VEHICLE FOB WITH EXPANDED DISPLAY AREA
First Claim
1. A portable electronic fob for interacting with a vehicle, comprising:
- a controller adapted to manage operation of the fob;
a user input coupled to the controller and adapted to receive from the user a command to execute various functions involving the vehicle;
a wired or wireless communication element coupled to the controller for communicating with the vehicle; and
a projection display coupled to the controller and adapted to present to the user a visual image containing information about the vehicle status or the fob location relative to the vehicle or both.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-mode portable electronic fob and method allows a user to control various vehicle functions and obtain information about the relative location of the vehicle and fob. The information presented to the user can include the vehicle status, vehicle location and/or maps, photos and directions to assist the user in returning to a parked vehicle. The visual information display can share a fob surface with various functional control buttons of the fob or a larger area display can be provided that pulls, folds or swings out from the fob so that the display area is not reduced by the space needed for the control buttons. In a still further embodiment, the display projects the desired information on an available nearby external surface or on a passive screen that extends from the fob. Thus, a larger and a more detailed display image can be obtained.
104 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable electronic fob for interacting with a vehicle, comprising:
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a controller adapted to manage operation of the fob; a user input coupled to the controller and adapted to receive from the user a command to execute various functions involving the vehicle; a wired or wireless communication element coupled to the controller for communicating with the vehicle; and a projection display coupled to the controller and adapted to present to the user a visual image containing information about the vehicle status or the fob location relative to the vehicle or both. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable electronic fob for interacting with a vehicle, comprising:
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a controller adapted to manage operation of the fob; a user input coupled to the controller and adapted to receive from the user a command to execute various functions involving the vehicle; a wired or wireless communication element coupled to the controller for communicating with the vehicle; and a substantially direct view display coupled to the controller and adapted to present to the user a visual image containing information about the vehicle status or the fob location relative to the vehicle or both, wherein the display is moveable so as to be able to be stored within the fob or extended from the fob. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable electronic fob for interacting with a vehicle, comprising:
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first and second portions coupled by a hinge, thereby forming a clam-shell configuration, wherein when the clam-shell configuration is closed the first and second portions are together and wherein the clam-shell configuration is opened by rotating the first and second portions around the hinge, and wherein the first portion has first and second opposed surfaces and the second portion has third and fourth opposed surfaces; a controller within the first or second portions, adapted to manage operation of the fob; a user input on the first surface of the first portion of the fob, coupled to the controller and adapted to receive from the user a command to execute various functions involving the vehicle; a wired or wireless communication element within the first or second portions and coupled to the controller, for communicating with the vehicle; and a substantially direct view display on the fourth surface of the second portion of the fob, coupled to the controller and adapted to present to the user a visual image containing information about the vehicle status or the fob location relative to the vehicle or both, when the clam-shell configuration is open. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification