Advanced remote operation system

• US 20050085956A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Losey, Allan
• Application Number:
  US11/006,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0065 Control members, e.g. levers or knobs B60H1/00985 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2206 controlling the operation of burners control of burners in general F23N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2234 when vehicle is parked, preheating
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2243 manual operation, e.g. remote control or timer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2225/00 Means indicating the functioning state of the alarm system, e.g. indicating arming, using leds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A remote vehicle operation system has a control unit in communication with at least one subsystem of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a transmitter communicates with the control unit and transmits feedback signals to a portable receiver carried by the operator. One such subsystem may be a climate control subsystem. A communication unit communicates with the climate control subsystem and transmits a feedback signal when the subsystem meets a predetermined condition. The communication unit may have a transmitter in communication with the control unit. This embodiment may thus be a climate control subsystem in a vehicle and a control unit in communication with the subsystem.

Claims

1. A remote vehicle operation system comprising:

an environment conditioning subsystem in a vehicle; and

a communication unit in communication with said environmental conditioning subsystem, said communication unit for transmitting a signal beyond said vehicle when said environmental conditioning subsystem meets a predetermined condition, said environmental conditioning subsystem comprising at least one of an air conditioner and a heating unit.

2. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 wherein said communication unit is a car horn.

3. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 wherein said communication unit is at least one vehicle light.

4. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 wherein said communication unit is at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.

5. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 4 wherein said at least one receiver is portable.

6. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 5 wherein said at least one receiver is a phone.

7. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 including at least one sensor in communication with said communication unit for sensing said predetermined condition.

8. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition relates to temperature reaching a desirable temperature within said vehicle.

9. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition relates to time.

10. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 1 including a control unit in communication with said communication unit and at least one motorized port in communication with said control unit wherein said control unit controls movement of said motorized port based on said predetermined condition.

11. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 10 wherein said control unit compares a desired temperature to an interior temperature, and opens said motorized port if the interior temperature is higher than the desired temperature.

12. A remote vehicle operation system comprising:

a remote transmitter;

a vehicle receiver for communication with said remote transmitter;

a control unit for communication with said vehicle receiver; and

a vehicle environment conditioning system controllable by said control unit and said remote transmitter.

13. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 12 wherein said vehicle environment conditioning system comprises at least one of an air conditioning unit and a heating unit.

14. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 12 wherein a setting of said environment conditioning system is controllable through said remote transmitter.

15. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 14 wherein said setting is at least one of a temperature setting and a blower setting.

16. The remote vehicle operation system of claim 12 including a remote receiver and a vehicle transmitter, said vehicle transmitter for communication with said remote receiver.

17. A method of controlling a vehicle environment conditioning system comprising the steps of:

A) transmitting a first signal to a vehicle environment conditioning system on a vehicle;

B) receiving the first signal; and

C) controlling the vehicle environment conditioning system based on the first signal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first signal relates to a setting of the environment conditioning system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the setting is at least one of a temperature setting and a blower setting.

20. The method of claim 17 including the step of transmitting a second signal from the vehicle, the second signal relating to the vehicle environment conditioning system.