REMOTE CONTROL INTERFACE FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE STEREOS

• US 20100040237A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AAMP of America
• Original Assignee: AAMP of America
• Inventors: Riggs, Brett D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02

Abstract

An interface circuit for interconnecting the fixed controls of a vehicle to a replacement stereo. The interface circuit is capable of receiving control signals from fixed controls, such as steering wheel controls, backseat controls, handlebar controls, and the like, and then transmitting corresponding control signals to a replacement stereo. In one embodiment, the output signals from the interface circuit are comprised of wireless signals, such as IR signals. In another embodiment, the interface device is programmable such that the interface device can be programmed to emit signals corresponding to the same signals that would be emitted from a handheld remote control sold in conjunction with an after-market stereo receiver.

Claims

1. A stereo control interface device adapted to be installed in a vehicle and to facilitate communication between a stereo control configured to produce signals in a first format and a stereo receiver configured to receive signals in a second format, the stereo control interface device comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive at least one input signal, the at least one input signal comprising a control signal in the first format configured to control the stereo receiver; and

a transmitter adapted to produce and broadcast to the stereo receiver an output signal in the second format, the second format being a wireless format, the second signal being based on the first signal;

wherein;

the stereo control is mounted in the vehicle at a location remote from the stereo receiver; and

the stereo control interface device translates signals in the first format to signals in the second format so that the stereo control can be operated to control the operation of the stereo receiver via the interface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one input signal comprises a wireless signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the wireless signal is produced by a handheld remote control transmitter.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the interface device includes a program mode wherein the stereo control can be programmed via the handheld remote control transmitter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the stereo control interface device includes a memory and is programmable to store wireless signals corresponding to the stereo control such that subsequent activation of the stereo control results in a corresponding wireless signal being transmitted to the stereo receiver.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stereo control interface device is configurable to be adapted to more than one different makes or models of a vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the stereo control is a switch disposed on a steering mechanism of the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle and the steering mechanism of the vehicle is the handlebars of the motorcycle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the stereo control interface device is hardwired to the stereo control.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the stereo receiver is an after-market stereo receiver.