Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Flick

Kenneth E. Flick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11447097
    Abstract: A control system is for a vehicle with vehicle devices and a data communications bus extending through the vehicle and coupled to the vehicle devices. The control system may include a vehicle wireless device, and a vehicle controller configured to communicate, via the data communications bus, with a vehicle device based upon an authorized wireless control device, and send a request for authorization, via the vehicle wireless device, of a new wireless control device to be able to operate the vehicle controller. The control system may include a remote wireless device away from the vehicle and configured to receive the request for authorization from the vehicle controller, present the request for authorization to a user, and permit the user to send a response to the request for authorization to the vehicle controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 11142165
    Abstract: A vehicle system for a vehicle may include a vehicle tracking unit that includes a first bus interface to be coupled to a first data communications bus of the vehicle, a vehicle position determining device, long-range and short-ranges tracker wireless devices, and a tracker controller to send vehicle position information via the long-range tracker wireless device based upon the vehicle positioning determining device. The system may also include a remote start unit that includes a second bus interface to be coupled to a second data communications bus of the vehicle, a short-range remote start wireless device to establish a short-range wireless link with the short-range tracker wireless device, and a remote start controller to receive a remote start command from the long-range tracker wireless device via the short-range wireless link, and send a remote start data bus command onto the second data communications bus based upon the remote start command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20190143935
    Abstract: A vehicle system for a vehicle may include a vehicle tracking unit that includes a first bus interface to be coupled to a first data communications bus of the vehicle, a vehicle position determining device, long-range and short-ranges tracker wireless devices, and a tracker controller to send vehicle position information via the long-range tracker wireless device based upon the vehicle positioning determining device. The system may also include a remote start unit that includes a second bus interface to be coupled to a second data communications bus of the vehicle, a short-range remote start wireless device to establish a short-range wireless link with the short-range tracker wireless device, and a remote start controller to receive a remote start command from the long-range tracker wireless device via the short-range wireless link, and send a remote start data bus command onto the second data communications bus based upon the remote start command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Patent number: 10180689
    Abstract: A vehicle security unit is for a vehicle including at least one data communications bus, an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port coupled to the at least one data communications bus, and a vehicle tracking unit to be coupled to the OBD port. The vehicle security unit may include a security unit housing, a short-range security wireless device carried by the security unit housing, and a vehicle security controller carried by the security unit housing and configured to establish a wireless communication link via the short-range security wireless device with the vehicle tracking unit and communicate via the at least one data communications bus responsive to the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 10127174
    Abstract: A vehicle tracker system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include a multi-adaptor vehicle tracker controller including a position determining device, a wireless communications device, a controller data link interface, a download learning port, and a processor. The processor may communicate geolocation data via the wireless communications device. A data bus adaptor may adapt the tracker controller to communicate via the data communications bus and include an adaptor data link interface coupled to the controller data link interface. The data bus adaptor may be operable with a given set of proprietary remote function controller codes. The processor may be operable with different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes, and determine the given set of proprietary codes based upon the download learning port and use the given set of proprietary codes for communications with the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 10049563
    Abstract: A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include a remote transmitter, a multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller being responsive to the remote transmitter, and a data bus adaptor for adapting the multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller to communicate via the data communications bus. The data bus adaptor may be operable with a given set of proprietary remote function controller codes from among a plurality of different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes. The multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller may be operable with the different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes, and may be configured to learn the given set of proprietary remote function controller codes that the data bus adaptor is operable with based upon the download learning port, and to use the given set of proprietary codes for communications with the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9981615
    Abstract: A remote function control system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to vehicle devices may include a wireless data bus device in the vehicle coupled to a wired vehicle electrical power system. The wireless data bus device may include a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device coupled to the wired electrical system may include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device and a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle. The remote function device may also include a controller coupled to the second and third wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device coupled to the data communications bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9981616
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system. A wireless data bus device may be coupled to the power system including a wired interface coupled to the data bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device may include a housing removably coupled to the power system, a vehicle position determining device, a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device, and a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle. The remote function device may permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device(s) coupled to the data bus, and perform a tracking function(s) based upon vehicle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9925956
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system. A wireless data bus device may be coupled to the power system and include a wired interface coupled to the data bus, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device may be coupled to the power system and include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device, and a controller to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device(s) coupled to the data bus. A wireless security sensor may be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the power system, with the sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate with the second wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9919682
