Vehicle wireless switching system

• US 6,078,252 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation Eeds & Interiors (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Kulczycki, Jeffrey L., Roddy, Timothy S., Dowd, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/825,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/539, 340/438, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/426, 340/475, 340/825.36, 340/825.32, 340/825.3, 340/825.31 , 340/825.73, 340/825.76
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A vehicle switching system includes a transmitter generating signals based upon activation of one of a plurality of switches. Switches mounted on vehicle components in the vehicle are each associated with a predetermined vehicle function. A receiver in the vehicle receives the signal from the transmitter and activates the predetermined vehicle function.

Claims

1. A vehicle switching system comprising:

a plurality of switch clusters, each comprising a transmitter and a plurality of associated switches each associated with a vehicle function, each transmitter generating a remote signal upon activation of one of said associated switches, each of said remote signals containing a code portion and a message portion, said code portion of each of said remote signals being identical, said message portion of each of said remote signals differing, each of said plurality of switch clusters mounted on a different vehicle component; and

a receiver activating said associated vehicle functions upon receiving said remote signals.

2. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of switches is activated by a vehicle sensor.

3. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein a vehicle component is attached to said vehicle and movable relative to said vehicle.

4. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein said remote signals are radio frequency signals.

5. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein said remote signals are infrared signals.

6. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is mounted in said vehicle.

7. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of switch clusters comprises a remote entry system.

8. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein said receiver activates a remote entry system upon receiving a remote signal.

9. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein a vehicle component is a steering wheel.

10. The vehicle switching system of claim 1 wherein each of the switches in each of the plurality of switch clusters is user-activated.

11. The vehicle switching system of claim 10 wherein each of the switches in each of the plurality of switch clusters is a user activatable button or a rotatable knob.