency identification device transmitting the data communicated to the on-board computer system in response to a radio frequency interrogation being received by the radio frequency identification device from an interrogator; an engine temperature sensor, the engine temperature sensor being in communication with the on-board computer system and configured to communicate the temperature of the engine to the on-board computer system; and a battery voltage sensor, wherein the radio frequency transponder transmits information measured by a selected one of the sensors by radio frequency in response to a radio frequency interrogation by an interrogator and depending on what information is requested by the interrogator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 104 words

A vehicle system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer; a radio frequency identification device in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor and configured to provide an identification code; and a plurality of radio frequency interrogators provided along a road or highway, respectively configured to communicate with the radio frequency identification device, and respectively having a communications range; wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to transmit the identification code to ones of the interrogators for which the radio frequency identification device comes within communications range.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 104 words

A vehicle system comprising: a vehicle on-board computer; a radio frequency identification device in communication with the vehicle on-board computer, the radio frequency identification device including an integrated circuit having a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor and configured to provide an identification code; and a plurality of radio frequency interrogators provided along a road or highway, respectively configured to communicate with the radio frequency identification device, and respectively having a communications range; wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to transmit the identification code to ones of the interrogators for which the radio frequency identification device comes within communications range.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of logging vehicle history, the method comprising: providing a memory in a vehicle; connecting a wireless communication device to a vehicle on-board computer of the vehicle, the wireless communication device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver and a microprocessor; periodically storing information from the vehicle on-board computer in the memory; and communicating with the wireless communication device and reading from the memory at a location spaced apart from the vehicle.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of logging vehicle history, the method comprising: providing a memory in a vehicle; connecting a wireless communication device to a vehicle on-board computer of the vehicle, the wireless communication device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver and a microprocessor; periodically storing information from the vehicle on-board computer in the memory; and communicating with the wireless communication device and reading from the memory at a location spaced apart from the vehicle.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of logging vehicle history, the method comprising: supporting a memory in a vehicle, the vehicle having a transmission; coupling a wireless communication device to a vehicle on-board computer of the vehicle, the wireless communication device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor coupled to the transmitter, receiver, and memory; periodically storing information representative of transmission performance in the memory; and communicating with the wireless communication device and reading the data representative of transmission performance from the memory at a location spaced apart from the vehicle.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 92 words

A method of logging vehicle history, the method comprising: supporting a memory in a vehicle, the vehicle having a transmission; coupling a wireless communication device to a vehicle on-board computer of the vehicle, the wireless communication device including an integrated circuit having a transmitter, a receiver, and a microprocessor coupled to the transmitter, receiver, and memory; periodically storing information representative of transmission performance in the memory; and communicating with the wireless communication device and reading the data representative of transmission performance from the memory at a location spaced apart from the vehicle.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing data representative of engine performance in the memory and selectively reading the data representative of transmission performance from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing a vehicle maintenance record in the memory and selectively reading the vehicle maintenance record from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing information identifying the owner of the vehicle in the memory and selectively reading the information identifying the owner from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing information indicative of the purchase price of the vehicle in the memory and selectively reading the information indicative of purchase price from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing information indicative of the purchase date of the vehicle in the memory and selectively reading the information indicative of purchase price from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing information indicative of vehicle installed options in the memory and selectively reading the information indicative of vehicle installed options from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 and further comprising storing information indicative of repairs made to the vehicle and selectively reading the information indicative of repairs from the memory via wireless communications.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of logging data from rental vehicles, the method comprising: providing a system including a radio frequency transponder device, and a vehicle on-board computer in a rental vehicle, the radio frequency transponder device including an integrated circuit having a memory configured to store data identifying the vehicle and having a microprocessor coupled to the memory; providing a mileage sensor in the rental vehicle, in communication with the radio frequency transponder device, the mileage sensor being configured to generate mileage information; locating a remote transponder at a controlled access point of a rental vehicle facility; and causing the remote transponder to communicate with the radio frequency transponder device so as to receive via wireless communications the identifying data and mileage information when the vehicle passes the controlled access point and thereby determine that the vehicle has passed the controlled access point.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of logging data from rental vehicles, the method comprising: providing a system including a radio frequency transponder device, and a vehicle on-board computer in a rental vehicle, the radio frequency transponder device including an integrated circuit having a memory configured to store data identifying the vehicle and having a microprocessor coupled to the memory; providing a mileage sensor in the rental vehicle, in communication with the radio frequency transponder device, the mileage sensor being configured to generate mileage information; locating a remote transponder at a controlled access point of a rental vehicle facility; and causing the remote transponder to communicate with the radio frequency transponder device so as to receive via wireless communications the identifying data and mileage information when the vehicle passes the controlled access point and thereby determine that the vehicle has passed the controlled access point.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method in accordance with claim 23 and further comprising providing an additional sensor in communication with the radio frequency transponder device, and causing the remote transponder to communicate with the radio frequency transponder device so as to receive via wireless communications data sensed by the additional sensor when the vehicle passes the controlled access point.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is a fuel level sensor.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is an oil pressure sensor.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is an engine knock sensor.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is an engine temperature sensor.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is an exhaust gas sensor.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is a battery voltage sensor.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the additional sensor is an alternator current sensor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-29	2003-05-31	2003-11-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-29	2007-05-31	2007-11-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-29	2011-05-31	2011-11-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

RFID system in communication with vehicle on-board computer

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