System and method for activating and deactivating a remotely controlled vehicle starter

• US 8,354,919 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose L. Gallarzo
• Original Assignee: Jose L. Gallarzo
• Inventors: Gallarzo, Jose L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK-CHILDRESS, RAJSHEED O
• Application Number:
  US12/354,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A system for activating and deactivating a remotely controlled vehicle starter includes a handheld mobile communication device having at least a speaker mounted therein and a wireless transmitter having at least a start switch mounted therein. A first wire connects a negative voltage supply path to the speaker circuit with a negative voltage supply path to the start switch circuit. A variable resistor is provided and has a pair of end terminals. There is a second wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to a positive voltage supply path to the speaker circuit and an opposed second end thereof electrically connected to one terminal end of the variable resistor. A third wire is also provided to connect an opposed end terminal of the variable resistor to a positive voltage supply path to the start switch.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle having a remotely controlled starter, a system for at least one of activating and deactivating said remotely controlled starter, said system comprising:

(a) a wireless communication device positioned within confines of said vehicle for receiving a first command signal, said wireless communication device having at least a sound emitting speaker circuit mounted therewithin and being activated responsive to receipt of said first command signal to provide a second command signal;

(b) a wireless transmitter positioned within said confines of said vehicle for transmitting a third command signal in response to receipt of said second command signal, said third command signal causing at least one of activation and deactivation of said remotely controlled starter; and

(c) means for electrically connecting said speaker circuit of said wireless communication device to a start switch circuit disposed within said wireless transmitter to trigger transmitting said third command signal, such that upon receipt of said first command signal, the wireless communication device activates said speaker circuit by a voltage signal, whereby said activating voltage signal constitutes said second command signal to said start switch circuit.

2. The system, according to claim 1, wherein said means for electrically connecting said wireless communication device to said wireless transmitter includes:

(a) a resistor having a pair of end terminals;

(b) a first wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to a negative voltage supply path of said speaker circuit and a second end thereof electrically connected to a negative voltage supply path to said start switch circuit;

(c) a second wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to a positive voltage supply path to said speaker circuit and an opposed second end thereof electrically connected to one end terminal of said resistor; and

(d) a third wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to an opposed end terminal of said resistor and an opposed second end thereof electrically connected to a positive voltage supply path to said start switch circuit.

3. The system, according to claim 2, wherein said resistor is a variable resistor.

4. The system, according to claim 1, wherein said means for electrically connecting said wireless communication device to said wireless transmitter includes a pair of wires, one of said pair of wires connecting a negative voltage supply path of said speaker circuit to a negative voltage supply path of said start switch circuit and an opposed one of said pair of wires connecting a positive voltage supply path of said speaker circuit to a positive voltage supply path of said start switch circuit.

5. The system, according to claim 1, wherein each of said wireless communication device and said wireless transmitter is mounted within said remotely controlled starter.

6. The system, according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is a handheld mobile communication device.

7. The system, according to claim 6, wherein said handheld mobile communication device is disposed within a passenger compartment of said vehicle.

8. In combination with a vehicle having a remotely controlled starter, a system for at least one of activating and deactivating said remotely controlled starter, said system comprising:

(a) a handheld mobile communication device for receiving a first wireless command signal and having at least a speaker mounted therein being activated by a voltage signal responsive to receipt of said first command signal to provide a second command signal

(b) a wireless transmitter having at least a start switch mounted therein, said start switch triggers a wireless transmission of a third command signal responsive to said second command signal to the associated remotely controlled starter;

(c) a first wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to a negative voltage supply path to said speaker and a second end thereof electrically connected to a negative voltage supply path to said start switch circuit;

(d) a variable resistor having a pair of end terminals;

(e) a second wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to a positive voltage supply path to said speaker circuit and an opposed second end thereof electrically connected to one terminal end of said variable resistor; and

(f) a third wire having each of a first end thereof electrically connected to an opposed end terminal of said variable resistor and an opposed second end thereof electrically connected to a positive voltage supply path to said start switch,

wherein said first, second, and third wires and said variable resistor provide an electrical connection of said voltage signal constituting said second command signal to said start switch.

9. A method for at least one of activating and deactivating a remotely controlled vehicle starter by a combination of a handheld mobile communication device and a handheld transmitter, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a negative voltage supply path to a speaker circuit of said handheld mobile communication device to a negative voltage supply path to a start switch circuit of said handheld transmitter;

(b) coupling one end terminal of a variable resistor to a positive voltage supply path to said speaker circuit;

(c) coupling an opposed end terminal of a variable resistor to a positive voltage supply path to said start switch circuit;

(d) adjusting said variable resistor to supply a predetermined voltage to said start switch circuit;

(e) positioning each of said handheld mobile communication device, said variable resister and said handheld transmitter, coupled therebetween in steps (a) through (c) within confines of said vehicle;

(f) generating, at a remote location, a first command signal;

(g) receiving, at said handheld mobile communication device, said first command signal to activate said speaker circuit by a voltage signal;

(h) providing, with said handheld mobile communication device, a second command signal using said voltage signal through said couplings to said start switch circuit;

(i) receiving, at said handheld transmitter, said second command signal, provided in step (h); and

(j) responsive thereto transmitting, with said handheld transmitter, a third command signal to said vehicle starter.

10. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method includes the additional step of selecting a number of rings of said handheld mobile communication device after receipt of said first command signal in step (g) to equal a number of activations of said start switch circuit required to activate said vehicle remotely controlled starter.

11. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said step of receiving said first command signal includes the step of programming, within said handheld mobile communication device, at least one phone number preauthorized to generate transmission of said second command signal.

12. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method includes the additional steps of verifying, within said handheld mobile communication device, that said received first command signal is a preauthorized first command signal.

13. The method, according to claim 12, wherein said method includes the additional steps of programming said handheld mobile communication device to operate in a vibrate mode when said received first command signal is not a preauthorized first command signal.

14. The method, according to claim 9, wherein said method includes the additional step of confirming, with said handheld mobile communication device, starting status of said vehicle.