BATTERY POWERED REAR VIEW MIRROR DISPLAY AND INTEGRATED TRAINABLE TRANSCEIVER UNIT

• US 20160101736A1
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Geerlings, Steven L., Trainor, James E., Shearer, Carl L., Wright, Thomas S.
• Application Number:
  US14/969,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00587 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A trainable transceiver unit for mounting in a vehicle includes a transceiver circuit configured to reproduce the transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices, a user interface element, a battery configured to power the transceiver circuit and the user interface element, and a housing. The housing contains the transceiver circuit, the user interface element, and the battery and is integrated with a component of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A transmission unit for mounting in a vehicle, the transmission unit comprising:

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices;

a user interface element;

a battery configured to power the transmitter circuit and the user interface element; and

a housing containing the transmitter circuit, the user interface element, and the battery, wherein the transmitter circuit is independent of the vehicle.

2. The transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit corresponds to a standalone device operable to sustain self-sufficient operation.

3. The transmission unit according to claim 2, wherein the self-sufficient operation is sustained without an input from the vehicle.

4. The transmission unit according to claim 3, wherein the self-sufficient operation insulates the operation of the transmission unit from power line noise from a vehicle power supply.

5. The transmission unit according to claim 1, where the transmission unit is configured to operate without requiring a power or a data connection of the vehicle.

6. The transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to mount in the vehicle to at least one of a rearview mirror assembly, a headliner, a center stack, a visor, and an instrument panel.

7. The transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter circuit is mounted to a portion of a housing of a rearview mirror assembly.

8. The transmission unit of claim 1, further comprising a user input device:

wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to transmit a selected control signal in response to an input received via the user input device.

9. A discrete device configured to mount to a portion of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices;

a user interface element;

a battery configured to power the transmitter circuit and the user interface element; and

a housing containing the transmitter circuit, the user interface element, and the battery, wherein the discrete device is configured to operate independent of the vehicle.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the discrete device corresponds to a standalone device operable to sustain self-sufficient operation.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the self-sufficient operation insulates the operation of the discrete device from power line noise from a vehicle power supply.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the housing is configured to mount to the portion of the vehicle.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the portion of the vehicle corresponds to at least one of a rearview mirror assembly, a headliner, a center stack, a visor, and an instrument panel.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the battery is configured to supply a direct current, the discrete device further comprising:

a user-operable switch movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein moving the user-operable switch into the closed position causes the transmitter circuit to transmit a control signal; and

a capacitor arranged in series with the user-operable switch, wherein the capacitor is configured to prevent the direct current from draining the battery if the user-operable switch is maintained in the closed position.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the battery is a long-life battery configured to performance at a range of temperatures at which the vehicle operates.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein the battery includes a hybrid layer capacitor and lithium cell.

17. A transmitter assembly for comprising:

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit control signals for operating a plurality of remote electronic devices;

a memory configured to store the control signals;

a user interface element;

a battery configured to power the transmitter circuit and the user interface element; and

a housing containing the transmitter circuit, the user interface element, and the battery, wherein the transmitter circuit is independent of the vehicle.

18. The transmitter assembly according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to be selectively programmed to transmit a selected signal of the control signals.

19. The transmitter assembly according to claim 17, wherein the assembly corresponds to a standalone device operable to sustain self-sufficient operation.

20. The transmitter assembly according to claim 20, wherein the self-sufficient operation insulates the operation of the discrete device from power line noise from a vehicle power supply.