Remote control button actuation module, system, and method

• US 9,409,297 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Eclipse LLC
• Original Assignee: Tieman Vehicle Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Tieman, Craig Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDMAN, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US14/537,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20150174765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 700/250, 700/245, 700/257, 700/247, 700/258, 700/264, 700/253, 700/262, 901/490.01, 901/490.02, 901/490.04, 901/490.05, 744/90
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/006 by means of a wireless system for controlling one or several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 3/04 involving servo mechanisms servo-actuated heads B25J15/02
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0009 Constructional details, e.g. manipulator supports, bases
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/023 Cartesian coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

A device that can house a remote control for activating or controlling one or more features or functions of a vehicle. The device securely holds the remote control and upon reception of a command, operates to control a boom, actuator and pin such that the pin is moved over a particular button of the remote control, and then pressed for a requested period of time. A serious of commands or complex commands can result in causing multiple pressing patterns of the various buttons of the remote control. Thus, the features or functions of the vehicle can be activated remotely.

Claims

1. A machine to actuate one or more buttons of a remote control, the machine comprising:

a rotatable pivot secured to a base;

a boom comprising a first end and second end, the boom rotatably mounted on the rotatable pivot at the first end and extendable from the pivot at the second end; and

an actuator tip fixedly mounted on the second end;

wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to move the tip to a position associated with a particular button and to lower and raise the tip to engage the particular button of the remote control.

2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a gear coaxially mounted on the pivot and engaged with a first drive gear operably linked to a first servomotor.

3. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a gear coaxially mounted on the first end and engaged with a second drive gear operably linked to a second servomotor.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first end is slidably engaged with the second end.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein a pinion is mounted on the first end, the pinion operably linked to a third servomotor, and wherein the pinion engages gearing means operable to extend the boom upon operation of the third servomotor.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a rack gear engaged with an actuator pinion.

7. The machine of claim 5, further comprising an electronic controller in electronic communication with the first, second, and third servomotors.

8. The machine of claim 7, further comprising a programmable hardware module in electronic communication with the electronic controller.

9. The machine of claim 7, further comprising a programmable software module in electronic communication with the electronic controller.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to move the tip to a position associated with a second particular button and to lower and raise the tip to engage the particular button of the remote control.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to lower the tip for a particular duration of time and then raise the tip to engage the particular button of the remote control and then to lower the tip for a second particular duration of time and then raise the tip to engage the second particular button.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the particular button and the second particular button can be either the same button or different buttons.

13. The machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to move the tip to a position associated with a next button and to lower and raise the tip to engage the next button of the remote control.

14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to lower the tip for a particular duration of time and then raise the tip to engage the particular button of the remote control.

15. A machine to actuate one or more buttons of a remote control, the machine comprising:

a pivot secured to a base;

a boom comprising a first end and second end, the boom rotatably mounted on the pivot at the first end; and

an actuator tip slidably mounted on the boom proximate the second end;

wherein the pivot, the boom and the actuator are configured to move the tip to a position associated with a particular button and to lower and raise the tip to engage the particular button of the remote control.