The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a method and system to prevent unauthorized uses of an engine controller.
Original equipment manufacturers offer high performance after-market components such as engine and transmission assemblies. These typically include complete current production engines. Customers include classic car owners and restoration enthusiasts who replace older engines with newer versions. By providing current engine and transmission assemblies, utilization of the engine manufacturing facility is increased and excess production capacity is used. Typically, the engine provided is more powerful than older versions of engines. After-market engines are typically used by enthusiasts such as in classic cars of off-road vehicles.
Currently, most engines are not provided with controllers and thus the customers must purchase and calibrate after-market control systems. Many times the owners do not perform proper calibration and thus the engines do not perform as desired. Misfueled or mistimed conditions are problematic. Further, miscalibrated engines may also eventually cause damage to the engines.
In standard original equipment manufacturer vehicles, a controller is provided with the engine. The controller is provided with antitheft features to prevent the vehicle from operating when the vehicle has been stolen. Antitheft provisions in after-market controllers must be disabled since the various interfacing modules are not present. However, providing an after-market controller with an after-market engine may allow the after-market controller to be used for unauthorized applications in current vehicles to circumvent antitheft provisions in the controllers present.
The present disclosure provides a method and system for enabling the use of an after-market engine controller when certain checks have been completed. If the check signals are not proper, then an engine control module may be disabled.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of checking an electronic control module associated with an engine includes receiving check signals through a wiring harness at the electronic control module, comparing the check signals to a threshold, when the check signals correspond to an unauthorized use, disabling an engine control module of the electronic control module.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a control module for enabling or disabling control of an engine includes a check module receiving signals through a wiring harness and comparing the check signals to a threshold. The control module also includes an engine control module disabling the engine when the check signals correspond to an unauthorized use.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
Referring now to
The sensors 14 and other engine components may be coupled through a wiring harness 20 and through one or more connectors, one of which is illustrated as reference numeral 22. A complimentary connector 24 may also be associated with the electronic control module 24.
An identifier circuit 26 may be associated with the connector 22. The identifier circuit 26 may provide various identifying information such as a code or other type of check signal.
The electronic control module 14 may include a check circuit module 27 having an identifier circuit module 28 that checks to determine if the check signal or identifier signal in the identifier circuit 26 is a proper code or authorized used. When the check signal indicates an authorized use, the engine control module 30 enables a fuel module 32 to provide fuel to the engine and a spark module 34 to provide spark to the engine. A threshold for comparison may be the code itself. When the ID code meets the threshold, proper use is found. When the ID code is not equivalent to the threshold, then improper use is found. The fuel module 32 and the spark module 34 may be used together or alone. Thus, by disabling one of the fuel module 32 or the spark module 34, the engine 12 may be disabled.
A sensor check module 40 may also be provided in the check circuit module 27 of the electronic control module 14. The sensor check module 40 may use various sensors as check signals within the engine 12. For example, the sensor check module 40 may detect sensor signals to determine whether the controller has been installed in a modern vehicle. When more modern sensors are provided, the sensor check module 40 may not allow the engine control module 30 to enable the fuel module 32 and spark module 34. A modern versus non-modern threshold may be established in various ways including determining whether a particular sensor or sensors are present. Of course, this may be determined based on the vehicle or engine.
The electronic control module 14 may also include a serial data check module 42. The serial data check module 42 may have a connector 44 that connects the serial data check module 42 and thus the electronic control module 14 to a serial data bus 46. The serial data bus 46 is in communication with the serial data components 48. Examples of serial data components are operator-supplied test tools or data-logging devices. The serial data check module 42 may also receive check signals from the serial data bus 46. The serial data check module determines whether signals are present that should not be present in an older vehicle. More recent serial data signals are identified and allow the serial data check module 42 to enable the engine control module 30 through fuel and spark. Certain data signals should not be present in a classic or older vehicle. When these serial data signals are not present, the engine control module enables the fuel and spark. In this example, present or not present is the threshold. If serial data components generate serial data signals on the serial data bus 46 that indicate the vehicle is a newer vehicle, then the engine control module may disable the fuel and spark modules 32, 34.
Referring now to
In step 114, the received signal is compared to data within the identifier circuit module 28 of
Referring now to
Referring now to
In step 164, when the serial data is not above a predetermined level, meaning the serial data signals are only older-type signals, the engine control will be enabled. As mentioned above, engine control enablement may allow enablement of both the fuel and spark.
It should be noted that the methods set forth in
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and the following claims.
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