Universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface for vehicles

• US 9,264,085 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Pilat, Horia Eduard, Vuyst, Chris H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/530,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

The invention relates to a universal wireless trainable transceiver unit with integrated bidirectional wireless interface functionality, and a method for same. Using a scan, push button or untrained channel mode, a user may enter into a wireless bidirectional interface mode of a trainable transceiver. The interface mode allows a user to select a sub-set of modes that include diagnostics, flash and vehicle interface. Each mode provides the trainable transceiver to communicate wirelessly in a bidirectional manner with another remote device.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly interfacing with a trainable transceiver located in a vehicle, comprising:

entering into one of a plurality of modes;

interfacing with a remote device in a bidirectional communication using one of the plurality of modes;

transmitting packets from the trainable transceiver to the remote device;

transmitting packets including a request command from the remote device to the trainable transceiver;

determining whether the packet received by the trainable transceiver from the remote device is valid;

upon determining the packet received by the trainable transceiver is invalid, and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, entering into train mode;

upon determining the packet received by the trainable transceiver is valid, determining whether the request command from the remote device is valid and;

upon determining that the request command is invalid, entering into train mode,

upon determining that the request command is valid, entering into the train mode when the request command is for normal operation, and entering into a wireless diagnostic mode when the request command is for diagnostic mode;

transmitting a response command from the trainable transceiver to the remote device based on the requested command; and

receiving one of a plurality of inputs on the trainable transceiver to enter into one of the plurality of modes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sequence of a plurality of inputs on the trainable transceiver;

determining whether the sequence is valid;

if the sequence is invalid, entering into a normal operation mode; and

if the sequence is valid;

receiving a request command from the remote device at the trainable transceiver, and

transmitting a response command to the remote device from the trainable transceiver based on the request command.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether the packet received by the trainable transceiver from the remote device has been received;

if the packet received by the trainable transceiver from the remote device has been received and is valid, determining which one of the plurality of modes has been requested by the request command;

if the request command is for diagnostics, sending a response command to the remote device to set a flag to enter into wireless diagnostic mode, and entering into the wireless diagnostic mode; and

if the request command is for flash, sending a response command to the remote device and entering into a wireless flash mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

if the packet transmitted from the remote device to the trainable transceiver has not been received by the trainable transceiver, and a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, entering into normal operation mode;

if the packet transmitted from the remote device to the trainable transceiver has been received by the trainable transceiver, determining whether the received packet transmitted from the remote device to the trainable transceiver is valid; and

if the received packet transmitted from the remote device to the trainable transceiver is invalid, entering into normal operation mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes includes one of a wireless diagnostic mode, a wireless flash mode and a wireless vehicle interface mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of modes is an executable program product stored in memory of the trainable transceiver and executable by a microcontroller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes at least one of a wireless flash mode, a wireless vehicle interface mode, or a wireless diagnostic mode.

7. A trainable transceiver unit for a vehicle comprising:

a microcontroller;

a memory in communication with said microcontroller; and

a wireless bidirectional interface mode stored in said memory and having executable instructions configured to establish wireless bi-directional communication between said transceiver unit and at least one remote device,

wherein wireless bi-directional communication between said transceiver and at least one remote device includes transmitting a packet from the trainable transceiver to the at least one remote device, wherein wireless bi-directional communication between said transceiver and at least one remote device further includes transmitting a packet, including a request command, from the at least one remote device to the trainable transceiver, wherein the trainable transceiver enters one of a plurality of modes in response to the request command, and wherein the trainable transceiver is further configured to;

determine whether the packet received by the trainable transceiver from the remote device is valid;

enter into train mode in response to determining the packet received by the trainable transceiver is invalid, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed;

in response to determining the packet received by the trainable transceiver is valid, determine whether the request command from the remote device is valid and;

enter into train mode in response to determining that the request command is invalid; and

in response to determining that the request command is valid, enter into the train mode when the request command is for normal operation, and enter into a wireless diagnostic mode when the request command is for diagnostic mode; and

wherein the trainable transceiver is further configured to enter into one of the plurality of modes in response to receiving one of a plurality of inputs at the trainable transceiver.

8. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

said wireless bidirectional interface mode including an automatic scan mode having executable instructions configured to initiate a continuous scan for the at least one remote device using the wireless transceiver.

9. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

a plurality of user inputs in communication With said microcontroller selectable by a user to initiate said wireless bi-directional interface mode of said transceiver unit.

10. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

said wireless hi-directional mode including a wireless diagnostic mode having executable instructions configured to provide a wireless interface for diagnosing the trainable transceiver;

a predefined wireless diagnostic mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs and execute said executable instructions of said wireless diagnosis mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said predetermined wireless diagnostic mode selection sequence.

11. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

said wireless bi-directional mode including a wireless flash mode having executable instructions configured to enable a user to program and reprogram said trainable transceiver;

a predefined wireless flash mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs

and execute said executable instructions of said wireless flash mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said predetermined flash mode selection sequence.

12. A trainable transceiver unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

said wireless bi-directional mode including a wireless vehicle interface mode having executable instructions configured to link said trainable transceiver unit with the at least one remote device;

a predetermined wireless vehicle interface mode selection sequence stored in said memory; and

said microcontroller configured to detect a selection sequence of the user inputs and execute said executable instructions of said wireless flash mode in response to the selection sequence correlating with said wireless vehicle interface mode selection.