Trainable transceiver and mobile communications device diagnostic systems and methods

• US 9,875,650 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Witkowski, Todd R., Geerlings, Steven L., Wright, Thomas S., Smeyers, Marc A., Dorst, Jonathan E., Papay, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus
• Application Number:
  US14/688,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20150302733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• 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 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means

Abstract

A trainable transceiver for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device, a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device, and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and coupled to the communications device. The control circuit is configured to transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a mobile communications device via the communications device.

Claims

1. A trainable transceiver for controlling a remote device, comprising:

a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device;

a communications device configured to communicate with a mobile communications device; and

a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit, and coupled to the communications device,

wherein the control circuit is configured to;

transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a mobile communications device via the communications device,

receive a signal generated based on the diagnostic information from the mobile communications device, and

adjust a frequency used by the transceiver circuit to communicate with the remote device based on the received signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver includes at least one of an identifier of the remote devices for which the trainable transceiver is trained to control, power levels, and a status of the remote devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information includes statistical information related to the trainable transceiver including at least one of identification information of the devices which the trainable transceiver has been trained to control, a frequency with which activation signals are transmitted by the transceiver circuit, a number of user input devices assigned to send an activation signal, or a location at which the trainable transceiver is used most often.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is configured to transmit the diagnostic information to a service provider.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal from the mobile communications device is based on information received by the mobile communications device from the service provider.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a radio frequency transceiver, and wherein the control circuit is configured to be in wireless communication with the mobile communications device via the radio frequency transceiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a microphone, and wherein the control circuit is configured to receive an audio transmission from the mobile communications device using the microphone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a light sensor, and wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a light transmission from the mobile communications device using the light sensor.

9. A system for providing diagnostic information from a trainable transceiver for controlling a remote device, comprising:

(a) a trainable transceiver comprising;

a transceiver circuit configured based on training information to communicate with the remote device;

a first radio frequency transceiver;

and a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and coupled to the radio frequency transceiver,

wherein the control circuit is configured to receive or generate the diagnostic information, and wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit the diagnostic related to the trainable transceiver via the first radio frequency transceiver, and

(b) a mobile communications device comprising;

a second radio frequency transceiver configured to receive a transmission from the first radio frequency transceiver including the diagnostic information;

a cellular transceiver; and

a processing circuit coupled to the second radio frequency transceiver and coupled to the cellular transceiver,

wherein the processing circuit is configured to transmit the diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a service provider via the cellular transceiver and to transmit a signal based on the diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver;

wherein the control circuit of the trainable transceiver is configured to adjust a frequency used by the transceiver circuit to communicate with the remote device based on the signal received from the mobile communications device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuit receives the diagnostic information from the remote device via a transmission sent from the remote device and received by the transceiver circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuit receives the diagnostic information from a vehicle electronics system and wherein the control circuit is coupled to the vehicle electronics system.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the diagnostic information includes at least one of information related to the trainable transceiver, statistical information related to the trainable transceiver, information related to the remote device, or vehicle diagnostic information.

13. A system for providing diagnostic information from a trainable transceiver for controlling a remote device, comprising:

(a) a vehicle electronics system comprising;

an electronics control unit; and

a cellular transceiver

wherein the electronics control unit is configured to control the cellular transceiver;

(b) a trainable transceiver comprising;

a transceiver circuit configured based on training information related to the trainable transceiver to communicate with the remote device; and

a control circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit and coupled to the vehicle electronics system;

wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit diagnostic information related to the trainable transceiver to a service provider via the cellular transceiver of the vehicle electronics system and to adjust a frequency used by the transceiver circuit to communicate with the remote device based on a signal generated by the service provider based on the diagnostic information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the vehicle electronics system by a vehicle electronics system interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control circuit is included within the electronics control unit.

16. The apparatus claim 13, wherein the diagnostic information includes at least one of information related to the trainable transceiver, statistical information related to the trainable transceiver, information related to the remote device, or vehicle diagnostic information.