EP0239066A1 - Data acquisition device for use with a fleet of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Device comprising one module (10) per vehicle, connected to any one at least of the vehicle's parameter sensors, at least one fixed apparatus (40A, 40B), means of transferring information between the said module (10) and the said fixed apparatus, characterised in that the said means of transfer comprise, for each vehicle, a key-holder (20) definitively associated with the set of keys for the vehicle, each key-holder (20), each module (10) and each fixed apparatus (40A, 40B) comprising a transmitter (34, 13, 43) with its transmission antenna (36, 11, 44) and a receiver (35, 14, 45) with its reception antenna (37, 12, 46), these receivers operating autonomously, the transfer of data from the said module (10) to the said key-holder (20) taking place with each stoppage of the engine, the said module allowing the starting of the vehicle only if a correlation exists between data identifying the vehicle, recorded in the module (10), and identical data recorded in the key-holder (20). Application to the computerised management of a fleet of vehicles. <IMAGE>

Description

, The present invention relates to a device for acquiring data related to the use of vehicles in a fleet, comprising one module per vehicle, connected to at least any one of vehicle parameter sensors, at least one fixed item of equipment. , means for transferring information, between said module and said fixed equipment.

Document US-A 4,188,618 describes such a system in which it. a portable memory device is provided which is connected to the module installed in the vehicle and which receives information therefrom. This portable memory can be disconnected from the on-board module and be connected to a terminal station connected to a central terminal to transfer the information recorded during the use of the vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to improve this system.

In this system, if the user comes to lose the memory organ, all the accumulated data is lost.

An object of the invention is to link the memory device to an object whose risks of loss are less and whose absence prevents the vehicle from being started.

Another object of the invention is to link the memory device to an object which is necessarily returned at the end of the vehicle rental contract.

Another object is to provide a device making it possible to ensure that all the data relating to the use of the vehicle are indeed transferred into the memory at the end of the rental.

For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, the memory is part of a key ring attached in a non-removable manner to the key.

The on-board module authorizes the vehicle to start, by unlocking the anti-theft device, only if there is a correlation between the vehicle identification data recorded in the module and identical data recorded in the key ring.

The data transfer from the module to the key chain is carried out each time the engine ignition is switched off.

The subject of the invention is therefore a device for acquiring data linked to the use of the vehicles of a fleet, comprising one module per vehicle, connected to at least any one of vehicle parameter sensors, at least one fixed equipment, means for transferring information between said module is said fixed equipment, characterized in that said transfer means comprise for each vehicle a key chain permanently associated with the set of vehicle keys, each key chain, each module and each fixed item of equipment comprising a transmitter with its transmitting antenna and a receiver with its receiving antenna, these operating from autonomously, the transfer of data from said module to said key ring taking place at each engine stop, said module authorizing the starting of the vehicle only if there is a correlation between vehicle identification data, recorded in the identical module and data saved in the keychain.

The device of the invention thus allows reliable automatic entry in real time of the parameters linked to the use of vehicles, an automatic and immediate transfer of management and / or billing data, and finally an easy adaptation to any IT structure. management which will ensure the location of vehicles, maintenance reports, the control of all uses and the automatic edition of mission orders, invoices, ...

• - le module comporte, outre l'émetteur et le récepteur, un microprocesseur, une mémoire morte et une mémoire vive.
• - le porte-clés comporte' une partie mécanique immobilisant les deux extrémités d'un cordon, et une partie active comportant, outre l'émetteur et le récepteur, un microprocesseur, une mémoire morte et une mémoire vive.
• - chaque équipement fixe comporte un réceptable autorisant la présence d'un seul porte-clés, et une partie active comportant, outre l'émetteur et le récepteur, une carte d'électronique logique reliée, par l'intermédiaire d'une interface, à une quelconque structure informatique extérieure au dispositif.
• - dans le cas d'équipements dérivés du précédent et conçus pour effectuer un retour automatique, le dispositif comporte soit une imprimante et un écran de visualisation, soit une imprimante et un synthétiseur vocal.

This device also comprises at least one of the following characteristics:

• - the module comprises, in addition to the transmitter and the receiver, a microprocessor, a read only memory and a random access memory.
• - The key ring comprises' a mechanical part immobilizing the two ends of a cord, and an active part comprising, in addition to the transmitter and the receiver, a microprocessor, a read only memory and a random access memory.
• each fixed item of equipment includes a receptacle authorizing the presence of a single key chain, and an active part comprising, in addition to the transmitter and the receiver, a logic electronic card connected, via an interface, to any IT structure external to the device.
• - in the case of equipment derived from the previous one and designed to perform an automatic return, the device comprises either a printer and a display screen, ie a printer and a speech synthesizer.

• La figure 1 montre un schéma-bloc du dispositif dans lequel est représenté un seul module et un seul porte-clés correspondant à un seul véhicule, et deux équipements fixes, chaque équipement correspondant à une agence du loueur.
• La figure 2 montre le schéma-bloc du module.
• La figure 3 montre, en vue éclatée, la constitution du porte-clés.
• La figure 4 montre le schéma-bloc du porte-clés.
• La figure 5 montre le schéma-bloc d'un seul équipement fixe.

It is described below, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, a device suitable for a fleet of rental vehicles.

• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the device in which is represented a single module and a single key chain corresponding to a single vehicle, and two fixed items of equipment, each item of equipment corresponding to a rental agency.
• Figure 2 shows the module block diagram.
• Figure 3 shows, in exploded view, the constitution of the keychain.
• Figure 4 shows the key holder block diagram.
• Figure 5 shows the block diagram of a single fixed device.

In FIG. 1, the device comprises a module 10, a key chain 20 and two fixed items of equipment 40A, 40B associated respectively with a computer structure 60A, 60B to constitute an agency A and an agency B. Of course, this device can comprise a single fixed equipment installed in a single agency, or in the case of a vehicle rental company well established in a territory, dozens of fixed equipment installed each in an agency.

The module 10 is permanently mounted in a vehicle and in this case connected to a sensor 3 mounted on the vehicle's mileage indicator, to a fuel gauge 5, to the anti-theft contact 6, but it can be connected to other parameter sensors such as, for example, temperature and axle load sensors, sensors of different levels, ...

The key holder 20 is inseparable from a key 20A or from a set of keys, by means of a cord 24.

Each fixed item of equipment 40 is connected to any computer structure 60 external to the device.

In this figure the antennas 11, 12 of the module 10, the antennas 36, 37 of the key ring and the antennas 44A, 46A; 44B, 46B of the fixed equipment 40A, 40B, are represented externally to all these elements, but in fact all these antennas are integrated in the elements as can be seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

Figure 2 shows the block diagram of the on-board module 10; this is connected to the vehicle parameter sensors mentioned above such as the sensor 3 mounted on the mileage indicator, which can be mechanical or electrical, the electric gauge 5 and the anti-theft contact 6, but it is also connected to the battery 4 of the vehicle, by means of a noise and surge protection 4A, a supply circuit 4B and a backup accumulator 4C. The sensor 3, the gauge 5 and the anti-theft contact 6 are all separated from the module by protection and scaling devices respectively 3A, 5A, 6A but in addition the device 3A is separated from a microprocessor 15 by a counter 16 and the device 5A is separated from the microprocessor 15 by an analog-digital converter 17.

The microprocessor 15 is connected to the transmitter 13 provided with its antenna 11, and by means of a formatting 14A, to the receiver 14 provided with its antenna 12.

This module is finally connected to a read-only memory 18 and to a random access memory 19.

Of course, the elements such as the counter 16, the converter 17 and the two memories 18, 19 can be integrated on the same substrate with the microprocessor 15.

