Sliding key fob

• US 8,188,838 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Choi, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US12/273,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 340/426, 340/5.22, 340/12, 340/5.64, 340/5.62, 340/572.8, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/04 Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders

Abstract

A sliding key fob includes a housing formed of a first housing member and a second housing member. A transmitter is disposed within the housing. A transmitter sends a first actuating signal when the first housing member is slidably moved in a first direction relative to the second housing member. The transmitter sends a second actuating signal when the first housing member is slidably moved in a second direction relative to the second housing member.

Claims

1. A sliding key fob, comprising:

a housing formed of a first housing member and a second housing member, the first housing member slidably moveable in first and second directions relative to the second housing member;

a transmitter disposed within said housing, said transmitter arranged in said housing and configured to send actuation signals when said first housing member is moved relative to said second housing member, said transmitter sending a first actuating signal when said first housing member is slidably moved in the first direction relative to said second housing member, said transmitter sending a second actuating signal when said first housing member is slidably moved in the second direction relative to said second housing member, wherein said first and second directions are substantially perpendicular relative to one another.

2. The sliding key fob of claim 1, wherein said first actuating signal is transmitted when said first housing member is slidably moved from a non-actuating rest position in said first direction to a first actuating position, and said second actuating signal is transmitted when said first housing member is slidably moved from said non-actuating rest position in said second direction to said second actuating position.

3. The sliding key fob of claim 1, wherein said first and second directions are opposite one another.

4. The sliding key fob of claim 2, wherein said housing further includes:

a first micro-switch, a second micro-switch and a controller operatively connected to said first and second micro-switches and said transmitter, said controller directing said transmitter to send said first actuating signal when said first micro-switch is actuated by said first housing member being moved into said first actuating position, said controller directing said transmitter to send said second actuating signal when said second micro-switch is actuated by said first housing member being moved into said first actuating position.

5. The sliding key fob of claim 2 further including a bias mechanism urging said first housing member toward said rest position.

6. The sliding key fob of claim 1, wherein said first housing member is slidably moveable in third and fourth directions relative to the second housing member, and wherein said transmitter sends a third actuating signal when said first housing member is slidably moved in a third direction relative to said second housing member and said transmitter sends a fourth actuating signal when said first housing member is slidably moved in a fourth direction relative to said second housing member.

7. The sliding key fob of claim 6 wherein said first housing member is an upper member and said second housing member is a lower member, sliding movement in said first, second, third and fourth directions occurs in a single plane, sliding movement in said first and second directions occurs along a first axis and sliding movement in said third and fourth directions occurs along a second axis that is oriented normal relative to said first axis.

8. The sliding key fob of claim 6 wherein said housing is button-less and each of said first, second, third and fourth actuating signals corresponds to a specific vehicle function.

9. The sliding key fob of claim 1 wherein said first direction and said second direction are disposed along a plane defined by an interface between said first and second housing members.

10. The sliding key fob of claim 1 further including:

a ball member connected to one of said first housing member or said second housing member and a detent defined in the other of said first housing member or said second housing member, said ball member and said detent movable relative to one another when said first housing member is moved relative to said second housing member to provide tactile feedback.

11. The sliding key fob of claim 1 wherein said sliding movement of said first housing member is guided by at least one track to prevent relative rotation between said first housing member and said second housing member.

12. A key fob for a vehicle, comprising:

a lower housing member;

an upper housing member secured to said lower housing member and slidably movable relative thereto, said upper housing member slidably movable along a first axis to a first actuating position and slidably movable along a second axis to a second actuating position, said first axis oriented approximately normal relative to said second axis; and

a transmitter received between said lower and upper housing members and configured for transmitting actuating signals to an associated vehicle based upon movement of the upper housing member relative to the lower housing member, said transmitter sending a first actuating signal when said upper housing member is moved to said first actuating position and a second actuating signal when said upper housing member is moved to said second actuating position.

13. The key fob of claim 12 wherein sliding movement of said upper housing member relative to said lower housing member is restricted to a single plane.

14. The key fob of claim 12 wherein said upper housing member includes a ball member operatively connected thereto for sliding movement therewith, and said lower housing member defines a detent within which said ball member is received when said upper housing member is in a non-actuating rest position, said ball member moved out of said detent when said upper housing member is moved into one of said actuating positions and urged back into said detent by a biasing mechanism.

15. The key fob of claim 12 wherein sliding movement along said first axis is guided by at least one track and a biasing mechanism urges said upper housing member along said at least one track toward a non-actuating rest position between said first and second actuating positions, and sliding movement along said second axis is also guided by at least one track toward said non-actuating rest position, which is also between said third and fourth actuating positions.

16. The key fob of claim 12 wherein each of said actuating positions includes a corresponding micro-switch that is actuated when said upper housing member moves to a respective one of said actuating positions, each said micro-switch pivotally disposed on said upper member housing and actuated by a ramp portion of said lower housing.

17. A slide actuated key fob, comprising:

a first clamshell member and a second clamshell member, said first clamshell member slidably movable in at least two directions relative to said second clamshell member, the at least two directions including a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

a transmitter disposed between said first and second clamshell members and adapted to transmit actuating signals based on movement of the first clamshell member, said transmitter sending a first actuating signal when said first clamshell member is moved in a first direction of said at least two directions and sending a second actuating signal when said first clamshell member is moved in a second direction of said at least two directions.

18. The slide actuated key fob of claim 17 further including a micro-switch corresponding to each of said at least two directions, including a first micro-switch corresponding to said first direction and a second micro-switch corresponding to said second direction, said first clamshell member actuating said corresponding micro-switch when said first clamshell member is moved in one of said at least two directions.

19. The slide actuated key fob of claim 17 including a biasing mechanism urging said first clamshell toward a rest position away from said at least two directions.