Automatic garage door closing through the vehicle control

• US 20090189779A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Gao, Jiyong
• Application Number:
  US12/011,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof

Abstract

A method of controlling a garage door of a garage may entail detecting an open condition of the garage door using a sensor within the garage, transmitting a garage door open signal from the sensor to a communication unit in the garage; transmitting an alert signal from the communication unit in the garage to a control module within a vehicle; determining a level of ambient light from an ambient light sensor; transmitting a signal from the ambient light sensor to the control module indicative of the level of ambient light; transmitting a door close signal from the control module to the transmitter in the vehicle; transmitting the door close signal from the transmitter in the vehicle to the communication unit in the garage; and closing the garage door with a motor upon the garage door actuation module receiving the close door signal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a garage door of a garage, the method comprising:

detecting an open condition of the garage door using a garage door actuation module;

transmitting an alert signal from the garage door actuation module within the garage to a garage door control system within a vehicle;

transmitting a signal from the garage door control system within the vehicle to the garage door actuation module; and

closing the garage door upon the garage door actuation module receiving the close door signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an open condition of the garage door further comprises detecting the open condition with an optical sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal from the garage door control system within the vehicle to the garage door actuation module within the garage further comprises:

sensing an outside ambient light level with an ambient light sensor within the vehicle; and

determining that the ambient light level is less than a threshold level before transmitting a signal from the garage door control system within the vehicle to the garage door actuation module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal from the garage door control system within the vehicle to the garage door actuation module within the garage further comprises:

determining that a time of day is within a predetermined range of times before transmitting a signal from the garage door control system within the vehicle to the garage door actuation module.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling a user input module, via human programming, within the vehicle to prevent control of the garage door control system within a vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein before closing the garage door upon the garage door actuation module receiving the close door signal, determining whether an elapsed time since the garage door was last opened is within a predetermined time range.

7. A method of controlling a garage door of a garage, the method comprising:

detecting an open condition of the garage door using a sensor to detect the open condition;

transmitting a first signal of the open condition of the garage door to a communication unit in the garage;

transmitting a door open signal from the communication unit in the garage to a control module in a vehicle;

transmitting the door close signal from a control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle;

transmitting the close door signal from the transmitter in the vehicle to the communication unit in the garage; and

closing the garage door with a motor in the garage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with an ambient light sensor in the vehicle, whether an ambient level outside of the vehicle is below a predetermined light level.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, whether a current time of day is during daylight hours or non-daylight hours.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, an amount of time since the garage door was last opened.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, whether an amount of time since the transmitter last sent a garage door close signal to the communication unit is within a predetermined time range.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

controlling a user input module, via human programming, within the vehicle to customize control of the control module within the vehicle.

13. A method of controlling a garage door of a garage, the method comprising:

detecting an open condition of the garage door using a sensor within the garage;

transmitting a garage door open signal from the sensor to a communication unit in the garage;

transmitting an alert signal from the communication unit in the garage to a control module within a vehicle;

determining a level of ambient light from an ambient light sensor;

transmitting a signal from the ambient light sensor to the control module indicative of the level of ambient light;

transmitting a door close signal from the control module to the transmitter in the vehicle;

transmitting the door close signal from the transmitter in the vehicle to the communication unit in the garage; and

closing the garage door with a motor upon the garage door actuation module receiving the close door signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, whether a current time of day is during daylight hours or non-daylight hours.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, an amount of time since the garage door was last opened.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein before transmitting the door close signal from the control module in the vehicle to a transmitter in the vehicle, the method further comprising:

determining, with a clock, whether an amount of time since the transmitter last sent a garage door close signal to the communication unit is within a predetermined time range.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

programming the control module, via a user input module within the vehicle, to customize the predetermined time range.