System and method for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle

• US 8,386,090 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brinly-Hardy Company
• Original Assignee: Brinly-Hardy Company
• Inventors: Taylor, Steven H., Hobbs, Kenneth Patrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US12/705,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/24, 340/426.28, 340/5.64, 340/426.17, 340/425.5, 340/426.36, 340/426.13, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 341/176, 341/173
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2058 Electric or electro-mechanical or mechanical control devices of vehicle sub-units for vehicles in general B60W

Abstract

A system and method for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle includes: providing a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals, and a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with a vehicle key switch device, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory; providing, by the vehicle key switch device, power to the wireless remote control receiver device in response to receiving a vehicle operation code from a vehicle key and movement of the vehicle key switch device from an OFF position to an ON position; and controlling, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device.

Claims

1. A system for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

an electrical switching device including a control input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, a power input, a power output, and a switching mechanism for connecting the power output to the power input when a control signal is present at the control input;

a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals; and

a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the power output of the electrical switching device, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory such that the wireless remote control receiver device controls the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device when the vehicle key switch is in the ON position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter device has an ON button for transmitting an ON signal, and an OFF button for transmitting an OFF signal, wherein a motor of the accessory is started by the wireless remote control receiver device in response to activation of the ON button of the wireless remote control transmitter device and stopped by the wireless remote control receiver device in response to activation of the OFF button of the wireless remote control transmitter device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory is a broadcast spreader.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory is a sprayer, and wherein the motor drives a pump of the sprayer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter device has a RAISE button for transmitting a RAISE signal, and a LOWER button for transmitting a LOWER signal, wherein the wireless remote control receiver device causes the accessory to be raised in response to activation of the RAISE button of the wireless remote control transmitter device and lowered in response to activation of the LOWER button of the wireless remote control transmitter device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the accessory is an aerator, a blade, a mower deck, a tiller, a scoop, a dump bucket, a pallet mover or a dethatcher.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle power supply device is in electrical communication with the power input of the electrical switching device, and the wireless remote control receiver device controls electrical power to the accessory.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a blade, and wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls an angle of the blade.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a dump cart, and wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls dumping of the dump cart.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls a direction of turning of a motor of the accessory in response to receiving a corresponding signal from the wireless remote control transmitter device.

11. A system for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals; and

a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory such that the wireless remote control receiver device controls the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device when the vehicle key switch is in the ON position,

wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls a direction of turning of a motor of the accessory in response to receiving a corresponding signal from the wireless remote control transmitter device.

12. A method for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle; and

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

the method comprising;

providing an electrical switching device including a control input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, a power input, a power output, and a switching mechanism for connecting the power output to the power input when a control signal is present at the control input;

providing a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals;

providing a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the power output of the electrical switching device, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory;

providing, by the vehicle key switch device, power to the wireless remote control receiver device in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and movement of the vehicle key switch device from the OFF position to the ON position; and

controlling, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disconnecting, by the vehicle key switch device, power to the wireless remote control receiver device in response to movement of the vehicle key switch device from the ON position to the OFF position.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle power supply device supplies electrical power to the accessory, and the wireless remote control receiver device controls the electrical power to the accessory.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter device has an ON button for transmitting an ON signal, and an OFF button for transmitting an OFF signal, further comprising starting, by the wireless remote control receiver device, a motor of the accessory in response to activation of the ON button of the wireless remote control transmitter device, and stopping, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the motor of the accessory in response to activation of the OFF button of the wireless remote control transmitter device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter device has a RAISE button for transmitting a RAISE signal, and a LOWER button for transmitting a LOWER signal, further comprising raising, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory in response to activation of the RAISE button of the wireless remote control transmitter device, and lowering, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory in response to activation of the LOWER button of the wireless remote control transmitter device.

17. A method for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle; and

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

the method comprising;

providing a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals and a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory;

providing, by the vehicle key switch device, power to the wireless remote control receiver device in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and movement of the vehicle key switch device from the OFF position to the ON position; and

controlling, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device;

wherein the wireless remote control transmitter device has a first rotational direction button for transmitting a first rotational direction signal, and a second rotational direction signal button for transmitting a second rotational direction signal, further comprising causing, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory to have a first rotational direction in response to activation of the first rotational direction button of the wireless remote control transmitter device, and causing, by the wireless remote control receiver device, the accessory to have a second rotational direction in response to activation of the second rotational direction button of the wireless remote control transmitter device.

18. A system for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals; and

a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory such that the wireless remote control receiver device controls the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device when the vehicle key switch is in the ON position,

wherein the accessory is a blade, and wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls an angle of the blade.

19. A system for wireless remote operation of an accessory associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power supply device for supplying electrical power to the vehicle;

a vehicle key encoded with a vehicle operation code for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle key switch device including a vehicle power supply input in electrical communication with the vehicle power supply device, a vehicle key receiver for receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key, and a vehicle key switch output, the vehicle key switch device switching connection of the vehicle key switch output to the vehicle power supply input in response to receiving the vehicle operation code from the vehicle key and moving the vehicle key switch device between an OFF position and an ON position;

a wireless remote control transmitter device for transmitting a plurality of signals; and

a wireless remote control receiver device including a signal receiver for receiving the plurality of signals from the wireless remote control transmitter device, an input in electrical communication with the vehicle key switch output, and an output in electrical communication with the accessory such that the wireless remote control receiver device controls the accessory based on the plurality of signals received from the wireless remote control transmitter device when the vehicle key switch is in the ON position,

wherein the accessory is a dump cart, and wherein the wireless remote control receiver device controls dumping of the dump cart.