Abstract: A vehicle system includes a remote function controller, and a data bus adaptor cartridge removably coupled to a data bus adaptor cartridge connector for permitting communications between control circuitry and at least one vehicle device over the data communications bus. The control circuitry may couple to the data bus adaptor cartridge through serial or parallel interfaces. The control circuitry may generate digital command codes, and the data bus adaptor cartridge may convert the digital command codes into data communications bus signals according to a desired protocol. The control circuitry may also read digital codes, and the data bus adaptor cartridge may convert data communications bus signals into digital codes according to a desired protocol for the control circuitry.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. More particularly, the controller may have a plurality of different controller states and respond differently to a same message from the monitoring station at different times depending upon the controller state at a given time. Accordingly, a number of codes or messages used by the system can be conserved.

Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a vehicle security sensor and associated sensor bus interface, an alarm indicator and associated alarm indicator bus interface, and an alarm controller and associated alarm controller bus interface for interfacing the alarm controller. The vehicle security system is for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices. The security system preferably further includes a desired signal enabling circuit for enabling the alarm controller to operate using a set of desired signals for a desired vehicle from among a plurality of possible sets of signals for different vehicles.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller may determine the vehicle position information including a vehicle location and an associated stationary period for each occurrence of the vehicle remaining stationary for greater than a predetermined period. For example, the predetermined time may be less than about three minutes which filters out stops in normal traffic, but which will keep track of stops where the driver likely leaves the vehicle. Accordingly, only the important information necessary to track the vehicle need be stored and/or transmitted thereby reducing the system costs.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, a back-up battery, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The vehicle position determining device, wireless communications device and controller may define a power load of the vehicle tracking unit. The controller may isolate the back-up battery from the power load as a voltage of the vehicle battery drops until reaching a threshold. After the threshold, the controller may cause the back-up battery to selectively power only a first portion of the power load while a second portion of the power load remains powered by the vehicle battery. The selectively powered portion from the back-up battery may be the wireless communications device, for example, which may have a higher operating voltage.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit may include a user indicator, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller is preferably switchable between an unregistered mode and a registered mode. In the registered mode, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to the monitoring station. In the unregistered mode, the controller may activate the user indicator to encourage registration by the user. The controller may be switchable to the registered mode based upon an activation message from the monitoring station, and, conversely, the controller may be switchable to the unregistered mode based upon a deactivation message from the monitoring station. The user indicator may also be activated based upon a warning message from the monitoring station indicating that the user's registration is about to expire.

Abstract: A tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit and a monitoring station communicating therewith. The vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The controller preferably cooperates with the wireless communications device to send an alert message. The monitoring station may include a user interface for generating a sequence of alert message notifications based upon receiving the alert message sent from the vehicle tracking unit, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from a user having already received the alert message notification.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit may include a user registration reminder indicator, a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller is preferably switchable from an unregistered mode to a registered mode. In the registered mode, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device to determine and send vehicle position information to the monitoring station. In the unregistered mode, the controller may activate the user registration reminder indicator to encourage registration by the user. The controller may be switchable to the registered mode based upon an activation message from the monitoring station.

Abstract: An electrical signal cable assembly includes an electrical cable having opposing first and second ends connected to first and second electrical connectors respectively, and wherein the cable includes at least three wire members arranged in a non-interlaced configuration. Each wire member may include at least one metallic conductor and a respective individual insulating layer thereon. Each of the metallic conductors, in turn, may include at least one of silver and copper at a purity of greater than about 90 percent. An overall insulating layer may surround the three wire members to retain them in position without requiring braiding. In addition, the overall insulating layer and the individual plastic insulating layer are preferably transparent to show a metallic color of the metallic conductors therethrough.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is readily entered into a desired mode, yet provides high security for the user and includes a controller vehicle for performing at least one vehicle function responsive to a transmitter, such as a remote transmitter or passive transponder. The controller is switchable among a plurality of modes. The system also includes a switch at the vehicle that cooperates with the controller for switching the controller to a desired mode responsive to operation of the switch in a sequence corresponding to a multi-digit user code. The controller preferably counts operations of the switch, such as a momentary contact switch, occurring within a predetermined time of each other as a respective digit of the multi-digit user code. The controller, within a predetermined time window after a previous operation, counts successive operations of the momentary contact switch within a predetermined time of each other as a next digit of the multi-digit user code.

Abstract: A vehicle remote control system includes a common carrier paging receiver and an adapted remote transmitter coupled to the paging receiver to communicate with the system function controller. The system preferably includes a plurality of transmitters including at least one first transmitter for being carried by a user, and a first receiver positioned at the vehicle for receiving signals from the transmitters. The function controller is connected to wiring at the vehicle and to the first receiver. The system also preferably includes the second or paging receiver positioned at the vehicle for receiving signals via the common carrier paging network and for generating output control signals responsive to received signals from the common carrier paging network. In addition, the transmitters preferably further include a slightly modified remote transmitter connected to the second paging receiver for communicating output control signals to the controller and via the first receiver.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a controller for learning a unique code of a token to define a learned token capable of causing performance of a function associated with the vehicle, for example. The controller performs remote token verification to generate an indication relating to whether a new uniquely coded token has been learned by the controller. The control system is advantageously used for a vehicle security system also enabling starting of the vehicle. The token may also include at least one first electrical conductor for electrically connecting to at least one second electrical conductor included in a token reader. In one embodiment, the token verification is based upon the controller being recently entered into the token learning mode. According to another embodiment, the token verification is based upon a number of learned tokens, a change in that number, or a change in a learned code of a token.