This module is a product that can be quickly mounted on the vehicle.

FIG. 3 shows, in exploded view, the key holder 20 composed of a mechanical part and an electrical part. The mechanical part, which was the subject of an earlier suggestion by the applicant, comprises a body 21, a mandrel 22 provided with a recess 23, and a cord 24, each end of which receives an end piece 25. One of the ends of the cord is already inserted into another recess of the mandrel, itself introduced into the body 21 and retained in the latter by a snap-fastening: it is therefore understood that this first position makes it possible to thread the key (s) from the same vehicle on the cord, and after having inserted the end-piece 25 shown in this figure into the recess 23, then pressed the mandrel 22 into the body 21 to a second position in which the end-piece 25 can no longer be took of, the key (s) and the key ring are definitively linked.

The electrical part is mounted on an extension 21A of the body 21, and comprises pins 26, batteries 28, a logic card 27A and a radio card 27B.

The tensioning of this keychain is carried out at the end of the plugging of the mandrel by means of a pin, not shown because it is located at the end of this mandrel. This pin short-circuits two contacts 29 and thus performs the powering of the key ring during the introduction of the keys.

The outside surface of this keychain is of course personalized, you can read, for example, the vehicle registration, the brand of the rental company, ...

FIG. 4 shows the block diagram of the key chain, this comprising a microprocessor 31, a read-only memory 32, a random access memory 38, these three elements 31, 32, 38 constituting the logic card 27A, then a transmitter 34 and its antenna 36, and a receiver 35 and its antenna 37, this receiver being connected to the microprocessor 31 by means of a formatting 33, these elements 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 constituting the radio card 27B.

This keychain is powered by batteries 28 and the power is applied, as described above, via the two contacts 29.

FIG. 5 shows the block diagram of a fixed item of equipment 40 which is either a counter reader / recorder or an automatic return terminal. Whatever the equipment, it includes a receptable 41 authorizing the presence of a single key chain, a logic card 42, a transmitter 43 and its antenna 44, a receiver 45 and its antenna 46, an interface 47 connected to an IT structure 60.

This equipment also comprises a front face 48 provided for example with indicator lights for the control of the operations to be carried out. This equipment can also include a card reader for quick access by the system to the customer's personal and contractual data when issuing contracts.

In the case of an automatic return terminal which allows automatic taking into account of the return of keys, this equipment further comprises a receipt printer 51 and a display screen 52, and as a variant this screen can be replaced by a speech synthesizer 53.

• Au cours de la première utilisation, la ou les clés sont solidarisées à un porte-clés, et à l'aide du programme d'initialisation disponible à l'équipement fixe, les identificateurs tels que la marque du loueur, le propriétaire du véhicule, l'identification du véhicule, les lois d'interprétation des données propres au véhicule, sont transférés dans un secteur de la mémoire vive 38 du porte-clés, ce secteur étant définitivement verrouillé à l'écriture pour toute la durée de vie du porte-clés. Au cours de la prise en charge du véhicule, les identificateurs sont transférés dans une zone de la mémoire vive 19 du module, ce secteur étant définivement verrouillé à l'écriture.
• L'aspect d'irréversibilité des inscriptions des identificateurs dans le porte-clés et dans le module, est justifié dans un souci d'infraudabilité. De même, les identificateurs ne peuvent être directement transmis au module par la structure informatique qui les créent, ils sont transmis par l'intermédiaire du porte-clés pour écarter toute erreur d'appairage entre le porte-clés et le module embarqué.

Quand un client se présente à une agence, un opérateur introduit le porte-clés correspondant à ce véhicule choisi dans le réceptable 41. Ce porte-clés y est maintenu pendant toute la durée nécessaire au transfert des données contractuelles de l'équipement fixe vers la mémoire vive 38 du porte-clés, ces données contractuelles étant par exemple le numéro du contrat, le lieu et l'heure d'émission du contrat, les assurances souscrites, l'identification du client et de l'entité à facturer,...Such a device works as follows:

• During the first use, the key (s) are secured to a key ring, and using the initialization program available on the fixed equipment, identifiers such as the brand of the owner, the owner of the vehicle, the identification of the vehicle, the laws of interpretation of the data specific to the vehicle, are transferred into a sector of the random access memory 38 of the keychain, this sector being permanently locked in writing for the entire lifetime of the keys. During the takeover of the vehicle, the identifiers are transferred to an area of the RAM 19 of the module, this sector being permanently locked to writing.
• The irreversibility aspect of the inscriptions of the identifiers in the keychain and in the module is justified for the sake of intrudability. Likewise, identifiers cannot be directly transmitted to the module by the IT structure that creates them; they are transmitted via the key chain to avoid any pairing error between the key chain and the on-board module.

When a customer comes to an agency, an operator introduces the key chain corresponding to this chosen vehicle into the receptable 41. This key chain is kept there for the entire time necessary for the transfer of contractual data from the fixed equipment to the random access memory 38 of the keychain, this contractual data being for example the contract number, the place and time of issue of the contract, the insurance taken out, the identification of the client and of the entity to be invoiced, etc. .

An LED indicates that the transfer operation is in progress and another LED indicates that the operation is complete.

The customer, provided with his keychain takes charge of the vehicle, and after inserting a key in the ignition and switching on, there is a comparison of the identifiers of the keychain and of the module, this one authorizing the start of the vehicle only if there is a correlation of the identification data.

The module memorized the initial parameters such as for example, the hour, the kilometers, ... and reset the other parameters such as fault signals.

At. during the use of the vehicle, the module permanently records the variations in the parameters of use such as the kilometers traveled, the level of fuel in the tank, and it is at each cut of the engine that the module transfers its information to keychain.

At the end of use, the customer brings back the key chain which is inserted into the receptacle of the fixed equipment. There is then transfer of information from the key chain to the fixed equipment in order to carry out all management operations such as printing an invoice, the state of the anomalies to be checked, the state of availability of the fleet, maintenance, ...

The key chain keeps the data linked to the previous contract until the issuance of a new contract.

Claims (6)

1 / Device for acquiring data linked to the use of vehicles in a fleet, comprising one module (10) per vehicle, connected to at least any one of vehicle parameter sensors, at least one fixed item of equipment ( 40A, 40B), means for transferring information between said module (10) and said fixed equipment, characterized in that said transfer means comprise, for each vehicle, a keychain (20) permanently associated with the set of keys of the vehicle, each keychain (20), each module (10) and each fixed equipment (40A, 40B) comprising a transmitter (34, 13, 43) with its transmitting antenna (36, 11, 44) and a receiver (35, 14, 45) with its receiving antenna (37, 12, 46) these operating independently, the transfer of data from said module (10) to said keychain (20) taking place at each stop of the engine, said module authorizing the starting of the vehicle only if there is a correlation between vehicle identification data, recorded es in the module (20) and identical data, stored in the key ring (20). 2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (10), further comprises a microprocessor (15), a read only memory (18) and a random access memory (19). 3 / Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the key holder (20) comprises a mechanical part immobilizing the two ends of a cord (24), and an active part comprising, in addition to the transmitter (34) and the receiver (35), a microprocessor (31), a read only memory (32) and a random access memory (38). 4 / Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each fixed equipment (40) comprises a receptacle (41) authorizing the presence of a single key ring, and an active part comprising, in addition to the transmitter (43 ) and the receiver (45), a logic electronic card (42) connected via an interface (47) to any computer structure (60) external to the device. 5 / Device according to claim 4, suitable for automatic return, characterized in that each fixed equipment (40) has a printer (51) and a display screen (52). 6 / Device according to claim 4, suitable for automatic return, characterized in that each fixed equipment (40) comprises a printer (51) and a voice synthesizer (53).

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