Universal Wireless Trainable Transceiver Unit With Integrated Bidirectional Wireless Interface For Vehicles

• US 20120274455A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Pilat, Horia Eduard, Vuyst, Chris H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,264,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/13.21
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

The invention relates to a universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface functionality, and a method for same. Using a scan, push button or untrained channel mode, a user may enter into a wireless bidirectional interface mode of a trainable transceiver. The interface mode allows a user to select a sub-set of modes that include diagnostics, flash and vehicle interface. Each mode provides the trainable transceiver to communicate wirelessly in a bidirectional manner with another remote device.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly interfacing with a trainable transceiver located in a vehicle, comprising:

entering into one of a plurality of modes;

interfacing with a remote device in a bidirectional communication using one of the plurality of modes;

transmitting packets from the trainable receiver to the remote device;

transmitting packets including a request command from the remote device to the transceiver; and

transmitting a response command from the transceiver to the remote device based on the requested command.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one of a plurality of inputs on the trainable transceiver to enter into one of the plurality of modes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether the packet received by the trainable transceiver is valid;

when the received packet is invalid, and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, entering into train mode; and

when the received packet is valid, determining whether the request from the remote device is valid;

if the request is invalid, entering into train mode, and

if the request is valid, entering into the train mode when the request is for normal operation, and entering into a wireless diagnostic mode when the request is for diagnostic mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sequence of a plurality of inputs on the trainable transceiver;

determining whether the sequence is valid;

if the sequence is invalid, entering into a normal operation mode; and

if the sequence is valid;

receiving a request command from the remote device at the trainable transceiver, and

transmitting a response command to the remote device from the trainable transceiver based on the request command.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether the packet has been received;

if the packet has been received and is valid, determining which one of the plurality of modes has been requested by the request command;

if the request command is for diagnostics, sending a response command to the remote device to set a flag to enter into wireless diagnostic mode, and entering into the wireless diagnostic mode; and

if the request command is for flash, sending a response command to the remote device and entering into a wireless flash mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the packet has not been received, and a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, entering into normal operation mode;

if the packet has been received, determining whether the received packet is valid; and

if the received packet is invalid, entering into normal operation mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes includes one of a wireless diagnostic mode, a wireless flash mode and a wireless vehicle interface mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of modes is an executable program product stored in memory of the trainable transceiver and executable by a microcontroller.

9. A trainable transceiver unit for a vehicle comprising:

a microcontroller;

a memory in communication with said microcontroller; and

a wireless bidirectional interface mode stored in said memory and having executable instructions configured to establish wireless bi-directional communication between said transceiver unit and at least one remote device.

10. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

said wireless bidirectional interface mode including an automatic scan mode having executable instructions configured to initiate a continuous scan for the at least one remote device using the wireless transceiver.

11. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of user inputs in communication with said microcontroller selectable by a user to initiate said wireless bi-directional interface mode of said transceiver unit.

12. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

said wireless bi-directional mode including a wireless diagnostic mode having executable instructions configured to provide a wireless interface for diagnosing the trainable transceiver;

a predefined wireless diagnostic mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs and execute said executable instructions of said wireless diagnosis mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said predetermined wireless diagnostic mode selection sequence.

13. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

said wireless bi-directional mode including a wireless flash mode having executable instructions configured to enable a user to program and reprogram said trainable transceiver;

a predefined wireless flash mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs and execute said executable instructions of said wireless flash mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said predetermined flash mode selection sequence.

14. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

said wireless bi-directional mode including a wireless vehicle interface mode having executable instructions configured to link said trainable transceiver unit with the at least one remote device;

a predetermined wireless vehicle interface mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs and execute said executable instructions of said wireless flash mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said wireless vehicle interface mode selection.