Vehicle remote control interface for controlling multiple electronic devices
First Claim
1. An electronic system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- at least one pre-existing entertainment component for the vehicle;
a pre-existing user interface for the vehicle, wherein the pre-existing user interface controls the at least one pre-existing entertainment component in response to a first plurality of user activated inputs;
at least one additional entertainment component added to the vehicle; and
a control interface added to the vehicle, wherein the control interface enables the pre-existing user interface to control the at least one additional entertainment component with the first plurality of user activated inputs.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface device for interconnecting fixed controls of a vehicle to electronic devices. The interface device is capable of receiving control signals from fixed controls, such as steering wheel controls, backseat controls, handlebar controls, and the like, and then transmitting corresponding control signals to the electronic devices. In one aspect, the device is programmable such that the interface device emits signals corresponding to the same signals that would be emitted from a handheld remote control sold in conjunction with the different electronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and a replacement stereo receiver. In another embodiment, the device is capable of recognizing spoken voice commands and generating corresponding IR signals in order to control the electronic devices. In still another embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and multiple electronic devices, such as an audio and video component.
78 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An electronic system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least one pre-existing entertainment component for the vehicle;
a pre-existing user interface for the vehicle, wherein the pre-existing user interface controls the at least one pre-existing entertainment component in response to a first plurality of user activated inputs;
at least one additional entertainment component added to the vehicle; and
a control interface added to the vehicle, wherein the control interface enables the pre-existing user interface to control the at least one additional entertainment component with the first plurality of user activated inputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An entertainment system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a first component positioned within the vehicle so as to provide a first plurality of entertainment signals to occupants within the vehicle;
a second component positioned within the vehicle so as to provide a second plurality of entertainment signals to the occupants within the vehicle;
a plurality of occupant activated switches positioned within the vehicle, wherein the occupant activated switches produce control signals in response to occupant activation that control the operation of the first component; and
an interface device positioned within the vehicle that receives the control signals from the plurality of occupant activated switches, wherein the interface device can be activated by an occupant so as to use the control signals produced by the plurality of occupant activated switches to control the operation of the second component in response to the occupant selection of the second component. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of controlling both an existing entertainment device and an additional entertainment device in a vehicle with a user interface originally configured to control the existing entertainment device, the method comprising:
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adapting the user interface to selectively send control signals to the additional entertainment device;
sending control signals from the user interface device to the existing entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the user interface device;
detecting whether the user has selected the additional entertainment device; and
sending control signals from the user interface device to the additional entertainment device in response to user selection of the additional entertainment device and user manipulation of the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification