Multi-functional fob

• US 20060049922A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Embach, James T., Chernoff, Adrian B., Kolpasky, Kevin G., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.130
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A multi-functional fob provides at least one of the features selected from a programmable lock/unlock button; a voice activated button; an ice-scraper; a credit card strip; and a rechargeable interface. One or a combination of the features may be integrated into a single fob. A fob-retaining device may be provided. Each fob function may be integrated into an electronic device such as a PDA, a cellular phone, a two-way radio, a wristwatch, a voice recorder, an audio player, a video player, or a multi-communication signal fob repeater. Optionally, the fob may have a compass and a timer. Additionally, a multi-functional fob communication system is provided to provide remote communications between a receiver in a fob-activated device and a remote electronic fob device.

Claims

1. A multi-functional fob comprising:

at least one element comprising at least one of a user-defined programmable function;

a voice-activated function;

a confirmation function;

an ice-scraper;

a credit card strip; and

a rechargeable interface.

2. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the at least one user-defined programmable function selectively activates at least one setting corresponding to at least one fob-activatable device in accordance with a user'"'"'s preference.

3. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the voice activated function uses voice-activation technology to remotely activate a fob-activated device upon receiving an audio signal from a user.

4. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the confirmation function confirms completion of activation or deactivation of a fob-activated device.

5. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the wherein the confirmation function comprises at least one of:

an audio signal;

a vibrating signal; and

a visual signal.

6. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, further comprises a fob-retaining device to releasably engage the multi-functional fob from a fob-retaining device.

7. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the fob-retaining device is a key ring.

8. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the ice-scraper of the multi-functional fob comprises an edge capable of clearing away ice or snow.

9. The multi-functional fob of claim 8, wherein the ice-scraper of the multi-functional fob comprises a hinge attached to the fob.

10. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery can be recharged via the rechargeable interface.

11. The multi-functional fob of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable interface recharges the rechargeable battery using at least one of the currents selected from the group of an AC, a DC, and an inductive current.

12. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the multi-functional fob comprises a hardwired electrical connection to an ignition key.

13. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises an inductive auxiliary charger located on a steering column of a vehicle.

14. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises a key ring inductive charger integrally formed with an ignition key, wherein the key ring inductive charger is adapted to inductively couple with the multi-functional fob.

15. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises:

a USB drive in communication with a USB port.

16. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the fob further comprises:

a user identification function.

17. A multi-functional fob comprising:

a fob chip; and

an electronic device comprising at least one of

a PDA, a two-way radio, a cell phone, a wristwatch, a voice recorder, an audio player, a video player, and a multi-communication fob repeater;

wherein the multi-functional fob chip is integrated with the electronic device.

18. The multi-functional fob of claim 17, wherein the multi-functional fob chip is integrally formed with the electronic device via hard wiring or software.

19. The multi-functional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a docking port capable of bi-directionally electrically communicating with the fob chip.

20. The multi-functional fob of claim 19, wherein the fob chip is in bi-directional electrical communication with the electronic device via the docking port when releasably engaging the docking port.

21. The multi-functional fob of claim 19, wherein the docking port is a USB port in communication with a USB drive.

22. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a speaker; and

a microphone for communicating with another person.

23. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a speaker; and

a microphone for communicating with another with another electronic device.

24. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a display comprising at least one of a touch screen display, a plasma display, an LED display and a liquid crystal display, wherein a plurality of data stored within the electronic device may be selectively displayed on the display using at least one of the group selected from a multi-function joystick, at least one hardware button, and at least one soft GUI button.

25. The multifunctional fob of claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises:

a display; and

a camera selected from at least one of a digital camera for capturing digital images and an analog real-time video camera for capturing a stream of images to be displayed on the display.

26. The multifunctional fob of claim 17 wherein the voice recorder comprises:

a digital voice recorder having

a record button capable of digitizing and recording audio signals, and

a play button capable of playing recorded digitized audio signals.

27. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of:

an audio player; and

a video player.

28. The multifunctional fob of claim 27 wherein the audio player is a music player capable of recording, storing, and playing MP3 files.

29. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises a combination audio player and video player, wherein the combination audio player and video player cooperate to provide video images, text, and audio text support to a user.

30. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device further comprises a timer.

31. The multifunctional fob of claim 17, wherein the electronic device further comprises a compass.

32. A multi-functional fob communication system comprising:

a multi-functional fob comprising at least one of

a user-defined programmable function,

a voice-activated function,

an ice-scraper,

a credit card strip, and

a rechargeable interface;

an electronic device selected from the group consisting essentially of a PDA, a two-way radio, a cell phone, a wristwatch, and a voice recorder, wherein the multi-functional fob is integrated with the electronic device;

a fob transmitter, wherein the fob transmitter is integrally formed within at least one of the multi-functional fob and the electronic device for transmitting signals to a fob receiver;

a fob receiver located within a fob-activated device capable of receiving signals from the transmitter; and

at least one communication link to facilitate communication between the fob transmitter and the fob receiver.

33. The multifunctional fob communication system of claim 32, wherein the communication between the fob transmitter and receiver is bi-directional.

34. The multi-functional fob communication system of claim 32 further comprising:

at least one repeater capable of repeating a signal transmitted from the fob transmitter to the fob receiver, wherein the repeater is selected from a group consisting essentially of a single signal fob repeater and a multi-communication signal fob repeater, and wherein the multi-functional fob communication system facilitates bi-directional communication between the with the multiple-function fob integrated the electronic device and the receiver located within the fob-activated device.

35. The multi-functional fob communication system of claim 32, wherein the fob-activated device is a motor vehicle.