Patent Document

FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to an electronic control unit (“ECU”) limiter with a coded release for a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Recreational vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”), recreational off-road vehicles (“ROVs”) and other similar equipment usually represent a significant purchase. As such, buyers enjoy testing a vehicle before purchasing in an environment similar to the one in which they will use the vehicle. The buyer may wish to test the vehicle under actual conditions such as at full throttle, full speed, etc. However, the dealer, manufacturer, and consumer have an interest in selling the vehicle and having it registered for warranty purposes. Thus, once the vehicle is sold to a consumer, the testing comes to a close and the vehicle is registered and warranty coverage starts for the new owner. There is a need in the art for a system and/or method of controlling the usage of a vehicle or other equipment after purchase that ensures that the vehicle is covered by warranty from the manufacturer but that still allows the vehicle to be tested before purchase under real conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to systems and methods of selectively controlling a vehicle using the vehicle&#39;s electronic control unit (“ECU”). The ECU can permit the vehicle to be operated normally and substantially without restriction for a certain period of time or for a certain amount of engine use. The ECU can include a vehicle monitoring component and a limiter. The component is configured to monitor engine usage of the vehicle. The limiter is operably coupled to the vehicle monitoring component and configured to place limits on operation of the vehicle when the vehicle monitoring component detects that the engine usage of the vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold. At such threshold, the ECU is configured to receive an instruction to implement operational limits. The ECU can also be instructed to remove the operational limits if the proper authentication code is provided. The limits can be removed at any time, including before the limits are placed on the vehicle, in which case the limits will never take effect. 
         [0004]    In other embodiments, the invention is directed to a method of controlling a vehicle, including monitoring engine time of a vehicle, permitting the vehicle to operate without limitation if the engine time is below a predetermined threshold, and when the engine time reaches the predetermined threshold, limiting operation of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    In still other embodiments, the invention is directed to an ECU unit having a vehicle monitoring component and a limiter. The monitoring component is configured to monitor engine time of the vehicle and compare the engine time of the vehicle to a predetermined time. The limiter is coupled to an electronic fuel injection system of the vehicle, wherein the limiter is configured to limit revolutions per minute (“RPM”) of the vehicle or a speed of the vehicle or both in response to the vehicle monitoring component detecting that the engine time has exceeded the predetermined time. The ECU can also include a code receiving component configured to receive a code that deactivates the limiter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an ATV having an electronic vehicle limiter system according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a vehicle gauge and display screen of the electronic vehicle limiter according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method of selectively limiting operation of a vehicle according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    The present disclosure is directed to an ECU configured to limit operation of a vehicle under certain predefined operating conditions. The present disclosure can be used with vehicles or with other equipment such as appliances, heavy machinery, or any other suitable equipment. For purposes of explanation, however, the present disclosure will reference vehicles for conciseness and to avoid obscuring aspects of the present disclosure. The ECU can monitor a vehicle parameter, such as engine operation time, fuel consumption, speed, or distance traveled, and if the parameter exceeds a certain limit, the vehicle is permitted to operate only in a limited capacity. The ECU will continue to limit the operation of the vehicle until an unlocking code is entered. For example, a vehicle can be operated by a dealer and by potential customers for a certain time (e.g., 5 engine hours) before the ECU initiates operation limits. After reaching the prescribed parameter limit, the ECU limits operation of the vehicle to within certain prescribed parameters, such as by limiting the engine speed (RPM) or the ground speed of the vehicle, or any other suitable parameter. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an ECU system  10  according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The system  10  can include a vehicle  12 , an ECU  14 , a remote component  16 , and a registration component  18 . The vehicle  12  can be any suitable vehicle, such as a recreational off-road vehicle (“ROV”), a snowmobile, a motorcycle, an automobile, or any other equipment. The ECU  14  can comprise a vehicle monitoring component  14   a  and a limiter  14   b . The ECU  14  can be part of the main ECU of the vehicle or can be built directly into a gauge of the vehicle. The ECU  14 , for purposes of this invention, can be anything with a processor to control or influence a vehicle parameter, such as fuel use, rpm, etc. The ECU may be coupled with the main control unit of the vehicle or may be separate. The vehicle monitoring component  14   a  can be operably coupled to systems of the vehicle  12 , such as the fuel injection system, the exhaust system, the electronic system, the drive train, the internal instruments of the vehicle, or any other suitable vehicle system. The vehicle monitoring component  14   a  can monitor vehicle parameters of these vehicle systems using any suitable sensing mechanism. The vehicle monitoring component  14   a  can monitor a multitude of measurable vehicle parameters, such as a location of the vehicle, fuel consumption, fuel type used, exhaust parameters, power output, speed, acceleration, identity of a driver or passenger, a load on the vehicle, distance traveled, or terrain type. 
