REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100134240A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Sims, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,981,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

A system for mounting to a vehicle including a user interface element and for controlling a transmitter device configured to send an expected transmission to receiving device is provided. The system includes a transceiver. The system further includes an interface for receiving a first signal from the user interface element. The system yet further includes a processor configured to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the transceiver and the transmitter device. The processor is further configured to cause the transceiver to send a second signal to the transmitter device via the bi-directional data communication link based upon the first signal received at the interface. The processor is yet further configured to format the second signal so that the transmitter device will send the expected transmission to the receiving device.

Claims

1. A transmitter device for causing a receiver device to change states after the transmitter device receives a signal from a first communication device configured for bi-directional wireless data communications, the receiver device configured to change states upon receipt of an expected transmission, the transmitter device comprising:

a radio frequency circuit configured to transmit the expected transmission to the receiver device;

a second communication device configured to establish a bi-directional wireless data communication link with the first communication device;

a processing system communicably connected to the radio frequency circuit and the second communication device, the processing system configured to cause the radio frequency circuit to transmit the expected transmission to the receiver device upon receiving the signal via the bi-directional wireless data communication link.

2. The transmitter device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a first characteristic of the expected transmission for the receiver device and a second characteristic of a second expected transmission for a second receiver device;

wherein the processing system is configured to use the signal received via the bi-directional wireless data communication link to determine which of the expected transmission for the receiver device and the second expected transmission for the second receiver device to transmit via the radio frequency circuit.

3. A system for mounting to a vehicle including a user interface element and for controlling a transmitter device configured to send an expected transmission to receiving device, the system comprising:

a transceiver;

an interface for receiving a first signal from the user interface element;

a processor configured to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the transceiver and the transmitter device, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the transceiver to send a second signal to the transmitter device via the bi-directional data communication link based upon the first signal received at the interface;

wherein the processor is configured to format the second signal so that the transmitter device will send the expected transmission to the receiving device.

4. A method for configuring a system for mounting in a vehicle to send an expected transmission to a receiver device located external the vehicle, the receiver device configured to change states based upon the receipt of the expected transmission, the method comprising:

receiving a user input signal at an interface for communicably coupling to a user interface element;

establishing a bi-directional wireless data communication link with the receiver device;

sending a request for information regarding the receiver device and/or the expected transmission via the bi-directional wireless data communication link;

receiving the information via the bi-directional wireless data communication link; and

configuring the system for mounting in the vehicle to transmit the expected transmission upon receiving a command signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information includes one of a device identifier, a code sequence descriptor, and a frequency for transmitting.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

retrieving data for configuring the system to transmit the expected transmission upon demand from a memory unit of the system.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the information comprises a device identifier, a code sequence descriptor, and a frequency for transmitting.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the information in a memory device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring step comprises:

processing the information stored in the memory device to configure a routine for generating the expected transmission.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising automatically synchronizing a component of the system with a component of the receiving device after the configuring step.