Remote display system with independent power source

• US 7,084,749 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Robillard, James P., Honeck, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US09/361,449
• Time in Patent Office: 2,563 Days
• Field of Search: 340/445, 340/442, 340/447, 340/539.1, 340/825.31, 340/825.64, 340/825.72, 340/443, 340/444, 340/448, 340/10.1, 731/465, 731/462, 731/463, 455/89, 200/61.22
• US Class Current: 340/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A display apparatus for indicating tire pressure or other information about a vehicle. The display apparatus includes an independent power source, having no connection to the electrical power system of the vehicle, for powering the display apparatus, and a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation containing the information from at least one transmitter coupled the vehicle, the information being indicated on a display of the display apparatus.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a vehicle comprising;

a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation sent from one or more remote transmitters coupled to the vehicle, said electromagnetic radiation providing information to said receiver;

a display;

an independent power source for providing power to said receiver and said display, wherein the display apparatus is operable independent of any connection to the power system of the vehicle;

a motion sensor configured to detect a motion; and

a control circuit configured to adjust power consumption of the display apparatus in response to the detected motion.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information includes tire pressure values from one or more tires on the vehicle.

3. The display apparatus for claim 1 wherein said information includes an identification value thereby indicating which of the one or more remote transmitters is sending said information.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display apparatus is mounted to a rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic radiation has a frequency substantially between 200 Megahertz and 600 Megahertz.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information is received by said receiver as amplitude modulation of said electromagnetic radiation.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information is received by said receiver as frequency shift keying of said electromagnetic radiation.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display includes a liquid crystal display.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor for executing one or more programs stored in a non-volatile memory.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said one or more programs selectively switch said microprocessor from a high-clock speed to a low clock speed thereby increasing the life cycle of said independent power source.

11. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said one or more programs selectively activate a duty cycle in which said receiver is alternately turned off for a first period of time and turned on for a second period of time in the absence of electromagnetic radiation from the one or more remote transmitters.

12. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein said motion sensor selectively switches said microprocessor between a low clock speed and a high clock speed.

13. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor selectively switches the display between a powered on position and a powered off position.

14. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor will activate in response to an operator'"'"'s motion.

15. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor will activate in response to a vehicle motion.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vehicle motion is a door closing or a trunk closing.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vehicle motion is vehicle travel.

18. A display apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation sent from one or more remote transmitters coupled to the vehicle, the electromagnetic radiation providing information to the receiver;

a display;

a control circuit;

a battery for providing power to at least one of the receiver, control circuit and display such that at least one of the receiver, control circuit and display is operable independent of any connection to the power system of the vehicle; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust power consumption of the display in response to receiving the electromagnetic radiation.

19. The display apparatus of claim 18 wherein said information includes tire pressure values from one or more tires on the vehicle.

20. The display apparatus of claim 18 wherein the control circuit is configured to activate a duty cycle in which said receiver is alternately turned off for a first period of time and turned on for a second period of time in the absence of electromagnetic radiation from the one or more remote transmitters.

21. The display apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first period of time is greater than said second period of time.

22. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control circuit adjusts power consumption of at least one of the receiver, control circuit and display by selectively switching the control circuit between a first clock speed and a second clock speed.

23. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control circuit adjusts power consumption of at least one of the receiver, control circuit and display by selectively switching the display between a powered on position and a powered off position.

24. An apparatus for a vehicle having a power system therein, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation sent from one or more remote transmitters coupled to the vehicle, said electromagnetic radiation providing tire pressure information about one or more tires on the vehicle;

a control circuit configured to receive tire pressure information and to generate display signals;

a display visible to an occupant of the vehicle and configured to receive the display signals for providing the occupant with a visible indication corresponding to said tire pressure information;

a battery for providing power to at least one of said receiver, said control circuit, and said display such that at least one of said receiver, control circuit, and display is operable independent of any connection to the power system of the vehicle;

a motion sensor configured to detect a motion, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust power consumption of the at least one receiver, control circuit, and display in response to the detected motion.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the motion sensor selectively switches the control circuit between a first clock speed and a second clock speed.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said electromagnetic radiation has a frequency substantially between 300 Megahertz and 330 Megahertz.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a housing securable to the vehicle, wherein the display is couples to the housing.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a mirror coupled to the housing.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the motion sensor selectively switches the display between a powered on position and a powered off position.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the motion sensor will activate in response to an operator'"'"'s motion.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the motion sensor will activate in response to a vehicle motion.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the vehicle motion is a door closing or a trunk closing.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the vehicle motion is vehicle travel.

34. A method of displaying information about a vehicle having a display apparatus, the display apparatus comprising a display, a control circuit, and a receiver, the method comprising:

powering the display apparatus with an independent power source such that the display apparatus is operable independent of any connection to the power system of the vehicle;

receiving the information from a remote transmitter coupled to the vehicle via electromagnetic radiation;

adjusting the power consumption of the display in response to receiving the information from the remote transmitter; and

providing a visual display of the information on the display.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said independent power source is a battery.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said information is tire pressure information.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the display apparatus further comprises selectively switching the display apparatus between a first clock speed and a second clock speed.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the display apparatus further comprises selectively switching the display apparatus between a powered on position and a powered off position.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the display apparatus further comprises powering down the display apparatus during daytime.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein powering down the display apparatus further comprises using a photocell to control operation of the display.