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: 9582991
    Abstract: A remote control system may be for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting vehicle devices. The vehicle devices may be operable with a given set of vehicle device codes from among different sets thereof for different vehicles. A vehicle controller that is responsive to a remote transmitter may include a controller data link interface. A data bus adaptor may store the given 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 a controller download interface for downloading the set of adaptor codes to operate the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9527478
    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 wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and including a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a memory to store vehicle device bus codes for the plurality of vehicle devices. A remote function device may be coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and may include a controller to wirelessly receive updated vehicle device bus codes from the remote control device to cause at least one of the vehicle devices to perform a new vehicle operation, and wirelessly transmit the updated data bus codes to the wireless data bus device to be stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9458814
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, at least one vehicle brake being selectively operable based upon a parking brake command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on data communications bus. The remote start control system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal, and a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal, may generate the parking brake command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20160237734
    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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Publication number: 20160236651
    Abstract: A remote control system may be for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting vehicle devices. The vehicle devices may be operable with a given set of vehicle device codes from among different sets thereof for different vehicles. A vehicle controller that is responsive to a remote transmitter may include a controller data link interface. A data bus adaptor may store the given 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 a controller download interface for downloading the set of adaptor codes to operate the data bus adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Patent number: 9416762
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, a window motor associated with a window and operating the window based upon a move window command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on the data communications bus. The remote start control system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal, and a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal, may generate the move window command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9238449
    Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a wireless communications device, a vehicle position determining device, and an accelerometer. The vehicle control system may also include at least one controller configured to communicate vehicle position information based upon the vehicle position determining device via the wireless communications device, and communicate vehicle acceleration data based upon the accelerometer via the wireless communications device. The controller may also be configured to generate a security pre-warning signal based upon the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9170585
    Abstract: A remote climate control system is for a hybrid vehicle having a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, and a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle. At least one of the electrical heater and the sensor is coupled to the data communications bus. The remote climate control system includes a remote transmitter and a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter. A vehicle remote climate controller cooperates with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20150291109
    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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventor: Kenneth E. FLICK
  • Patent number: 9159233
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and an audio entertainment system coupled to the data communications bus may include a vehicle wireless transceiver and a vehicle controller to be coupled to the data communications bus. The vehicle controller may be configured to determine and send a vehicle location alert via the vehicle wireless transceiver, and selectively set the audio entertainment system to link with the vehicle wireless transceiver in a hands-free mode. The system may also include a mobile device to be carried by a user remote from the vehicle that may include a remote wireless transceiver configured to link wirelessly with the vehicle wireless transceiver. The mobile device may also include a remote controller cooperating to command, based upon receiving the vehicle location alert, the vehicle controller to set the audio entertainment system into the hands-free mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9140228
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, a transmission associated with the engine and having a selectable disengaged position based upon a disengage transmission position command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on the data communications bus. The system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal. The remote start control system may also include a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal may generate the disengage transmission position command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20150251633
    Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a wireless communications device, a vehicle position determining device, and an accelerometer. The vehicle control system may also include at least one controller configured to communicate vehicle position information based upon the vehicle position determining device via the wireless communications device, and communicate vehicle acceleration data based upon the accelerometer via the wireless communications device. The controller may also be configured to generate a security pre-warning signal based upon the accelerometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20150246658
    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 wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and including a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a memory to store vehicle device bus codes for the plurality of vehicle devices. A remote function device may be coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and may include a controller to wirelessly receive updated vehicle device bus codes from the remote control device to cause at least one of the vehicle devices to perform a new vehicle operation, and wirelessly transmit the updated data bus codes to the wireless data bus device to be stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Patent number: 9031546
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and an audio entertainment system coupled to the data communications bus may include a vehicle wireless transceiver and a vehicle controller to be coupled to the data communications bus. The vehicle controller may be configured to determine and send a vehicle speed alert via the vehicle wireless transceiver, and selectively set the audio entertainment system to link with the vehicle wireless transceiver in a hands-free mode. The system may also include a mobile device to be carried by a user remote from the vehicle that may include a remote wireless transceiver configured to link wirelessly with the vehicle wireless transceiver. The mobile device may also include a remote controller cooperating to command, based upon receiving the vehicle speed alert, the vehicle controller to set the audio entertainment system into the hands-free mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20140278024
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, a window motor associated with a window and operating the window based upon a move window command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on the data communications bus. The remote start control system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal, and a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal, may generate the move window command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20140277839
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Flick, Martin Tessier, Patrick Noel, Jean-Pierre Aubertin, Duc Minh Cong Nguyen, Cristinel Zaharia
  • Publication number: 20140277848
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, a transmission associated with the engine and having a selectable disengaged position based upon a disengage transmission position command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on the data communications bus. The system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal. The remote start control system may also include a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal may generate the disengage transmission position command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20140266811
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and an audio entertainment system coupled to the data communications bus may include a vehicle wireless transceiver and a vehicle controller to be coupled to the data communications bus. The vehicle controller may be configured to determine and send a vehicle location alert via the vehicle wireless transceiver, and selectively set the audio entertainment system to link with the vehicle wireless transceiver in a hands-free mode. The system may also include a mobile device to be carried by a user remote from the vehicle that may include a remote wireless transceiver configured to link wirelessly with the vehicle wireless transceiver. The mobile device may also include a remote controller cooperating to command, based upon receiving the vehicle location alert, the vehicle controller to set the audio entertainment system into the hands-free mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20140278025
    Abstract: A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, at least one vehicle brake being selectively operable based upon a parking brake command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on data communications bus. The remote start control system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal, and a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal, may generate the parking brake command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20140274012
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle having a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and an audio entertainment system coupled to the data communications bus may include a vehicle wireless transceiver and a vehicle controller to be coupled to the data communications bus. The vehicle controller may be configured to determine and send a vehicle speed alert via the vehicle wireless transceiver, and selectively set the audio entertainment system to link with the vehicle wireless transceiver in a hands-free mode. The system may also include a mobile device to be carried by a user remote from the vehicle that may include a remote wireless transceiver configured to link wirelessly with the vehicle wireless transceiver. The mobile device may also include a remote controller cooperating to command, based upon receiving the vehicle speed alert, the vehicle controller to set the audio entertainment system into the hands-free mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick