Two channel remote control system for an automobile and method therefor

• US 5,721,550 A
• Filed: 03/05/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pedro F. Lopez
• Original Assignee: Pedro F. Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, Pedro F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/611,380
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/180, 340/311.1, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/459, 340/463, 340/825.37, 340/825.44, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 367/197, 379/57, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 180/167
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

The two channel remote control system activates the engine of an automobile and also activates predetermined accessories in the automobile such as a heater or an air-conditioner. A first paging system is activated by telephonic inputs originating from a user. This first paging system generates a start remote command. A first paging receiver is mounted in the automobile and receives the start remote paging command. The first paging receiver is acoustically or optically coupled to an audio receiver which is mounted in the automobile. The audio receiver, receiving the start remote command, triggers a controller circuit, a timing circuit, an ignition control circuit and a start motor circuit. The timing circuit generates periodic ignition trigger signals for the ignition control circuit. These trigger signals are generated a predetermined number of times. The timing circuit generates an ignition OFF signal after a predetermined period after receipt of the start remote command. The timing circuit issues another trigger signal to the start motor circuit. The start motor circuit then periodically activates the starter motor driving the engine in the automobile based upon a periodic starter motor ON signal. The remote control system also includes a sensor for determining when the engine has started. After the engine has started, an accessory control circuit activates the heater or the air-conditioner. The remote control system also includes a door open circuit. The ignition is turned OFF upon receipt of a door open signal from the door open circuit. The remote control system also includes, in the automobile, a multi-channel paging transmitter. This multi-channel paging transmitter generates first, second and third paging signals to a second pager receiver carried by the user. The first, second and third paging signals correspond to the motor or engine start condition, door open signal, and a motor or engine OFF condition. The user, when carrying the multi-channel paging receiver, is provided alarm indicators indicating that the engine has started or a door in the automobile has opened or that the engine has been turned OFF.

Claims

1. A two channel remote control system for activating an automobile and activating predetermined accessories such as a heater or an air conditioner in said automobile, said automobile having an engine, an ignition circuit, a starter motor, electronic door locks and door open sensors, said remote control system comprising:

a first paging system having a telephonic input adapted to be activated by a user, said first paging system having means for generating a start remote command configured as a paging signal, said means for generating triggered by said user'"'"'s telephonic input;

a first paging receiver mounted in said automobile and having means for receiving said start remote paging command from said first paging system and generating an audio page based thereon;

a second paging system having a multi-channel paging transmitter, said multi-channel paging transmitter mounted in said automobile, said multi-channel paging transmitter adapted to emit first, second and third paging signals;

a second paging receiver carried by said user, said second paging receiver being a multi-channel paging receiver which is part of said second paging system, said multi-channel paging receiver receiving said first, second and third paging signals and providing first, second and third alarm indicators to said user upon receipt thereof;

in said automobile;

an acoustically coupled audio receiver mounted in proximity to said first paging receiver in said automobile, said audio receiver generating an electrical page received command upon receipt of said audio page from said first paging receiver;

a controller circuit, a timing circuit, an ignition control circuit and a start motor circuit, all electrically coupled together with said audio receiver, said controller circuit receiving said page received command from said audio receiver and initiating said timing circuit;

said timing circuit generating an ignition ON signal for said ignition control circuit, and a periodic starter ON signal for said start motor circuit and an accessory ON signal for said accessory circuit, said starter ON signal generated a predetermined number of times by said timing circuit, and said timing circuit generating an ignition OFF signal after a predetermined time period after receipt of said page received command from said controller circuit;

said ignition control circuit coupled to said ignition circuit in said automobile, said ignition control circuit receiving said ignition ON signal and activating said ignition circuit, said ignition control circuit further receiving said ignition OFF signal and turning-off said ignition circuit based thereon;

said start motor circuit coupled to said starter motor in said automobile, said start motor circuit activating said starter motor upon receipt of said starter ON signal from said timing circuit;

means for sensing when said engine has started and generating a motor started signal;

an accessory control circuit coupled to said timing circuit for activating said heater or said air conditioner in said automobile, said timing circuit coupled to said means for sensing and generating said accessory ON signal and thereby activating said heater or air conditioner only in the presence of said motor started signal;

a door open circuit coupled to said door open sensors for determining when any door of said automobile has opened, said door open circuit generating a door open signal thereat;

said multi-channel paging transmitter being mounted in said automobile and being coupled to said timing circuit, said motor start circuit and said door open circuit, said multi-channel paging transmitter transmitting said first, second and a third paging signal to said second pager receiver carried by said user, said first, second and third paging signal corresponding to said motor started signal, said door open signal, and a motor OFF condition;

said multi-channel paging receiver, carried by said user, receiving said first, second and third paging signals and providing first, second and third alarm indicators to said user upon receipt thereof.

2. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said accessory control circuit includes a time-out circuit which delays the activation of said heater or air conditioner for a predetermined period of time after receipt of said motor started signal.

3. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 2 including means, coupled to said door open circuit for generating said ignition OFF signal and thereby turning-off said engine upon determining that any door of said automobile has opened.

4. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said automobile includes a brake light system and said remote control system includes means for activating said brake light system upon activation of said heater or said air conditioner.

5. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 4 including means for locking all doors, coupled to said door locks and said controller circuit, upon receipt of said page received command.

6. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 1 including means for locking all doors, coupled to said door locks and said controller circuit, upon receipt of said page received command.

