Patent · US Expired

Motor vehicle engine immobilizer security system and method

US7034654B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
7References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 2004
Grant dateApr 25, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07C2009/00531
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for insuring that a motor vehicle is being operated by an authorized operator. The apparatus includes an electronic control unit (ECU), an engine immobilizer unit, and a shared encryption key. The ECU generates a challenge by combining the output of a pseudo-random number generator and the output of a somewhat random number generator and cycling the combined number through a linear feedback shift register. The ECU sends the challenge to the immobilizer unit where it is encrypted with the shared key and sent back to the ECU as a response. The ECU uses the same key to encrypt the challenge and compares the encrypted challenge to the response. If the response matches the encrypted challenge, engine operation is enabled.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.