Patent ID: 7737831

Claim:
An automobile control and display accessory device that is compatible with factory electronic control units (ECU's), comprising: an ECU interface system, said ECU interface system configured to connect said device to a vehicle ECU by one or more Controller Area Network bus (CAN-bus) or any other combination of local network ports, said device configured to receive input signals only from factory buttons, switches, and knobs that are configured to transmit input signals to said ECU's and said device further configured to transmit output signals related to said device operation to one or more factory displays, said one or more factory displays configured to display settings of factory ECU components, said device being configured to override factory cabriolet top controls that require that the transmission be in park, emergency brake be engaged, or that the vehicle be traveling at a slow speed in order to open or close the cabriolet top, said device being further configured to supply open and close commands to said factory cabriolet top controls based upon signals received from factory remote keyless entry systems, said device being further configured to override factory settings related to factory cabriolet top open/close buttons which require that said buttons be depressed for the duration the said cabriolet top is opened or closed, and said device being further configured such that the device may variably be placed in an automatic mode such that said cabriolet top is automatically opened upon remote unlocking of the vehicle doors and said cabriolet top is automatically closed upon remote locking of the vehicle doors.