7. Method for remotely controlling an automobile engine and activating predetermined accessories such as a heater or an air conditioner in said automobile, said automobile having an engine, an ignition circuit, a starter motor, electronic door locks and door open sensors, the method for remotely controlling using two different paging systems comprising the steps of:

activating a first pager, which is part of one of said two paging systems, which activation is indicative of a start remote command, said first pager being telephonically activated by a user;

providing a second pager receiver being a multi-channel pager receiver, said second pager receiver being carried by said user;

the following steps being executed in said automobile;

determining whether said automobile is currently operating and if so, ignoring said start remote command;

locking all doors in said automobile by activating said electric door locks;

activating said ignition circuit ON for a first predetermined period of time and thereafter deactivating said ignition circuit;

periodically activating said starter motor for a predetermined number of times until (a) said engine is fully operational or (b) said predetermined number is reached;

deactivating said ignition circuit if said door open sensors indicate an open door conditioner activated;

sending first, second and third paging signals to said second pager receiver upon said engine being fully operational, upon said activation of said door open sensors, and after said first predetermined period of time for said ignition circuit, respectively;

at or near said user;

receiving and issuing first, second and third alarm indicators to said user upon receipt of said first, second and third paging signals by said second pager receiver.

8. A method of remote control as claimed in claim 7 including the step of delaying the activation of said heater or air conditioner for a predetermined period of time after receipt of said motor started signal.

9. A method of remote control as claimed in claim 8 including the step of turning-off said engine upon determining that any door of said automobile has opened after receiving said start remote command.

10. A method of remote control as claimed in claim 9 wherein said automobile includes a brake light system and said method includes the step of activating said brake light system upon activation of said heater or said air conditioner.

11. A method of remote control as claimed in claim 10 including the step of locking all doors via said door locks upon receipt of said start remote command.

12. A method of remote control as claimed in claim 7 including the step of locking all doors via said door locks upon receipt of said start remote command.

13. A two channel remote control system for activating an automobile and activating predetermined accessories such as a heater or an air conditioner in said automobile, said automobile having an engine, an ignition circuit, a starter motor, electronic door locks and door open sensors, said remote control system comprising:

a first paging system having a telephonic input adapted to be activated by a user, said first paging system having means for generating a start remote command configured as a paging signal, said means for generating triggered by said user'"'"'s telephonic input;

a first paging receiver mounted in said automobile and having means for receiving said start remote paging command from said first paging system and generating a light page based thereon;

a second paging system having a multi-channel paging transmitter, said multi-channel paging transmitter mounted in said automobile, said multi-channel paging transmitter adapted to emit first, second and third paging signals;

a second paging receiver carded by said user, said second paging receiving being a multi-channel paging receiver which is part of said second paging system, said multi-channel paging receiver receiving said first, second and third paging signals and providing first, second and third alarm indicators to said user upon receipt thereof;

in said automobile;

an optically coupled light detector mounted in proximity to said first paging receiver in said automobile, said light detector generating an electrical page received command upon receipt of said light page from said first paging receiver;

a controller circuit, a timing circuit, an ignition control circuit and a start motor circuit, all electrically coupled together with said audio receiver, said controller circuit receiving said page received command from said audio receiver and initiating said timing circuit;

said timing circuit generating an ignition ON signal for said ignition control circuit, and a periodic starter ON signal for said start motor circuit and an accessory ON signal for said accessory circuit, said starter ON signal generated a predetermined number of times by said timing circuit, and said timing circuit generating an ignition OFF signal after a predetermined time period after receipt of said page received command from said controller circuit;

said ignition control circuit coupled to said ignition circuit in said automobile, said ignition control circuit receiving said ignition ON signal and activating said ignition circuit, said ignition control circuit further receiving said ignition OFF signal and turning-off said ignition circuit based thereon;

said start motor circuit coupled to said starter motor in said automobile, said start motor circuit activating said starter motor upon receipt of said starter ON signal from said timing circuit;

means for sensing when said engine has started and generating a motor started signal;

an accessory control circuit coupled to said timing circuit for activating said heater or said air conditioner in said automobile, said timing circuit coupled to said means for sensing and generating said accessory ON signal and thereby activating said heater or air conditioner only in the presence of said motor started signal;

a door open circuit coupled to said door open sensors for determining when any door of said automobile has opened, said door open circuit generating a door open signal thereat;

said multi-channel paging transmitter being mounted in said automobile and being coupled to said timing circuit, said motor start circuit and said door open circuit, said multi-channel paging transmitter transmitting said first, second and a third paging signal to said second pager receiver carried by said user, said first, second and third paging signal corresponding to said motor started signal, said door open signal, and a motor OFF condition;

said multi-channel paging receiver, carried by said user, receiving said first, second and third paging signals and providing first, second and third alarm indicators to said user upon receipt thereof.

14. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said accessory control circuit includes a time-out circuit which delays the activation of said heater or air conditioner for a predetermined period of time after receipt of said motor started signal.

15. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 14 including means, coupled to said door open circuit for generating said ignition OFF signal and thereby turning-off said engine upon determining that any door of said automobile has opened.

16. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said automobile includes a brake light system and said remote control system includes means for activating said brake light system upon activation of said heater or said air conditioner.

17. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 16 including means for locking all doors, coupled to said door locks and said controller circuit, upon receipt of said page received command.

18. A two channel remote control system as claimed in claim 13 including means for locking all doors, coupled to said door locks and said controller circuit, upon receipt of said page received command.