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system. The system may include a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus and including an interior wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle, an exterior wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and a controller coupled to the interior and exterior wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The system may further include a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system, with the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the interior wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20180050660
    Abstract: A vehicle security unit is for a vehicle including at least one data communications bus, an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port coupled to the at least one data communications bus, and a vehicle tracking unit to be coupled to the OBD port. The vehicle security unit may include a security unit housing, a short-range security wireless device carried by the security unit housing, and a vehicle security controller carried by the security unit housing and configured to establish a wireless communication link via the short-range security wireless device with the vehicle tracking unit and communicate via the at least one data communications bus responsive to the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventor: KENNETH E. FLICK
  • Patent number: 9797183
    Abstract: A remote control system may be for a vehicle including a data communications bus and connecting vehicle devices. The vehicle devices may be operable with a set of vehicle device codes from among different sets thereof for different vehicles. A vehicle controller may be responsive to the remote transmitter and may include a controller data link interface. A data bus adaptor may store the set of vehicle device codes and include an adaptor data link interface cooperating with the controller data link interface to provide a communication link for adapting the vehicle controller to communicate with a vehicle device via the data communications bus. The data bus adaptor may be operable based upon a set of adaptor codes from among different sets thereof. The vehicle controller may include an adaptor code determining circuit for determining the set of adaptor codes based upon communication with the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9745942
    Abstract: A remote start system for a vehicle having an engine, and a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include at least one external temperature sensor coupled to the vehicle data communications bus to sense an external vehicle temperature, and at least one internal temperature sensor coupled to the vehicle data communications bus to sense an internal vehicle temperature. The remote start system may also include a wireless remote control device and a controller coupled to the vehicle data communications bus to start the engine based upon the wireless remote control device and determine an idle time threshold based upon the external temperature. The controller may also stop the engine based upon reaching the idle time threshold or an internal vehicle temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Flick, Martin Tessier, Patrick Noel, Jean-Pierre Aubertin, Duc Minh Cong Nguyen, Cristinel Zaharia
  • Publication number: 20170197588
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system. The system may include a remote function device coupled to the data communications bus and including an interior wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle, an exterior wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and a controller coupled to the interior and exterior wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The system may further include a wireless security sensor positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system, with the wireless security sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle to the interior wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20170197587
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system. A wireless data bus device may be coupled to the power system and include a wired interface coupled to the data bus, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device may be coupled to the power system and include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device, and a controller to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device(s) coupled to the data bus. A wireless security sensor may be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the power system, with the sensor being configured to wirelessly communicate with the second wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9656631
    Abstract: A remote function control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired electrical power system. A wireless data bus device may be coupled to the power system and include a wired interface coupled to the data bus, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface. A remote function device may be coupled to the power system and include a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device, a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and a controller to permit communication between the remote control device and a vehicle device(s) coupled to the data bus. A wireless security sensor may be positioned within the vehicle and coupled to the power system, and wirelessly communicate with the first wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20170139868
    Abstract: A vehicle tracker system for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include a multi-adaptor vehicle tracker controller including a position determining device, a wireless communications device, a controller data link interface, a download learning port, and a processor. The processor may communicate geolocation data via the wireless communications device. A data bus adaptor may adapt the tracker controller to communicate via the data communications bus and include an adaptor data link interface coupled to the controller data link interface. The data bus adaptor may be operable with a given set of proprietary remote function controller codes. The processor may be operable with different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes, and determine the given set of proprietary codes based upon the download learning port and use the given set of proprietary codes for communications with the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Publication number: 20170140641
    Abstract: A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include a remote transmitter, a multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller being responsive to the remote transmitter, and a data bus adaptor for adapting the multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller to communicate via the data communications bus. The data bus adaptor may be operable with a given set of proprietary remote function controller codes from among a plurality of different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes. The multi-adaptor vehicle remote function controller may be operable with the different sets of proprietary remote function controller codes, and may be configured to learn the given set of proprietary remote function controller codes that the data bus adaptor is operable with based upon the download learning port, and to use the given set of proprietary codes for communications with the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Patent number: RE47225
    Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit is provided for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto. The at least one operable vehicle device may be responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user. Moreover, the controller may generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data communications bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: RE47354
    Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit is provided for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto. The at least one operable vehicle device may be responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station. Moreover, the controller may generate the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data communications bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal received by the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick