WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL RETROFIT KIT

• US 20180293880A1
• Filed: 04/07/2017
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snow EZ, LLC
• Original Assignee: Snow EZ, LLC
• Inventors: Congilaro, Gene Paul, Hyde, Robert Finley
• Application Number:
  US15/482,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20180293880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

The present application provides a remote control kit for retrofitting controllers for multiple types and brands of vehicle-mounted apparatus (e.g., snow plows and salt spreaders) for wireless control. The kit includes a remote control with a plurality of input elements for controlling the operation of a vehicle-mounted apparatus and a wireless transmitter. The kit further includes an apparatus communicator with a wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals corresponding to different apparatus operations from the wireless transmitter of the remote control. The apparatus communicator connects to the controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus so that control signals can be transmitted to the controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus to execute desired apparatus operations.

Claims

1. A remote control retrofit kit for controlling a vehicle-mounted apparatus, comprising:

a remote control comprising a plurality of input elements for controlling the operation of the vehicle-mounted apparatus and a wireless transmitter; and

an apparatus communicator comprising a wireless receiver and a first cord with a first connector configured to connect to an OEM wiring harness of a controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus;

wherein the wireless receiver of the apparatus communicator receives wireless signals corresponding to different apparatus operations from the wireless transmitter of the remote control and sends control signals to the controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus to execute desired apparatus operations.

2. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter of the remote control and the wireless receiver of the apparatus communicator are configured to communicate using short-range unlicensed radio-frequency (RF) bands.

3. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises a flashlight.

4. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein the remote control further comprises an integrated microphone and a communication module implementing a communication protocol for communicating with a two-way radio, so that remote control can be used as a wireless handheld microphone for a two-way radio.

5. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring harness adapter having a second cord with a plurality of wires, a second connector on one end of the cord and a plurality of third connectors attached to the plurality of wires on the other end of the second cord;

wherein the second connector of the wiring harness adapter is configured to mate and connect with the first connector of the apparatus communicator; and

wherein the plurality of third connectors of the wiring harness adapter are configured to connect directly with the controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus.

6. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, further comprising a remote control charger comprising a first power connector configured to be inserted into an electrical power receptacle in the vehicle and a second power connector configured to connect to a power input of the remote control for charging a rechargeable battery of the remote control.

7. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 6, wherein the remote control charger further comprises a drop-in charging cradle;

wherein the second power connector is integrally provided in the charging cradle as electrical contacts that are adapted to abut corresponding electrical contacts of the power input of the remote control when the remote control is seated in the charging cradle.

8. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus communicator further comprises a finder button that can be actuated to generate a locator signal that is wirelessly transmitted to the remote control;

and

wherein the remote control further comprises a speaker and/or vibrating element for providing an audible tone and/or haptic feedback when the locator signal is received.

9. A remote control retrofit kit for controlling multiple vehicle-mounted apparatuses, comprising:

a remote control comprising a plurality of input elements for controlling the operation of the vehicle-mounted apparatus, a rechargeable battery, a power input and a wireless transmitter;

a remote control charger comprising a first power connector configured to be inserted into an electrical power receptacle in the vehicle and a second power connector configured to connect to the power input of the remote control for charging the rechargeable battery;

a first apparatus communicator comprising a first wireless receiver and a first cord with a first connector configured to connect to a first OEM wiring harness of a first controller of a first vehicle-mounted apparatus;

wherein the first wireless receiver of the first apparatus communicator receives wireless signals corresponding to different apparatus operations from the wireless transmitter of the remote control and sends control signals to the first controller of the first vehicle-mounted apparatus to execute desired apparatus operations; and

a second apparatus communicator comprising a second wireless receiver and a second cord with a second connector configured to connect to a second OEM wiring harness of a second controller of a second vehicle-mounted apparatus;

wherein the second wireless receiver of the second apparatus communicator receives wireless signals corresponding to different apparatus operations from the wireless transmitter of the remote control and sends control signals to the second controller of the second vehicle-mounted apparatus to execute desired apparatus operations.

10. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter of the remote control is configured to communicate with the first wireless receiver of the first apparatus communicator and the second wireless receiver of the second apparatus communicator using short-range unlicensed radio-frequency (RF) bands.

11. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 9, wherein the remote control charger further comprises a drop-in charging cradle;

wherein the second power connector is integrally provided in the charging cradle as electrical contacts that are adapted to abut corresponding electrical contacts of the power input of the remote control when the remote control is seated in the charging cradle.

12. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 9, wherein the first apparatus communicator or the second apparatus communicator further comprises a finder button that can be actuated to generate a locator signal that is wirelessly transmitted to the remote control;

and

wherein the remote control further comprises a speaker and/or vibrating element for providing an audible tone and/or haptic feedback when the locator signal is received.

13. A remote control retrofit kit for controlling a vehicle-mounted apparatus, comprising:

a remote control comprising a plurality of input elements for controlling the operation of the vehicle-mounted apparatus and a wireless transmitter;

a remote control charger comprising a first power connector configured to be inserted into an electrical power receptacle in the vehicle and a second power connector configured to connect to the power input of the remote control for charging the rechargeable battery;

an apparatus communicator comprising a wireless receiver and a first cord with a first connector; and

a wiring harness adapter having a second cord with a plurality of wires, a second connector on one end of the cord and a plurality of third connectors attached to the plurality of wires on the other end of the second cord;

wherein the second connector of the wiring harness adapter is configured to mate and connect with the first connector of the apparatus communicator;

wherein the plurality of third connectors of the wiring harness adapter are configured to connect directly with a controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus; and

wherein the wireless receiver of the apparatus communicator receives wireless signals corresponding to different apparatus operations from the wireless transmitter of the remote control and sends control signals to the controller of the vehicle-mounted apparatus to execute desired apparatus operations.

14. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 13, wherein the wireless transmitter of the remote control and the wireless receiver of the apparatus communicator are configured to communicate using short-range unlicensed radio-frequency (RF) bands.

15. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 13, wherein the remote control further comprises a flashlight.

16. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 13, wherein the remote control further comprises an integrated microphone and a communication module implementing a communication protocol for communicating with a two-way radio, so that remote control can be used as a wireless handheld microphone for a two-way radio.

17. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 13, wherein the remote control charger further comprises a drop-in charging cradle;

wherein the second power connector is integrally provided in the charging cradle as electrical contacts that are adapted to abut corresponding electrical contacts of the power input of the remote control when the remote control is seated in the charging cradle.

18. The remote control retrofit kit according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus communicator further comprises a finder button that can be actuated to generate a locator signal that is wirelessly transmitted to the remote control;

and

wherein the remote control further comprises a speaker and/or vibrating element for providing an audible tone and/or haptic feedback when the locator signal is received.