ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE

Abstract

ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE as an anti-theft device for the automotive field, acting as a tool to aid in the recovery and protection of the asset; an electronic device connected to an embedded automotive network, which acts autonomously or receive remote commands to avoid the next ignition cycles and/or adding limitations regarding the performance and nominal working load of the protected vehicles. The modular hardware couples with different expansion boards that allows the adoption of several wireless data transmission technologies such as GPRS, GSM, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa, ZigBee, SigFox and satellite communication; the effect of anti-theft activation via software remains active even when the transgressor removes the device completely from the vehicle. The Over-The-Air (OTA) update feature makes it possible to load new security strategies in the hardware, consequently increasing the difficulty of carrying out vehicle's theft.

Claims

1. A ROAD VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE, characterized by its highly innovative software based anti-theft strategy with permanent effect to inhibit the next ignition cycle, add limitations regarding the vehicle's performance, resulting in the vehicle shutdown and immobilization without the need of an external electromechanical device, which is possible due to its direct interface with the known technologies for embedded automotive network.

2. The ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE, characterized by its software-based unlocking strategy, that as well as stated in claim 1 is performed over the embedded automotive network, restoring factory operating conditions such that in conjunction with claim 1 characterizes a highly innovative anti-theft device in the automotive segment.

3. The ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE according to claim 1, characterized by its modular hardware which allows the connection of additional boards carrying wireless modules for remote control of the anti-theft device, wherein several wireless data transmission technologies can be applied to the solution including GPRS, GSM, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa, ZigBee, SigFox and satellite communication.

4. The ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE according to claim 1, characterized on its continuous operation without the need of an external device or power source. Consequently, once enabled the anti-theft effect remains active even removing the device from the vehicle, as it is stored in the non-volatile memory of the vehicle set of Electronic Central Units.

5. The ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE according to claim 1, characterized by the Over-The-Air (OTA) update feature, which allows the device setup in different vehicle OEM's, systems and models, as well as the deployment of corrections and new features, ensuring continuous evolution of anti-theft capabilities remotely.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 provides the bottom view of the main printed circuit board (PCB).

[0016] FIG. 2 provides a top view of the main printed circuit board.

[0017] FIG. 3 depicts the components arrangement on the main PCB. The vast majority of components are SMD (Surface mounted diode) type. X3 and X4 connectors allow the addition of expansion cards. Connector X1 makes the output pins available for external connection.

[0018] FIG. 4 provides a preview of a mounting pattern for the device.

[0019] FIG. 5 demonstrates the configuration B of the device's assembly pattern with inductive reading from the automotive network

[0020] FIG. 6 shows the equipment isometric view; the box external measurements are 91×30×27 mm.

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates the device from another perspective. In this figure, it is possible to observe three holes in the box, two for the passage of the connection wires and one for light indication.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows the anti-theft system logic flow, including the stages of locking, performance limitation and remote shutdown.

[0023] FIG. 9 demonstrates the logical steps of the anti-theft system deactivation process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The “ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE” is a tool designed for motor vehicles theft prevention. Its operating principle is characterized by the direct action on the embedded automotive electronic systems through the vehicle's network in order to make the next ignition impossible or adding limitations regarding the vehicle's performance. It is possible to restore the vehicle to proper functioning by performing the reverse process sending commands to remove limitations added to the vehicle's electronic systems.

[0025] The “ROAD VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SECURITY DEVICE BASED ON AUTOMOTIVE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOFTWARE” can work autonomously through an algorithm that identifies risk conditions compatible with theft as well as the driver's controlled stops. The modular hardware architecture allows the device to be controlled by equipment with different data transmission technologies such as GPRS, GSM, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa, ZigBee, SigFox, satellite communication, among others. The communication physical means to interface with the device are TTL, RS232, CAN, RS485, SPI and I2C serial interface, thus being easy to integrate with COTS trackers or any data transmission equipment compatible with the technical specifications, as long as it is approved and previously integrated by holder of the invention.

[0026] The device has an expandable modular electronic architecture composed of a main printed circuit board that, when connected to complementary accessories or secondary printed circuit boards, as exemplified by item [0017], thus becoming compatible with the described data transmission means in [0025]. The main printed circuit board has the necessary hardware characteristics so that on one side it receives data or commands through the means of communication of item [0025] and on the other side it communicates with the vehicle's embedded systems through different communication protocols, which enables the intervention of the anti-theft system described in this document.

