Ambient noise controlled buzzer answerback

• US 7,561,030 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Keeling, Thomas J., McBride, Justin P., Kurpinski, Christopher M., Wiegand, Michael A., Wakamatsu, Toshihiro T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/689,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/426.36, 340/426.35
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A vehicle remote control system can have a transmitter transmitting a signal, a receiver receiving the signal, and a control device in communication with the receiver and controlling at least one operation of the vehicle. A selected operation may be executable by the signal. The vehicle remote control system includes a microphone that can determine an ambient noise volume and an ambient noise frequency in an area around the vehicle and is in communication with the control device. Furthermore, the vehicle remote control system includes a speaker that is able to generate an answer signal to confirm that the selected operation was executed. The speaker is in communication with the control device which generates an answer signal as a function of ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency in the area surrounding the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle remote control system comprising:

a transmitter transmitting a signal;

a receiver receiving the signal;

a control device in communication with the receiver, the control device controlling at least one operation of the vehicle;

a selected operation of the at least one operation being executable by the signal;

a microphone determining an ambient noise volume and an ambient noise frequency in an area around the vehicle, the microphone in communication with the control device; and

a signal generator generating an answerback signal confirming the selected operation was executed, the signal generator in communication with the control device generating the answer signal as a function of the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency in the area around the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a clock in communication with the control device and generating the answer signal as a function of a time of day.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a navigation system in communication with the control device and generating the answer signal as a function of the location of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the volume and frequency of the answer signal is different from the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency as received by the control device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selected operation is at least one of an ignition operation, an alarm operation, a welcome feature, and a door lock operation.

6. A method of controlling a function of a vehicle from a remote location, the method comprising:

providing a remote control transmitter;

sending a signal from the remote control transmitter to a receiver in the vehicle;

determining an ambient noise volume and an ambient noise frequency in an area around the vehicle;

performing a vehicle operation in response to the signal from the transmitter; and

outputting an audible confirmation signal as a function of the ambient noise volume and frequency in the area around the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising outputting the audible signal as a function of the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency of the area around the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising determining a location of the vehicle and outputting an audible signal as a function of the ambient noise volume in the area around the vehicle and the location of the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising determining the time of day and outputting the audible signal as a function of the ambient noise volume in the area around the vehicle and the time of day.

10. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle;

determining the time of day; and

outputting the audible signal as a function of the ambient noise volume, the ambient noise frequency, the location of the vehicle, and the time of day.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle function is one of unlocking a door and locking a door.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein outputting the audible confirmation signal further comprises outputting an audible confirmation signal having a volume and a frequency that are higher than the ambient noise volume and frequency as determined in the area around the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein outputting the audible confirmation signal further comprises outputting an audible confirmation signal having a frequency that is higher than the ambient frequency as determined in the area around the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein outputting the audible confirmation signal further comprises outputting an audible confirmation signal having a volume that is lower than the ambient noise volume and a frequency that is higher that the ambient noise frequency as determined in the area around the vehicle.

15. A vehicle with a remote control system, comprising:

a remote control transmitter operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver located in the vehicle and operable to receive the signal from the remote control transmitter;

a signal controller operable to select from two or more answer signals;

a signal generator operable to generate a selected answer signal;

an ambient noise sensor operable to determine an ambient noise volume and ambient noise frequency in an area around the vehicle;

a clock providing at least a time of day; and

a control device in communication with the clock, the receiver and the sensor, the control device being operable to control a function of the vehicle in response to the signal from the remote control transmitter, the control device further being in communication with and operable to control the signal controller such that when the receiver receives the signal from the remote control transmitter, the control device controls the function of the vehicle and causes the signal controller to produce the answer signal, the answer signal being generated depending on the time of day, and the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency determined by the ambient noise sensor.

16. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a navigation system providing a location of the vehicle, the navigation system in communication with the control device, and the answer signal being generated depending on the time of day, the location of the vehicle, and the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency determined by the sensor.

17. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a locator system inside a housing of the remote control transmitter, the locator system operable to determine a distance between the remote control transmitter and the vehicle.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the answer signal being generated depending on the time of day, the location, the distance, and the ambient noise volume and the ambient noise frequency determined by the sensor.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the function is at least one of locking a door, unlocking a door, starting the vehicle, arming an alarm, disarming an alarm, heating an interior of the vehicle, and cooling an interior of the vehicle.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the function is providing a welcome feature.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the function is activating or deactivating an alarm of the vehicle.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the two or more answer signals having at least one of differing decibel levels and differing frequencies.