Method and arrangement for remotely controlling one or more functions of a motor-driven vehicle

• US 5,563,453 A
• Filed: 08/31/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Confidence International AB
• Original Assignee: Scarinus Development AB
• Inventors: Nyfelt, Leif
• Primary Examiner(s): Wysocki, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/295,713
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.6, 180/287, 180/289, 123/198 DB, 123/198 DC, 70/237, 70/277, 70/278, 70/264, 379/58, 379/59, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.3-825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/860
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for remotely controlling one or more vehicle functions. The method includes providing a first coded signal transmitted by a cordless transmitter. The signal is received in a receiver located in the vehicle. The receiver includes a decoding device to detect and identify the code and to compare the signal code with a vehicle specific code. When agreement is found between the received code and the vehicle specific code, the receiver activates one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle through the agency of a control circuit, such as to deactivate one or more of the vehicle functions. The method also includes transmitting from the cordless transmitter a second coded signal which results in the activation of those vehicle functions that were earlier deactivated.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling one or more of the functions of a motor vehicle, including the steps of:

transmitting to the vehicle through a mobile telephone network or a paging network a first coded signal with the aid of a cordless transmitter, receiving the signal in a receiver provided in the vehicle;

detecting and identifying said coded signal;

comparing the coded signal with a specific vehicle code;

activating one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle when agreement is found between the coded signal and the specific vehicle code to deactivate one or more of the vehicle functions;

activating a warning device when the vehicle receiver receives a signal indicating that one or more of the vehicle functions has been deactivated, wherein the warning device is operable to deliver a speech warning so as to warn the driver of the vehicle that one or more vehicle functions will cease to operate; and

after a predetermined period of time from activation of the warning device deactivating one or more of the vehicle functions by interrupting the voltage to one or more of the vehicle electrical circuits, so that the vehicle engine can no longer operate.

2. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of:

transmitting a second coded signal to the receiver in the vehicle;

detecting and identifying said second coded signal;

comparing said second coded signal with a vehicle specific code; and

activating one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle through use of a control circuit when agreement is found between the second coded signal and the vehicle specific code, so as to activate those functions of the vehicle which were earlier deactivated.

3. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of:

controlling a vehicle locking system so as to lock the vehicle, and interrupting the voltage to one or more of the vehicle electrical circuits so as to deactivate the engine of the vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the receiver is in the form of a paging device or a mobile telephone and including the step of:

delivering a signal to a control circuit when said receiver loses contact with a paging network or a mobile telephone network, said delivered signal corresponding to the signal which the receiver delivers to the control circuit when agreement is found between the first coded signal and the specific vehicle code.

5. A method according to claim 3, including the step of operating a vehicle window elevating system to close the windows.

6. An arrangement for remotely controlling one or more of the functions of a vehicle, said arrangement comprising:

a receiver which is located in the vehicle for receiving a first coded signal transmitted by a cordless transmitter;

a control circuit operable to activate one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle in a manner to deactivate one or more of the vehicle functions;

a decoding device included with the receiver for detecting and identifying said first coded signal and for comparing said first coded signal with a specific vehicle code;

wherein the receiver is operable to deliver a signal to the control circuit when agreement is found between the first coded signal and the specific vehicle code, and wherein the receiver is responsive to network signals transmitted to the vehicle over a mobile telephone network or a paging network, wherein when the first coded signal is received by the receiver the control circuit operates to first activate a warning device including a loudspeaker for delivering a warning in the form of a speech message which warns the driver of the vehicle that one or more of the vehicle functions are about to be deactivated, and wherein the control circuit, after a predetermined time after the warning device is activated, is operated to control said electronic circuits in such a way that one or more of the vehicle functions are deactivated, the control circuit further being operable to interrupt the voltage to one or more of the vehicle electric circuits so as to deactivate the vehicle engine.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the receiver is responsive to a second coded signal transmitted by a cordless transmitter;

wherein the decoding device is operable to detect and to identify said second coded signal and to compare said second coded signal with a specific vehicle code; and

wherein the receiver is operable to deliver a signal to the control circuit when agreement is found between the second coded signal and the specific vehicle code to activate one or more electronic circuits in the vehicle in a manner to reactivate one or more vehicle functions which were earlier deactivated.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit is operable to control a vehicle locking system so that the vehicle can be locked, whereafter the control circuit is caused to interrupt the voltage to one or more of the vehicle electric circuits so as to deactivate the engine of the vehicle.

9. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the receiver and the decoding device are included in a paging device or a mobile telephone located in the vehicle.

10. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes a computer for controlling the electronic circuits of the vehicle.

11. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the electronic circuits include relays which function to break and make the supply of current to one or more electrical devices in the vehicle.

12. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the receiver is a paging device or a mobile telephone and is operable to receive a network signal from a paging network or a mobile telephone network and to deliver a control signal to the control circuit when the receiver fails to detect the network signal from the paging network or the mobile telephone network, said control signal corresponding to the signal which the receiver is intended to deliver to the control circuit when agreement is found between the first coded signal and the specific vehicle code.

13. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is operable to control vehicle electric window elevators so that the vehicle windows can be closed.