Personal digital assistant vehicle interface and method
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, a wireless modem coupled to the microprocessor, and an output port coupled to the microprocessor, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event; and
actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input coupled to the output port, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the data being applied to the digital input, and the actuator circuitry including a conductor configured to be coupled between a vehicle'"'"'s horn and the analog output of the digital to analog converter, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect different patterns of honking of the horn for different predetermined events in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter to distinguish between different types of predetermined events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal digital assistant-vehicle interface system, for use with a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, and a serial output port coupled to the microprocessor, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event, the interface system including actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input configured to be coupled to the serial output port of the personal digital assistant, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the serial data being applied to the digital input, the analog output being configured to be coupled to an electrically actuated vehicle component that, when actuated, is audible or visible, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect actuation of the vehicle component in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter. A method including providing a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, and an output port coupled to the microprocessor; configuring the personal digital assistant to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event; converting digital data at the output port to an analog signal to provide an analog signal in response to occurrence of the predetermined event; and using the analog signal to actuate an electrically actuated vehicle component that, when actuated, is audible or visible, such that actuation of the vehicle component is effected in response to occurrence of the predetermined event.
54 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, a wireless modem coupled to the microprocessor, and an output port coupled to the microprocessor, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event; and
actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input coupled to the output port, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the data being applied to the digital input, and the actuator circuitry including a conductor configured to be coupled between a vehicle'"'"'s horn and the analog output of the digital to analog converter, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect different patterns of honking of the horn for different predetermined events in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter to distinguish between different types of predetermined events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, a wireless modem coupled to the microprocessor, and an output port coupled to the microprocessor, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event, wherein the personal digital assistant includes an e-mail client, and is configured to provide data to the output port indicating that an e-mail has been received in response to an e-mail being received via the wireless modem; and
actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input coupled to the output port, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the data being applied to the digital input, and the actuator circuitry including a conductor configured to be coupled between a vehicle'"'"'s horn and the analog output of the digital to analog converter, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect honking of the horn in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A personal digital assistant-vehicle interface system, for use with a personal digital assistant including a memory defining a database, a microprocessor coupled to the memory, an input/output device coupled to the microprocessor, and a serial output port coupled to the microprocessor, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event, the interface system comprising:
actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input configured to be coupled to the serial output port of the personal digital assistant, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the serial data being applied to the digital input, the analog output being configured to be coupled to an electrically actuated vehicle component that, when actuated, is audible or visible, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect actuation of the vehicle component in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter, wherein the actuator circuitry is configured to effect different patterns of actuations for different predetermined events in response to the data being provided to distinguish between different types of predetermined events. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A personal digital assistant-vehicle interface system, for use with a personal digital assistant including a serial output port, a wireless modem and an e-mail client, the personal digital assistant being configured to provide data to the output port indicating a predetermined event has occurred in response to occurrence of the predetermined event and to provide data to the output port indicating that an e-mail has been received in response to an e-mail being received via the wireless modem, the interface system comprising:
actuator circuitry including a digital to analog converter having a digital input configured to be coupled to the serial output port of the personal digital assistant, having an analog output, and being configured to provide an analog signal in response to the serial data being applied to the digital input, the analog output being configured to be coupled to an electrically actuated vehicle component that, when actuated, is audible or visible, the actuator circuitry being configured to effect actuation of the vehicle component in response to the data being provided to the digital input of the digital to analog converter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification