Audio signal system for vehicle remote locking mechanism

• US 7,564,342 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appy Risk Technologies Limited (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ridetones, Inc.
• Inventors: Klein, David Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam P
• Application Number:
  US10/958,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/426.15, 340/426.22, 340/825.72, 340/3.7, 340/384.1, 340/425.5, 34042623-42628, 340/426.36, 340/384.73, 340/825.24, 340/825.25
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An audio signal system for a vehicle remote locking mechanism provides an audio signal that is more intricate than a simple, sounding of the vehicle'"'"'s horn or beep tone. Preferably, the audio signal may be varied among many possible sounds by the operator. More preferably, the system includes a digital audio source with a signal amplifier and loudspeaker. Most preferably, the digital audio source is programmable with recorded sounds that can be transferred from a remote bank of digital sounds, for example by being downloaded from an internet website.

Claims

1. An audio signal system for a motor vehicle having a remote control locking mechanism, comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving a wireless signal from a remote control device when said remote control device is engaged;

said receiver activating a locking mechanism based upon receiving the wireless signal;

the wireless signal activating an audio signal circuit that generates one or more complex audio signals; and

an exterior loudspeaker for generating said one or more complex audio signals based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal;

wherein said audio signal circuit comprises at least one of a digital audio storage having a plurality of digitized music files and a storage having a reproducible recorded sound to produce said one or more complex audio signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said digital audio storage produces an electronic signal that is amplified by an amplifier and carried to said loudspeaker.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said digital audio storage includes connectivity via which digital sound recordings can be transferred to it.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said digital audio storage includes at least one MP3.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the audio signal circuit generates the one or more complex audio signals based upon the wireless signal.

6. An audio signal system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal;

a lock locking and unlocking a vehicle based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal;

an audio player playing a complex audio sound based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal; and

a digital audio storage that produces an electronic signal that is amplified by an amplifier and carried to a loudspeaker mounted exterior the vehicle;

wherein said digital audio storage includes at least one of connectivity means by which digital sound recordings can be transferred to it and a plurality of digitized music files.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said digital audio storage includes at least one MP3.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the audio player generates the one or more complex audio signals based upon the wireless signal.

9. A method for activating a remote keyless entry system of a vehicle including the steps of:

a) receiving a wireless signal using a receiver;

b) activating a lock based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal; and

c) playing a complex audio sound based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal;

d) selecting a digital audio file;

e) storing the selected digital audio file on the vehicle; and

f) playing the selected digital audio file in said step c) exterior the vehicle using an exterior loudspeaker;

wherein the digital audio file is a music file or a recorded sound.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step b) includes the step of locking the lock.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of sending the wireless signal from a handheld wireless transmitter.

15. The method of claim 9 further including the step of downloading the digital audio file over a wide area network between said steps d) and f).

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said step d) is performed by a user.

12. An audio signal system for a motor vehicle having a remote control locking mechanism, comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving a wireless signal from a remote control device when said remote control device is activated;

a locking mechanism actuated based upon the receiver receiving the wireless signal;

a digital audio storage storing a plurality of digitized audio files of complex sounds;

an audio signal circuit that generates an audio signal based upon the digitized audio files and in response to the receiver receiving the wireless signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the audio signal from the audio signal circuit; and

a speaker mounted exterior to the vehicle for generating complex sounds based upon the audio signal amplified by the amplifier.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said digital audio storage includes connectivity means by which digital sound recordings can be transferred to it.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said digitized audio files include a plurality of digitized music files.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the said digitized audio files include a plurality of digitized music files.