Remote signalling receiver system with at least two modes of demodulation

• US 20040124912A1
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Thomas, Michael, Desai, Tejas B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 329/347
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/246 Tread wear monitoring systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/61 Signal comprising different frequencies, e.g. frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remote signaling receiver system includes a receiver that operates in two different modes of demodulation to accommodate different types of signals from different types of transmitting devices. A first demodulator, preferably an ASK demodulator, is adapted to process signals from a signal transmitter that generates a first type of signal. A second demodulator, preferably one that is not sensitive to amplitude modulation such as a FSK demodulator, is adapted to process signals received from at least one other type of device, which provides a second type of signal. A system designed according to this invention is particularly useful as a remote keyless entry system for a vehicle where one or more sensors are provided on the vehicle to provide an indication of a chosen condition of one or more of the vehicle components.

Claims

1. A remote signaling receiver system comprising:

a first transmitter device that generates at least a first wireless communication signal;

a second transmitter device that generates at least a second wireless communication signal; and

a receiver that receives the first and second signals, the receiver including a first demodulator for processing the first signal and a second demodulator for processing the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device and the receiver are supported on a vehicle and the sensor device signal provides information regarding a condition of a selected vehicle component.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor device includes a tire condition sensor and the sensor signal provides information regarding at least one condition of at least one of the vehicle tires selected from the group of tire pressure, tire temperature, tire thickness and acceleration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter device is a portable keyless entry signaling device, the first demodulator is an ASK demodulator and the second demodulator is a demodulator that is not affected by amplitude modulation on the second signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is programmed to process all received signals using one of the demodulators and only when a received signal output is not discernable from the one demodulator to process the received signal using the other demodulator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter signal has a first baud rate and the sensor signal has a second baud rate that is at least two times higher than the first baud rate.

7. A method of processing signals received by a receiver having a first demodulator that is adapted to demodulate a first type of signal from a first signal source and a second demodulator that is adapted to demodulate a second type of signal from a second source, comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving a signal;

(B) determining whether the demodulated signal can be interpreted as a signal from the first source or the second source;

(C) demodulating the received signal using the first demodulator when the received signal is from the first source; and

(D) demodulating the received signal using the second demodulator when the received signal is from the second source.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (C) includes using amplitude shift keying and step (D) includes using a demodulation technique that is not sensitive to amplitude modulation in the received signal.

9. A vehicle remote keyless entry system comprising:

a portable transmitter that generates a wireless communication signal;

at least one sensor device supported relative to a component on the vehicle that senses a condition of the component and generates a wireless communication signal; and

a receiver supported on the vehicle that receives the transmitter signal and the sensor signal, the receiver including a first demodulator for processing the transmitter signal and a second demodulator for processing the sensor signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor device includes a tire condition sensor and the sensor signal provides information regarding a condition of at least one of the vehicle tires.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first demodulator is an ASK demodulator and the second demodulator is a demodulator that is not sensitive to amplitude modulation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second demodulator is a FSK demodulator.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiver is programmed to process all received signals using one of the demodulators and only when a received signal output is not discernable from the one demodulator to process the received signal using the other demodulator.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the transmitter signal has a first baud rate and the sensor signal has a second baud rate that is at least two times higher than the first baud rate.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiver includes a microprocessor that is programmed to receive the transmitter signal on a first channel and the sensor signal on an image channel.