Remote control device for automotive vehicle

• US 5,754,117 A
• Filed: 04/20/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Naitou, Kiyotaka, Taniguchi, Yoshikazu, Inamori, Nobuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US08/425,368
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/825.56, 340/426, 340/458, 340/461, 341/176, 359/142, 359/145, 361/807.8, 361/807.9, 361/814, 455/346, 180/333, 307/108
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A remote control device for an automotive vehicle wherein a transmitter (10) is received in a holder (2), with side-marker lights and taillights staying on, to connect holder-side contacts (3, 4) to transmitter-side contacts (16, 17), and the transmitter (10) is removed from the holder (2) to disconnect the transmitter-side contacts (16, 17) from the holder-side contacts (3, 4). A differentiating circuit (21) detects the disconnection of the transmitter-side contacts (16, 17) from the holder-side contacts (3, 4) by the removal of the transmitter (10) in the on position of the side-marker lights and taillights, and a timer (22) clocks a predetermined timer time over which LEDs illuminate manipulation keys (12) of the transmitter (10). Only the removal of the remote control transmitter from the holder permits the manipulation keys to be readily illuminated.

Claims

1. A remote control device for an automotive vehicle having a holder placed in a vehicular cabin and a remote control transmitter adapted to be freely received in and removed from said holder, said remote control transmitter having a plurality of manipulation keys and functioning to transmit a remote control signal corresponding to one of said manipulation keys which is manipulated to a receiver of a vehicle-mounted electrical equipment, said remote control device comprising:

a holder-side contact in said holder and connected to an automotive battery when a night-driving lamp to be lit for night driving of the automotive vehicle is turned on;

a transmitter-side contact in said remote control transmitter, said transmitter-side contact being connected to said holder-side contact by fitting said remote control transmitter in said holder, said transmitter-side contact being disconnected from said holder-side contact by removing said remote control transmitter from said holder;

detector in said remote control transmitter for detecting disconnection of said transmitter-side contact from said holder-side contact to output a detection signal;

a timer in said remote control transmitter for clocking a predetermined timer time in response to said detection signal;

light emitting elements in said remote control transmitter for individually illuminating said manipulation keys;

a drive circuit in said remote control transmitter and operated during operation of said timer for driving said light emitting elements for lighting; and

a built-in power supply in said remote control transmitter for supplying power to at least said light emitting elements, said timer and said drive circuit.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein

said built-in power supply includes a storage battery charged by said automotive battery when said remote control transmitter is received in said holder.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein

said built-in power supply includes a primary battery.

4. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein

when said night-driving lamp is lit,

said automotive battery supplies power to at least said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter received in said holder, and

said built-in power supply supplies power to at least said light emitting elements, said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter removed from said holder.

5. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein

said detector includes a differentiating circuit.

6. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein when said night-driving lamp is lit,

said automotive battery supplies power to at least said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter received in said holder, and

said built-in power supply supplies power to at least said light emitting elements, said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter removed from said holder.

7. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein when said night-driving lamp is lit,

said automotive battery supplies power to at least said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter received in said holder, and

said built-in power supply supplies power to at least said light emitting elements, said timer and said drive circuit, with said remote control transmitter removed from said holder.

8. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein

said detector includes a differentiating circuit.

9. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein

said detector includes a differentiating circuit.