Charge monitoring system for a remote control system

• US 5,254,996 A
• Filed: 10/31/1991
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Lindmayer, Martin, Claar, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/786,174
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 340/636, 340/426, 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/10.2, 235/382, 455/67.1, 455/67.7, 70/256-257, 180/287, 180/289, 320/48, 324/433, 324/435, 324/437
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control system has a transmitter, a current storage device feeding its triggerable control signals, an external receptacle into which the transmitter can be inserted, and a charge monitoring device with charge-state indicator. The charge monitoring device with charge-state indicator is assigned to the receptacle and preferably causes the transmitter to automatically transmit a control signal after being inserted into the receptacle. Via the charge monitoring device, the charge state of the transmitter can be evaluated independently of the voltage supply from the current storage device of the transmitter either directly via its voltage supplied under load or indirectly via the intensity of the control signal emitted by it, and be indicated if respective minimum values are undershot. The system is suitable for remotely controlling motor-vehicle security devices.

Claims

1. A remote control system, for an operator, comprising:

a transmitter having a current storage device and a transmit key, said current storage device maintaining an actual charge state, said transmitter being operator activated to transmit control signals fed from said current storage device;

a charge monitoring device having a charge state indicator, said charge monitoring device monitoring the actual charge state of said current storage device and said charge state indicator generating signals directed at the operator;

a receptacle into which said transmitter is inserted, said receptacle making contact between said transmitter and an element downstream of said receptacle,

wherein said charge monitoring device and said charge state indicator are arranged separate from said transmitter, said charge monitoring device being operatively connected downstream of said receptacle and further wherein the actual charge state of said current storage device is monitored by said charge monitoring device when said transmitter is inserted into and actuated within said receptacle, said charge state indicator being actuated when the actual charge state of the current storage device is below a minimum value.

2. A remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving contacts located in the receptacle;

connection contacts located on the transmitter, said connection contacts being connected to said current storage device and through which said transmitter is electrically connected to said element connected downstream of said receptacle;

means for inserting said transmitter into aid receptacle in a predetermined direction and position; and

wherein said charge monitoring device, connected downstream of the receptacle, is connected to said receiving contacts and wherein the charge state of the current storage device is monitored by said charge monitoring means through said receiving contacts and connection contacts which correspondingly contact each other when the transmitter is correctly inserted into the receptacle.

3. A remote control system according to claim 2, wherein a variable electrical parameter of the current storage device is evaluated by said charge monitoring means through the corresponding receiving contacts and connection contacts, and

wherein the variable electrical parameter is compared with a predetermined minimum value.

4. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said variable electrical parameter is an electrical voltage.

5. A remote control system according to claim 2, further comprising:

actuation means for automatically causing the transmitter to transmit a control signal after the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle.

6. A remote control system according to claim 2, wherein when the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle a control signal is automatically transmitted in the direction of a receiving device tuned to receive the control signal of the transmitter and connected downstream of the receptacle, wherein the charge monitoring device is activated by the generated control signal via the receiving device.

7. A remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving device connected downstream of the receptacle and tuned to receive the control signals of the transmitter;

wherein the charge monitoring device, connected downstream of the receptacle, is connected to the receiving device for detecting the intensity of a control signal received by the receiving device; and

wherein the charge-state indicator is actuated if the intensity of a control signal generated by the transmitter located in the receptacle undershoots a specific value.

8. A remote control system according to claim 7, wherein a variable electrical parameter generated upon reception of a control signal is evaluated in the receiving device;

and

wherein the variable electrical parameter is compared with a minimum value.

9. A remote control system according to claim 8, wherein said variable electrical parameter is an electrical voltage.

10. A remote control system according to claim 7, further comprising:

actuation means for automatically causing the transmitter to transmit a control signal after the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle.

11. A remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

actuation means for automatically causing the transmitter to transmit a control signal after the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle.

12. A remote control system according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter, after its connection contacts make contact with the corresponding receiving contacts, automatically transmits a control signal.

13. A remote control system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a timing element for activating the actuation means, said timing element presetting a specific delay time period between the time of insertion of the transmitter into the receptacle and the time when the transmitter is automatically caused to transmit a control signal.

14. A remote control system according to claim 11, further comprising:

detection means for detecting the presence of the transmitter in the receptacle, wherein said actuation means is controlled by the detection means and operates in a non-mechanical communicating manner, for automatically causing the transmitter to transmit a control signal, the transmitter being provided with receiving means tuned to the actuation means.

15. A remote control system according to claim 14, wherein said detection means is used as said actuation means, communicating in a non-mechanical manner with the transmitter.

16. A remote control system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a timing element for activating the actuation means, said timing element presetting a specific delay time period between the time of insertion of the transmitter into the receptacle and the time when the transmitter is automatically caused to transmit a control signal.

17. A remote control system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a receiving device connected downstream of the receptacle and tuned to receive the control signals of the transmitter;

a filter, connected in the receptacle upstream of the receiving device connected to the charge monitoring device, said filter being partially permeable to the control signals of the transmitter and provided to attenuate their intensity by a specific degree; and

means for activating the charge-state indicator whenever no detectable control signal passes to the receiving device when the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle and is automatically activated.

18. A remote control system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a timing element for activating the actuation means, said timing element presetting a specific delay time period between the time of insertion of the transmitter into the receptacle and the time when the transmitter is automatically caused to transmit a control signal.

19. A remote control system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a receiving device connected downstream of the receptacle and tuned to receive the control signals of the transmitter;

a filter, connected in the receptacle upstream of the receiving device connected to the charge monitoring device, said filter being partially permeable to the control signals of the transmitter and provided to attenuate their intensity by a specific degree; and

means for activating the charge-state indicator whenever no detectable control signal passes to the receiving device when the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle and is automatically activated.

20. A remote control system according to claim 11, comprising:

a receiving device connected downstream of the receptacle and tuned to receive the control signals of the transmitter;

a filter, connected in the receptacle upstream of the receiving device connected to the charge monitoring device, said filter being partially permeable to the control signals of the transmitter and provided to attenuate their intensity by a specific degree; and

means for activating the charge-state indicator whenever no detectable control signal passes to the receiving device when the transmitter is inserted into the receptacle and is automatically activated.

21. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is designed as a lock cylinder and the transmitter is combined with a mechanical key to form one mechanical unit, further comprising means for activating the charge monitoring device by rotating the lock cylinder into an operating position by means of a switching device coupled to the lock cylinder.

22. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said system is provided for remotely controlling a motor-vehicle locking device, comprising:

a detection device, which can be operated from the electrical system of the vehicle, for detecting the presence of the transmitter in the receptacle; and

means for activating the detection device only after unlocking of the locking device has occurred