Apparatus and method for remote convenience message transmission and control utilizing frequency diversity

• US 6,265,988 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Desai, Tejas Bhupendra, LeMense, Thomas John
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/055,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42, 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/426, 340/10.41, 340/825.41, 340/5.6, 340/5-1-, 331/1.A, 455/273, 455/59, 455/101, 714/747
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/61 Signal comprising different frequencies, e.g. frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote convenience system (10) includes a portable transmitter unit (14) and a receiver unit (18), and by a method, permits remote control of performance of a function, via a signal (16). Preferably, the system (10) is a remote convenience system for a vehicle (12). The transmitter unit (14) has a microcomputer (90) that provides a message that contains a function request. First and second signals are transmitted from the transmitter unit (14). Each signal is provided by a transmitter portion (70) at a different frequency and conveys the complete message. The receiver unit (18) has a detector (e.g., 190) tuned to receive the signal (16) for both the first and second frequencies, and can discern the complete message provided via both frequencies or either frequency. Thus, if the transmitter unit (14) is in a frequency dependent “dead spot”, communication is not prevented.

Claims

1. A remote convenience system for remote controlling performance of a function, said system comprising:

portable transmitter means for remote control requests, said transmitter means including means for providing a message that contains a function request, means for transmitting a first signal containing the complete message using a first frequency, and means for transmitting a second signal containing the same message using a second frequency, said second frequency being different from said first frequency; and

receiver/controller means for receiving said remote control requests and for controlling performance of the requested function, said receiver/controller means including means for receiving a portion of the first signal, means for receiving a portion of the second signal and means for discerning the message from a combination of a portion of the first signal and a portion of the second signal.

2. A method of remote controlling performance of a function with a system having portable transmitter means for remote control requests and receiver/controller means for receiving remote control requests, said method comprising:

providing a message in the transmitter means that contains a function request;

transmitting a first signal containing the message using a first frequency;

transmitting a second signal containing the same message using a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency;

receiving a portion of the first signal and a portion of the second signal with the receiver/controller means; and

discerning the message from a combination of the received portion of the first signal and the received portion of the second signal.