[0027] As a competitive advantage, the device eliminates the need for electromechanical switches, such as relays, which change the vehicle's original installation setup, which considerably reduces installation and maintenance costs, besides avoiding warranty violation. Another advantage is that the anti-theft security system is activated via the device's software, where once activated it is not possible to physically turn it off or circumvent it by removing the device. After triggering software commands on the automotive data network, the effect remains active even if the device is removed from the vehicle, as it keeps the limitations stored in the system. Therefore, the object of the invention enables a new and high level of security whose concept and functionality no other device has been able to achieve so far.

[0028] About usability, the equipment is not limited to anti-theft security functionality. Although not the object of the present claim, the same equipment can additionally provide telemetry information and remote diagnosis of the embedded automotive electronic systems.

[0029] The Over the Air (OTA) update feature makes the device universally compatible with different vehicle OEMs and models. During the update process, the device receives, segmented by packs, the new application file through one of the technologies described in item [0025]. The new software may contain an improvement in the application of the current vehicle or a new library that enables the device installation in a new vehicle with particular electronic system. The update is triggered by the management system or device management platform, these systems are based on cloud computing, so they inherit the features of high availability, being online 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

[0030] In the anti-theft security activation flow illustrated in FIG. 8, if the vehicle is stationary, the device receives the command from equipment that uses the data transmission means described in item [0025] and immediately starts the anti-theft process. By the end of this stage, the vehicle will be unable to perform the next ignition cycle, or with limited operation in terms of ordinary work performance and capabilities. If the vehicle is in motion, the action process is gradual as it considers several factors in order to provide safety for the driver and other vehicles in transit in the same place. There are several factors considered to perform this action, such as vehicle speed on an uphill or downhill slope, conditions of use of the brake, use of engine brake, engine in low gear, deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle and other situations.

[0031] In the anti-theft mode deactivation flow illustrated by FIG. 9, the device receives the command from the controller and restores the vehicle's electronic management systems to standard operating conditions so that the vehicle is able to operate under ordinary conditions again.

Examples of Embodiments of the Invention

[0032] For its materialization, the invention has two essential and inseparable components, the hardware, and the application software. The hardware consists of the main PCB, accessories, plastic housing and connecting wires. FIG. 4 demonstrates the mounted in configuration A and FIG. 5 shows the device mounted in configuration B.

[0033] The main printed circuit board contains a power supply circuit that allows the device to operate in the voltage range from 9 to 28 Vdc. With load dump (as stated in ISO7637-2 and SAE J1113-11), polarity and overload protection, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0034] The main printed circuit board contains a main microcontroller connected to a set of data input and output peripherals. The main PCB communication interfaces are listed below: [0035] Serial interface TTL voltage level. [0036] Serial RS232 interface enabled by its transceiver IC. [0037] CAN interface enabled by its transceiver IC. [0038] SAE J1708 interface according to the circuit provided by the standard. [0039] ISO9141 interface conforms to standard specification.

[0040] The accessories are secondary printed circuit boards containing the circuitry complementary to the operation of the equipment according to the desired wireless communication technology. Therefore, the main interfaces are listed: [0041] LoRaWAN accessory. [0042] WiFi+Bluetooth accessory. [0043] 4G/3G/2G accessory.

[0044] The housing in which the main PCB is mounted is illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and it is a rectangular box in the format 91×30×27 mm. The cover of the box has two holes for wiring connection and one for light indication according to the interface operating status.

[0045] Regarding the equipment connection wires: [0046] Twisted pair of 0.5 mm.sup.2 yellow and green wires must be connected respectively to the CAN-H and CAN-L wires. [0047] The 0.5 mm.sup.2 red wire must be connected to battery's positive pole (12 to 30 Vdc). [0048] The 0.5 mm.sup.2 white wire must be connected to vehicle's ignition signal (12 to 30 Vdc). [0049] The 0.5 mm.sup.2 black wire must be connected to battery's negative pole or vehicle's chassis ground. [0050] Super seal connector with 0.5 mm.sup.2 white, gray and purple wires used for serial interface (TTL or RS232). [0051] Twisted pair of 0.5 mm.sup.2 orange and blue wires must be connected respectively to vehicle's J1708+ and J1708—wires. [0052] The individual 0.5 mm.sup.2 blue wire must be connected to vehicle's K-line.