Passive garage door opener using collision avoidance system

• US 6,559,775 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: King, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/272,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.49, 340/5.2, 340/932.2, 340/10.1, 340/436, 340/903, 340/988, 340/539, 342/76, 342/359, 342/42, 342/44, 342/357.07, 701/117, 701/301, 701/118, 701/213, 701/214
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/689 specially adapted for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle wireless transmitter system includes a collision avoidance sensor in a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter generates a wireless signal, such as a garage door opener signal, based upon information from the collision avoidance sensor. The wireless transmitter generates a garage door opener signal when the collision avoidance sensor determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the garage. The wireless transmitter generates a garage door opener signal when the collision avoidance sensor determines that the vehicle is in the garage, the engine is no longer running and no motion is detected around the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A vehicle wireless transmitter system comprising:

a sensor mounted in the vehicle, said sensor being for generating information in response to detection of an object adjacent the vehicle; and

a wireless transmitter mounted in the vehicle for automatically generating a wireless signal based upon the information in response to said sensor generating the information, where the receiver is complementary to said transmitter and the wireless signal is for receipt by the receiver for actuating a remote control system for controlling movement of the vehicle; and

an arming system for determining whether or not the vehicle is in a defined vicinity of a receiver, said arming system arming said transmitter system to permit transmission of the wireless signal only in response to a determination that the vehicle is in the defined vicinity.

2. The transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said arming system determines the geographical location of the vehicle.

3. The transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said arming system arms said transmitter to transmit the wireless signal.

4. The transmitter system of claim 1, wherein said arming system arms said sensor to generate the information.

5. The transmitter system of claim 1, further comprising the remote control system, said remote control system including the receiver and a garage door opener activated in response to said receiver receiving the wireless signal for actuating a garage door to move so as to control movement of the vehicle.

6. The transmitter system of claim 5, wherein said garage door opener opens the garage door in response to said receiver receiving the wireless signal.

7. The transmitter system of claim 5, wherein said garage door opener closes the garage door in response to said receiver receiving the wireless signal.