REMOTE CONTROL WITH ENERGY HARVESTING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A remote control comprising:
- a portable housing;
a user input;
at least one of a transmitter and a receiver disposed within the housing, the transmitter operative to send commands, the receiver operative to receive status;
a display disposed within the housing;
a battery disposed within the housing;
at least one energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the receiver, the transmitter, and the display;
a power control switch disposed within the housing, the power control switch operative to interconnect the battery with at least one of the receiver, the transmitter, and the display; and
control logic in communication with the power control switch and disposed within the housing, the control logic operative to control the power control switch based on at least one of the user input and an availability of energy from the energy harvesting system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control includes energy harvesting that provides power in addition to a battery. The energy harvesting and the battery may be switchably used to power transmit operations, receive operation, and/or display operations. The remote control may be used as part of an automotive vehicle remote keyless entry system in which vehicle status is displayed by the remote control.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote control comprising:
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a portable housing; a user input; at least one of a transmitter and a receiver disposed within the housing, the transmitter operative to send commands, the receiver operative to receive status; a display disposed within the housing; a battery disposed within the housing; at least one energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the receiver, the transmitter, and the display; a power control switch disposed within the housing, the power control switch operative to interconnect the battery with at least one of the receiver, the transmitter, and the display; and control logic in communication with the power control switch and disposed within the housing, the control logic operative to control the power control switch based on at least one of the user input and an availability of energy from the energy harvesting system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of using a remote control for controlling at least one vehicle function in an automotive vehicle separated from the remote control, the remote control having a display, the method comprising:
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generating energy through energy harvesting within the remote control, the energy harvesting separate from energy supplied by a battery within the remote control; if a sufficient amount of energy from energy harvesting is available, periodically receiving vehicle status from the automotive vehicle; and displaying the vehicle status on the remote control display. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A remote control comprising:
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at least one battery within the remote control; at least one supplemental power supply device within the remote control, the supplemental power supply converting at least one of motion and light into electricity, the at least one supplemental power supply device connected to a power bus within the remote control; and a switch for switchably connecting the at least one battery to the power bus. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification