The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2004
Thomas M. Forest, Macomb Township, MI (US);
David T. Proefke, Madison Heights, MI (US);
Axel Nix, Birmingham, MI (US);
Marcelleaus P. Baines, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Thomas M. Forest, Macomb Township, MI (US);
David T. Proefke, Madison Heights, MI (US);
Axel Nix, Birmingham, MI (US);
Marcelleaus P. Baines, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for insuring that a motor vehicle is being operated by an authorized operator. The apparatus includes an electronic control unit (ECU), an engine immobilizer unit, and a shared encryption key. The ECU generates a challenge by combining the output of a pseudo-random number generator and the output of a somewhat random number generator and cycling the combined number through a linear feedback shift register. The ECU sends the challenge to the immobilizer unit where it is encrypted with the shared key and sent back to the ECU as a response. The ECU uses the same key to encrypt the challenge and compares the encrypted challenge to the response. If the response matches the encrypted challenge, engine operation is enabled.