         [0012]    The limiter  14   b  can be operably coupled to the vehicle monitoring component  14   a  to send and/or receive instructions to/from the vehicle monitoring component  14   a . The limiter  14   b  can also be coupled to vehicle systems in a manner that permits the limiter  14   b  to influence the vehicle systems. For example, the limiter  14   b  can be coupled to an electronic fuel injection system of the vehicle  10  to limit fuel injection parameters to limit the vehicle  10  as needed. The limiter  14   b  can be coupled to any suitable vehicle system, such as the fuel system, the exhaust system, engine parameters (e.g., speed, position, or rpm of various components), or any other suitable vehicle system. The limiter  14   b  can limit operation of the vehicle  10  to within a prescribed limit according to the vehicle monitoring component  14   a . For example, the limiter  14   b  can prevent the engine from starting, limit RPMs of the engine, limit the top speed of the vehicle, limit load on the engine, limit the distance the vehicle is permitted to travel, limit the power or torque output of the vehicle, limit the fuel consumed by the vehicle, or any other suitable vehicle operation limit. 
         [0013]    The remote component  16  can communicate with the ECU  14  to direct the ECU  14  to place limits on the vehicle  12  or to withdraw the limits. The remote component  16  can be an electronic unit that can plug into the vehicle  12  or into the ECU  14  directly to operate the ECU  14 , such as a diagnostic tool or another suitable electronic device. In some embodiments, the remote component  16  can communicate with the ECU  14  (or a selected component thereof) wirelessly using a controller area network (“CAN”), Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™ or another suitable wireless communication protocol. The remote component  16  can communicate with a registration component  18  to record information regarding the status of the vehicle  10  and of the ECU  14 . In an example, the registration component  18  can be a server or another computing unit that can store registration information for the vehicle  12 . The registration component  18  can store registration information such as purchaser name, address, financing, contact information, etc. The remote component  16  can be operated by a dealership where the vehicle  12  is sold. The ECU  14  can be programmed to permit the vehicle  12  to operate without limitations for an initial period, such as 5 engine hours, or 50 miles, or any other suitable initial period. This permits the dealer to demonstrate the vehicle  12  to customers without limitation. After the initial period, however, the ECU  14  will trigger the operation limits to encourage the dealer and/or purchaser to register the vehicle  12  with the registration component  18 . In some embodiments, the ECU  14  can delay the limits until a current trip is over to avoid causing the vehicle to become stranded. For example, if the limiter is configured to prevent the vehicle  12  from operating at all, the ECU  14  can be programmed with a grace period so that if a purchaser is out on a test ride, the vehicle  12  will not simply shut down immediately. Rather, the vehicle  12  can display a warning that the time has passed, and that the vehicle  12  should now return to the dealership or be properly registered. After a certain time, however, the limitations can escalate to prevent a user from skirting the protections of the ECU  14  by simply running the vehicle  12  indefinitely. 
