VEHICLE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100066492A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Tarmoom, Ehab, Wisser, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.640
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A remote control system for use with vehicles and other devices having remotely controllable features. The system may include a fob or other similar type of device to support wireless signal communications used to facilitate the remote control. The system may further include a portable device to support display dependent controls or other controls unsuited to the fob. The fob may support wireless communications between the portable device and the controlled device.

Claims

1. A vehicle remote control system comprising:

a vehicle mounted module configured to control one or more vehicle systems according to instructions carried within remotely transmitted wireless signals;

a fob configured to wirelessly transmit the instructions to the vehicle mounted module; and

a portable device configured to command the fob to transmit the instructions used to instruct the vehicle mounted module to control the one or more vehicle systems.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes a display and commands the fob according to information shown within the display proximate in time to the portable device receiving one or more inputs.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the fob supports remote keyless entry (RKE) operations by transmitting RKE related instructions to the vehicle mounted module in response to actuation of one or more buttons included on the fob.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the fob supports RKE operation by transmitting RKE related instructions to the vehicle mounted module in response to receiving corresponding RKE related commands from the portable device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the fob is a button-less passive entry (PE) device configured to automatically transmit PE related instructions to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the fob has a greater wireless transmission range than the portable device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the portable device is a portable phone and the fob is connected to the phone as a daughter-board.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the fob transmits display instructions to the portable device for instructing the portable device to display a message, the fob transmitting the display instructions according to instructions wirelessly received from the vehicle mounted module.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle mounted module is unable to wirelessly transmit the display instructions directly to the portable device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the portable device wirelessly communicates with the fob and is unable to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle mounted module.

11. A method of remotely controlling a vehicle system comprising:

displaying a user interface on a first device, the user interface displaying selectable features for use in controlling the vehicle system;

transmitting first signals indicating selection of one of the selectable features to a second device; and

wireless transmitting second signals from the first device to a third device included on a vehicle, the second signals indicating selection of the one of the selectable features, the third device processing the second signals for use in controlling the vehicle system.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising wirelessly transmitting the first signals according to a first protocol and transmitting the second signals according to a second protocol.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the first signals up to a first distance and transmitting second signals up to a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the second signals without displaying user selectable features on the second device.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting third signals form the third device to the second device, processing the third signals to determine if a displayed message is required, and executing an operation specified by the third signals with the second device if the displayed message is not required and executing the operation with the first device if the displayed message is required.

16. A method of displaying feedback for a remote control event associated with a system included within a vehicle, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting first feedback signals indicating a feedback message to be displayed from the vehicle to a first device that is unable to display the feedback message; and

transmitting second feedback signals indicating the feedback message from the first device to a second device that is able to display the feedback message.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising transmitting the first feedback signal according to a first protocol and transmitting the second feedback signals according to a second protocol.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising transmitting the first feedback signals in response to receiving a command signal from the first device, the command signal instigating the remote control event.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting the command signal from the first device in response to receiving a related command signal from the second device.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising transmitting the first wireless signal up to a first distance and transmitting the second wireless signals up to a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.