Abstract:
A vehicle ignition module that is activated by a signal transmitted from a vehicle entry FOB that is engageable with the module. The module includes a PCB for activating the vehicle ignition in response to the signal transmitted from the FOB and for immobilizing the vehicle ignition in the absence of the signal. An antenna assembly receives and communicates the signal to the PCB, a rotation position sensor switch is activated in response to rotation of the FOB while engaged with the module, the switch being electrically connected to the PCB, and an actuator mechanism transmits to the position switch the rotational displacement and axial displacement of the FOB.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a vehicle ignition module. More particularly, it pertains to an ignition electronics module that is actuated by an entry FOB.  
         [0002]     A conventional entry FOB includes a power supply and transponder, energized by the power supply for emitting a designated signal at a signature radio frequency. An antenna is required to receive the signal. An electronics module responds to the signal by activating the vehicle ignition system provided the frequency of the transmitted signal is recognized as being associated with the ignition system.  
         [0003]     The antenna, preferably a coil antenna, should be located near the axial end of the module such that the FOB is located within the magnetic field of the antenna when it is inserted in the module. The antenna is connected to a transceiver, a transmitter-receiver that uses many of the same components for both transmission and reception. The transceiver is connected to a microprocessor, which enables the ignition system to operate, provided the FOB is recognized on the microprocessor module by its transmitted signal. The module immobilizes the ignition system in the absence of the signal.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A vehicle ignition module according to the present invention is a keyless ignition module that includes a coil antenna and a rotation position switch integrated into an immoblizer electronics assembly. A spring-loaded latch positively retains the FOB, which activates the ignition system when inserted axially into the module. The FOB is retained in its rotated positions by engaging a recess on the FOB with a complementary protrusion on the module.  
         [0005]     The coil antenna is electrically connected directly to the immoblizer electronics PCB assembly; the position switch is electrically connected to a PCB, which is connected to the immoblizer electronics PCB assembly.  
         [0006]     Axial displacement of the FOB into the module causes an actuator to contact a detector switch, which produces a wake-up signal to the electronics microprocessor module. In response to the wake-up signal, the low frequency signal produced by the FOB is identified upon being received by the antenna coil and transmitted to the electronics microprocessor module.  
         [0007]     Rotation of the FOB in the module among various detent positions causes the actuator to rotate position sensor assembly, which transmits the rotated position of the FOB to the electronics microprocessor module.  
         [0008]     A vehicle ignition module that is activated by a signal transmitted from a vehicle entry FOB that is engageable with the module. The module includes a PCB for activating the vehicle ignition in response to the signal transmitted from the FOB and for immobilizing the vehicle ignition in the absence of the signal. An antenna assembly receives and communicates the signal to the PCB, a rotation position sensor switch is activated in response to rotation of the FOB while engaged with the module, the switch being electrically connected to the PCB, and an actuator mechanism transmits to the position switch the rotational displacement and axial displacement of the FOB. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing a wireless ignition module and entry FOB for use with the module;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the ignition module showing the components in spaced-apart relation and located in position for assembly;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross section taken at plane  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 4-8  are isometric views showing the order of assembly of the detent hub, detent hub cover, retaining ring, and detent hub assembly;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view showing the components of the position assembly in spaced-apart relation and located in position for assembly to a PCB;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is isometric view showing the position assembly secured to the PCB;  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cross section taken at diametric plane  10 - 10  of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is an isometric end view showing the rotor cover and contactor assembly secured to the PCB;  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is isometric side view of the assembled module with the housing removed and entry FOB installed; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing communications components including the transponder, antenna coil, and transceiver. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     A wireless ignition module  10  for an automotive vehicle includes a housing  12 , a solenoid  14  mounted on the upper surface of the housing, and an antenna coil assembly  16  secured by screws  17  to a lateral face of housing  10 . A entry FOB  18 , suited for use with the module, includes a stem  20  having protrusions  22 ,  23  located in a vertical plane and extending outward from the upper and lower surfaces of the stem  20 , and a recess  24  located between the protrusions. As is customary, the entry FOB has a power supply and transponder, energized by the power supply when manual actuated by the operator for transmitting a signal at a signature radio frequency, which is received by an antenna located in the module and is used to operate the ignition system of the vehicle.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows that the top of housing  12  is closed by a cam cover  26 , which is secured to the housing by screws, the cover having a opening that allows a cam follower  28 , actuated by the solenoid  14 , to pass through the cover and to enter the space surrounded by the housing. The housing  12  is formed with a cylindrical sleeve  30 , aligned with the central axis  19  of the antenna coil assembly  16 . A detent hub  32  includes a cylindrical extension  34 , whose outer surface is formed with a lobe and a recess adapted to engage a complementary inner surface formed on a camshaft  36 , so that the camshaft and detent hub are mutually secured to rotate together about axis  19 . The detent hub  32  is formed with radially directed, diametrically opposed holes  38 , hub being sized to fit within sleeve  30  of housing  12 .  
         [0022]     The cylindrical sleeve  30  is formed with a radial passageway, containing a latch  56 , which is urged by a spring  57  radially toward axis  19 . Latch  56  is forced radially outward by the protrusions  22  as the entry FOB  18  is inserted into module  10  until protrusions  22  pass the location of the latch, whereupon the latch engages the recess  24  on the lower surface of the entry FOB, preventing the FOB from falling from the module  10 .  
         [0023]     A retainer ring  40 , which abuts the axial end surface of detent hub  32 , and provides access to axial slots  44  formed on the outer surface of the detent hub  32 . A detent hub cover  46  includes axial arms  48 ,  49 , angularly spaced about the axis  19  and sized to engage the axial slots  44  on the cylindrical outer surface of the detent hub  32 , so that the detent hub cover  46 , retaining ring  40 , and detent hub  32  are assembled in correct angular position about axis  19  and are mutually secured to rotate about axis  19  as a unit. The antenna coil assembly  16  includes several legs formed with screw holes for attachment to the axial surface  52  of housing  12 .  
         [0024]     The antenna coil assembly  16  is formed with an arm  52  located on the lower outer surface, sized to fit through a passageway  54  in the axial wall  52  of housing  12 . The arm  52  carries terminals  58  of the coil antenna at the axially end of arm. Terminal  58  provide an electrical connection to a microprocessor module located on a PCB located in the housing  12 .  
         [0025]     Referring now to the cross section shown in  FIG. 3 , the detent hub  32  is formed with a blind radial holes  60 ,  61  into each of which are fitted a compression spring  62  and a detent plunger  64 , which is urged by the spring radially outward through a hole  38  and into contact with the coil assembly  16 .  
         [0026]     The inner surface of the antenna coil assembly  16  is formed with two diametrically opposite sets of recesses, each set having an ENTRY/EXIT position recess  66 , ACCESSORY/STOP position recess  68 , and a RUN position recess  70 .  FIG. 3  shows the detent plungers  64  engaged with the ENTRY/EXIT position recesses  66 . When the entry FOB  18  is inserted into the module  10  and rotated, the detent hub  32  rotates with the entry FOB  18  causing plungers  64  to move among the detent positions formed on the inner surface of the coil assembly  16 . When the entry FOB  18  is rotated clockwise to its angular extremity of travel, each plunger  64  contacts an inclined surface adjacent the respective recess  70 . When the entry FOB  18  is released, it rotates counterclockwise on the inclined surfaces into engagement with RUN recesses  70 .  
         [0027]     The order of assembly of components external to the housing is described with reference to  FIGS. 4-9 . The detent hub  32  shown in  FIG. 4  has been fitted with the detent plungers  64  and springs  62 , and is in position to receive the retaining ring  40 . An axial end of detent hub  32  is formed with a recess having the shape of the cross section of the entry FOB  18  stem. In  FIG. 5 , the a retaining ring  40  is fitted over the axial end surface of the detent hub  32 , such that axial slots  44  on the hub  32  are flush with surface  68  formed on the retained ring  40 . Retaining ring  40  is formed with surfaces  70 ,  71 , which are engagable by protrusions  22 ,  23 , and recesses  24  on the entry FOB  18  when it is inserted and rotated in the module  10 , thereby retaining the FOB  18  in the module in its rotated position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows the detent hub cover  46  fitted over the retainer ring  40  and detent hub  32  such that the legs  48 ,  49  of the cover are fitted into respective axially slots  44  on the detent hub. Due to the engagement of the legs  48 ,  49  in the slots  44 , the hub  32 , ring  40  and cover  46  rotate as a unit when the FOB  18  is turned in the module  10 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a entry retainer latch  56  urged by its spring  57  radially inward for engagement with the entry FOB recess  24 , thereby preventing the entry FOB from falling out of the module  10 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows the antenna coil assembly  16  fitted over detent hub  32 , retainer ring  40 , and detent hub cover  46 , the antenna contacts  58  located at the axial end of the lower arm  52 , and the legs  50  in position for attachment to the end face  52  of housing  12 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  illustrates a entry FOB position assembly, which is installed in housing  12  in a path on engaged components that transmits axial displacement and rotation of the entry FOB  18  from the detent hub  32  to a detector switch  82 , located in the housing. The position assembly includes a PCB  80 , to which is secured a detector switch  82 , a contractor assembly  84 , rotor cover  86 , camshaft  36 , a key-in actuator  88 , and a key-in spring  90 . The PCB  80  includes a header assembly  92  comprising electric contacts extending downward from the inner axial surface of the PCB for engagement with receptacles on a microprocessor module  120 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  shows the components of the position assembly installed in the housing and secured to the PCB  80 . The contactor assembly  84  includes a semi-circular electrical contact rotatably secured to an annular radial leg and facing detector switch  82 . The contactor assembly  84  has a central opening, through which the key-in actuator  84  passes before the PCB  80 . The rotor cover  86  is secured mechanically to the inner surface of the PCB  80  and surrounds the actuator assembly  84 . The key-in spring  90 , a compression spring, is seated in a pocket formed in the key-in actuator  88 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  shows the position assembly in its assembled condition ready to be installed in housing  12 . Key-in actuator  88  is formed with an axial extension  94 , which is in continual contact with the adjacent axial surface of cylinder  34  on the detent hub  32  due to the effect of the compression spring  90 . The camshaft  36  has a central opening, into which the key-in actuator  88  extends. The axial surface of the camshaft  36  that faces detent hub  32  is formed with an axially-directed lobe  95  and axially-directed recess  97 , by which the cylinder  34  of detent hub  32 , which is formed with a complementary axially-directed lobe and recess, is rotatably secured to the camshaft. Resilient latches  98 , in the form of axial fingers, secure the key-in actuator latches  98  to camshaft  36  when the actuator  88  is inserted within the camshaft. The ends of the fingers  98  latch onto the camshaft by extending through holes  100 , so that the camshaft  36  and actuator  88  rotate as a unit. However, the latches permit the actuator to move axially toward the switch  82  without transmitting that axial displacement to the camshaft  36 .  
         [0034]     These engagements permits axial displacement of the detent hub  32  to be transmitted to the key-in actuator  88  but not to the camshaft  36 , and rotation of the detent hub  32  to be transmitted to the camshaft but not to the key-in actuator  88 . Camshaft  36  is formed with an external cam surface  96 , which is continually contacted by the stem  28  of solenoid  14 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 12  shows the rotor cover  86  in position to be secured by screws through the attachment holes  102 ,  103 , the cover providing a central opening  104 , through which a rotor  84  of the contactor assembly extends to the adjacent inner surface of housing  12 . The rotor  84  is free to float radially within rotor cover  86  so that it can be aligned with the key-in actuator  88 . The rotor  84  provides an axial slot  108 , into which the axial inner surface  110  of key-in actuator  88  extends and with which it engages. In this way, camshaft  36 , key-in actuator  88 , and the contractor rotor  84  rotate as a unit.  
         [0036]     As the FOB  18  is inserted into the assembly  10 , the key-in actuator  88  slides axially toward detector switch  82  with its inclined surface  89  in contact with the rotor  84 . This movement brings position sensor  112  into contact with the detector switch  82 , closing an electric circuit that is connected through header  92  to the microprocessor module  120 . As the FOB  18  is rotated in the assembly  10 , the position sensor  112  remains in contact with the detector switch  82 , and a signal representing the degree of rotation of the FOB is transmitted to the microprocessor module  120 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  shows the position of the position switch/lock assembly as it is installed in the housing  12 , but the housing removed to show the details. A microprocessor module  120 , located within housing  12 , is electrically connected by terminals of the header  92  and by the electrical terminals  58  on the end of the arm  52  of the coil assembly  16 . The stem  28  of solenoid  14  rests on the cam surface  96  of the camshaft  36 , and the cylinder  34  at the end of the detent hub  32  is shown in contact with the extension  94  on the end of the key-in actuator. As  FIG. 2  shows, the bottom of housing  12  is closed by a lower cover  122 , and the top of the housing is closed by the cam cover  26 , on which solenoid  14  is supported.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , integrated in the FOB  18  is a transponder  130  for receiving a designated signal and emitting a radio signal of its own. The antenna coil assembly  16  includes an antenna coil  132  located near the axial end of the assembly  16  such that the FOB is located within the magnetic field of the antenna when it is inserted in the module  10 . The antenna terminals  58  are connected to a transceiver  134 , a radio transmitter-receiver that uses many of the same components for both transmission and reception. The transceiver  134  is connected to the microprocessor module  120 , which enables the ignition system to operate, provided the FOB is recognized on microprocessor module  120  as the signal transmitted by the appropriate FOB, or otherwise immobilizes the ignition system.  
         [0039]     In operation, the force required to insert the entry FOB  18  into switch/lock assembly  10  causes axial displacement of the detent hub  32  and radial displacement of the latch  56  of the entry retainer, which is mounted on the sleeve  30  of housing  12 . When the entry FOB  18  is fully inserted in the assembly  10 , the detent latch  56  engages the FOB recess  24  between the protrusions  22 ,  23 , thereby preventing the FOB from falling from the lock assembly inadvertently.  
         [0040]     When the entry FOB  18  is fully inserted, axial displacement of the detent hub assembly  32  transmits its axial movement to the key-in actuator  88 , which engages the detector switch  82 . The detector switch  82  closes a circuit that acts as wake-up signal to the electronic microprocessor module  120 , which, in response, identifies the entry FOB  18  by a low-frequency transmission between the entry FOB  18  and the antenna coil assembly  16 .  
         [0041]     Entry FOB  18  rotates about axis  19  among the four angularly spaced positions described with reference to  FIG. 3 . When the FOB  18  is rotated to and past the ACCESSORY/STOP position, the FOB is locked in place by its engagement with the surfaces  70 ,  71  on the retaining ring  40 . Rotation of the entry FOB  18  is transmitted through detent hub  32  to camshaft  36 . Rotation is transmitted further from camshaft  36  to key-in actuator  88 , due to the engagement of latches  98  in the latch holes  100  on the camshaft. As key-in actuator  88  rotates, it transmits rotation to the position sensor assembly, which transmits the rotated position to the electronic microprocessor module  120  through the sensor  112  and detector switch  82 .  
         [0042]     When FOB  18  is rotated clockwise to the START position and the operator releases the FOB, the position switch/lock assembly rotates counter-clockwise to the RUN position, where detent plungers  64  are seated in respective recesses  70 . The force of detent springs  62  urges the detent plungers  64  away from the start position after the entry FOB  18  is released. The springs provide restoring forces to return the assembly to the RUN position as the plungers  64  slide on the inclined surfaces that extend between the RUN positions and the START positions on the detent hub  32 .  
         [0043]     Before removing the FOB  18  from the switch assembly, the user rotates the FOB clockwise from the RUN position to the ENTRY/EXIT position shown in  FIG. 3 . If various conditions are met, such as the transmission selector being located in the PARK position, removal of the FOB  18  from the switch assembly is permitted upon actuating solenoid  18 , which then allows camshaft  30  to rotate to the ENTRY/EXIT position. Thereafter, the FOB  18  can be removed from the switch assembly.  
         [0044]     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.