         [0014]    The limiter  14   b  can institute a series of limits that can escalate in intensity as the engine time is progressively exceeded by greater and greater margins. For example, the limiter  14   b  may first issue a notification only, with no actual limit placed on the operation of the vehicle. Then, if the vehicle  12  is not registered and the ECU  14  is not properly deactivated, the limiter  14   b  can limit the RPMs slightly. If still more time passes without the ECU  14  being properly deactivated, the limiter  14   b  can more severely limit the vehicle  12 . 
         [0015]    Each vehicle  12  can have a unique identifier that can be sent to the registration component  18 . In response, the registration component  18  can deliver an unlock code to the remote component  16 . Once registration is complete, the unlocking code can be entered into the ECU  14  to remove the vehicle limitations. In some embodiment, the registration component  18  can be a web server that can be accessed through a standard web browser that can receive the vehicle identification credentials and can respond with an unlocking code for the ECU  14 . A diagnostic tool can be used to remove the vehicle limitations. The system  10  therefore encourages proper registration of the vehicle  10  to prevent warranty fraud and theft. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a keypad  20  on a gauge of a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The keypad  20  can include a first button  22 , a second button  24 , and an electronic display  26 . In some embodiments, the display  26  can show an error code when the limiter is engaged. The error code can be verbose and spell out in prose that the vehicle has a limiter that has been engaged because the vehicle has not been registered properly. Or, the display  26  can show a numeric code that is correlated with a message describing the limiter and the circumstances that is included with documentation such as an owner&#39;s manual. The buttons  22 ,  24  can be used to input the unlock code. Virtually any other type of input mechanism or user interface can be used to input the unlock code to the vehicle. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method  300  of selectively limiting a vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention. The method begins at step  310 , after which the method includes monitoring engine time  320 . This can be achieved with a vehicle monitoring component  14   a  as described above. In other embodiments, this step can include monitoring any other suitable parameter including those listed elsewhere herein. At step  330 , the method includes checking whether or not the engine time has exceeded a predetermined threshold. The threshold can be any arbitrary time period, such as 5 engine hours, 10 engine hours, etc. The threshold can be an absolute time threshold independent of engine status. The check in this step relates to the parameter monitored in step  320 . In other embodiments in which the parameter monitored at step  320  is something other than engine time, the check at step  330  can check for that parameter. For example, if the parameter of step  320  is to monitor fuel consumption, then the check in step  330  can be whether or not the fuel consumption has exceeded a predetermined threshold limit. 
         [0018]    If the check at step  330  is affirmative, control passes back to step  320  to continue monitoring. In other embodiments, the method can cease after this step if a one-time check is desired. If the check is negative, meaning that the engine time threshold has been exceeded, the method includes limiting the vehicle at step  340 . The limit placed on the vehicle can be any suitable limit including those described elsewhere herein, such as a vehicle speed limit, engine operation limit, travel distance limit, fuel consumption limit, or any other suitable limit. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments the method can include multiple checks similar to the check at step  330 . Each check can have a corresponding threshold and a similarly corresponding limit to impose. These checks and limits can be executed independently, or in series. For example, two independent checks can be performed on fuel consumption and engine time. These parameters may be related, but are generally independent. The limit imposed by exceeding either of these thresholds can be the same limit, or can be separate independent limits. For example, the limit imposed by exceeding the engine time limit may be preventing the engine to run, and the limit imposed by exceeding the fuel consumption limit may be something different, such as a speed limit. The severity of the limit imposed can be increased as each threshold is exceeded. In some embodiments, for example, for each monitored parameter in which a prescribed threshold is exceeded, the speed of the vehicle can be limited to a greater degree, such as 60 mph for the first threshold, 50 mph for the second, 40 for the third, and so on. 
         [0020]    The method can further include a periodic check of whether or not an unlock code has been received at step  350 . If the unlock code has not been received, the limits continue at step  340 . When the unlock code is received, the limits can be removed at step  360 . There may be multiple unlock codes for each vehicle, each of which can unlock all or part of the limits placed on the vehicle. 
         [0021]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Technology Category: 7