Multi-functional fob

• US 7,301,442 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Embach, James T., Chernoff, Adrian B., Kolpasky, Kevin G., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/059,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/426.35, 340/426.36, 340/426.14
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A multi-functional fob provides at least one of the features selected from a programmable lock/unlock button; a voice activated button; an ice-scraper; a credit card strip; and a rechargeable interface. One or a combination of the features may be integrated into a single fob. A fob-retaining device may be provided. Each fob function may be integrated into an electronic device such as a PDA, a cellular phone, a two-way radio, a wristwatch, a voice recorder, an audio player, a video player, or a multi-communication signal fob repeater. Optionally, the fob may have a compass and a timer. Additionally, a multi-functional fob communication system is provided to provide remote communications between a receiver in a fob-activated device and a remote electronic fob device.

Claims

1. A multi-functional fob for use with a vehicle, the fob comprising:

a user-defined programmable function;

a voice-activated function for selectively activating at least one setting corresponding to at least one fob-activatable device in the vehicle;

a confirmation function for confirming completion of activation or deactivation of said fob-activated device;

a rechargeable interface;

a camera configured to capture video images; and

an audio player configured to record, store, and play audio files;

wherein the multi-functional fob does not include a phone and includes a two-way radio operable for communicating with a person positioned external to the vehicle, said two-way radio having a speaker and a microphone for communicating with said person.

2. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, including a programmable credit card strip that is detachable from said fob and that is programmable with user-provided credit card information.

3. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the voice activated function uses voice-activation technology to remotely activate a fob-activated device upon receiving an audio signal from a user.

4. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein said fob is integrated into a wristwatch.

5. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the confirmation function comprises at least one of:

an audio signal;

a vibrating signal; and

a visual signal.

6. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, further comprising a fob-retaining device to releasably engage the multi-functional fob from a fob-retaining device.

7. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the fob-retaining device is a key ring.

8. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, further including an ice scraper having an edge capable of clearing away ice or snow.

9. The multi-functional fob of claim 8, wherein the ice-scraper of the multi-functional fob comprises a hinge attached to the fob.

10. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery can be recharged via the rechargeable interface.

11. The multi-functional fob of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable interface recharges the rechargeable battery using at least one of the currents selected from the group of an AC, a DC, and an inductive current.

12. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the multi-functional fob comprises a hardwired electrical connection to an ignition key adapted to turn an ignition, wherein the ignition key has a positive terminal and a negative terminal for communicating electrical current to the fob for charging the fob when the ignition key is turned in the ignition.

13. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises an inductive auxiliary charger located on a steering column of a vehicle.

14. The multi-functional fob of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises a key ring inductive charger integrally formed with an ignition key, wherein the key ring inductive charger is adapted to inductively couple with the multi-functional fob.

15. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable interface of the fob comprises:

a USB drive in communication with a USB port.

16. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein the fob further comprises a biometric user identification function adapted to use biometric data to differentiate between different users of the multi-function fob.

17. The multi-functional fob of claim 1, wherein said wristwatch includes an antenna for directionally locating the vehicle.

18. A multi-functional fob comprising:

a fob chip;

a display;

a camera selected from at least one of a digital camera for capturing digital images and an analog real-time video camera for capturing a stream of images that are displayable on the display; and

an electronic device comprising at least one of a PDA, a two-way radio, a wristwatch, a voice recorder, an audio player, a video player, and a multi-communication fob repeater;

wherein the multi-functional fob chip is integrated with the electronic device; and

wherein the multi-functional fob does not include a phone.

19. The multi-functional fob of claim 18, wherein the multi-functional fob chip is integrally formed with the electronic device via hard wiring or software.

20. The multi-functional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a docking port capable of bi-directionally electrically communicating with the fob chip.

21. The multi-functional fob of claim 20, wherein the fob chip is in bi-directional electrical communication with the electronic device via the docking port when releasably engaging the docking port.

22. The multi-functional fob of claim 20, wherein the docking port is a USB port in communication with a USB drive.

23. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a speaker; and

a microphone for communicating with another with another electronic device.

24. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a display comprising at least one of a touch screen display, a plasma display, an LED display and a liquid crystal display, wherein a plurality of data stored within the electronic device may be selectively displayed on the display using at least one of the group selected from a multi-function joystick, at least one hardware button, and at least one soft GUI button.

25. The multifunctional fob of claim 18 wherein the voice recorder comprises:

a digital voice recorder having a record button capable of digitizing and recording audio signals, and a play button capable of playing recorded digitized audio signals.

26. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of:

an audio player; and

a video player.

27. The multifunctional fob of claim 26 wherein the audio player is a music player capable of recording, storing, and playing MP3 files.

28. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises a combination audio player and video player, wherein the combination audio player and video player cooperate to provide video images, text, and audio text support to a user.

29. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device further comprises a timer.

30. The multifunctional fob of claim 18, wherein the electronic device further comprises a compass.

31. A multifunctional fob communication system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a multi-functional fob comprising a user-defined programmable function, a voice-activated function, and a rechargeable interface;

a display;

an electronic device selected from the group consisting of a PDA, a two-way radio, a wristwatch, and a voice recorder, wherein the multi-functional fob is integrated with the electronic device;

a fob transmitter, wherein the fob transmitter is integrally formed within at least one of the multi-functional fob and the electronic device for transmitting signals to a fob receiver;

a fob receiver located within a fob-activated device capable of receiving signals from the transmitter;

at least one communication link to facilitate communication between the fob transmitter and the fob receiver;

wherein said multi-functional fob is integrated into a wristwatch; and

a biometric user identification function adapted to use biometric data to differentiate between different users of the multi-function fob.

32. The multi-functional fob communication system of claim 31, wherein the communication between the fob transmitter and receiver is bi-directional and includes a two-way radio operable for communicating with a person positioned external to the vehicle, said two-way radio having a speaker and a microphone for communicating with said person.

33. The multi-functional fob communication system of claim 31 further comprising:

at least one repeater capable of repeating a signal transmitted from the fob transmitter to the fob receiver, wherein the repeater is selected from a group consisting essentially of a single signal fob repeater and a multi-communication signal fob repeater, and wherein the multi-functional fob communication system facilitates bi-directional communication between the with the multiple-function fob integrated the electronic device and the receiver located within the fob-activated device.

34. The multi-functional fob communication system of claim 31, wherein the fob-activated device is a motor vehicle, and wherein said wristwatch includes an antenna adapted to receive a signal from said motor vehicle for directionally finding said motor vehicle based on the strength of said signal.