Garage door opening system for vehicle

• US 20040257200A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, David W., Lynam, Niall R., Baumgardner, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,023,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/67 Materials; Strength alteration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

A vehicle-based door opening system for opening a door at a building includes a vehicle-based transmitting unit, a control and an actuating device. The transmitting unit is positioned at the vehicle and operable to transmit a first signal, and the actuating device is positioned at the building and receives the first signal from the vehicle-based transmitting unit. The control is operable to control at least one vehicle-based accessory, such as a door lock mechanism, in response to the first signal. The actuating device receives a domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit associated with a door opening device at or near the door and actuates the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to the first signal. The domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit transmits a second signal to actuate the door opening device to open or close the door.

Claims

1. A vehicle-based door opening system for opening a door at a building, the door being openable by a door opening device that is operable in response to a domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit associated with the door opening device, said vehicle-based door opening system comprising:

a vehicle-based transmitting unit positioned at the vehicle and operable to transmit a first signal in response to a user input;

a control positioned at the vehicle, said control being operable to activate a door locking mechanism of the vehicle in response to said first signal to lock and unlock the vehicle doors; and

an actuating device positioned at the building and having a receiver for receiving said first signal from said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said actuating device receiving the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit and being operable to actuate the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit in response to said receiver receiving said first signal, the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit being operable to transmit a second signal when actuated, the second signal being received by the door opening device to open or close the door, said second signal being inoperable to lock and unlock the vehicle doors.

2. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1 including a portable transmitting unit associated with said control and operable to transmit said first signal in response to a user input.

3. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 2, wherein said portable transmitting unit is operable to transmit a third signal which is receivable by said control, said control being operable to at least one of sound an alarm or horn of the vehicle, activate the ignition of the vehicle, activate lights of the vehicle and open the trunk of the vehicle in response to said third signal.

4. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said first signal is receivable by a vehicle-based receiver associated with or in communication with said control.

5. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is fixedly positioned at the vehicle.

6. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is positioned at one of an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, an accessory module of the vehicle, a windshield electronics module of the vehicle, a console of the vehicle, an instrument panel of the vehicle and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said control and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle.

8. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 7, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle at the vehicle assembly plant.

9. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is associated with said control and said actuating device and said vehicle-based door opening system is purchased as an aftermarket unit.

10. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said first signal is different from said second signal.

11. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1 including an override function that is operable to cause said control to be non-responsive to said first signal when said override function is activated.

12. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 11, wherein said override function automatically deactivates in response to a deactivating event to cause said control to be responsive to said first signal.

13. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 12, wherein said deactivating event comprises at least one of a user input, activation of the vehicle ignition, deactivation of the vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, closing of a vehicle door, stopping of vehicle movement, and passing of a period of time following activation of said override function.

14. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 11, wherein said override function is activated in response to an activating event.

15. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 14, wherein said activating event comprises at least one of a user input, activation of the vehicle ignition, deactivation of the vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, closing of a vehicle door, locking of a vehicle door, unlocking of a vehicle door and movement of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein the building comprises a garage and said vehicle-based door opening system is adapted for use with a garage door opening device.

17. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 1, wherein said actuating device is operable to mechanically actuate the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to said first signal.

18. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 17, wherein said actuating device includes an actuating member which is movable to depress a button on the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to said first signal.

19. A vehicle-based door opening system for opening a door at a building, the door being openable by a door opening device, which is operable in response to a domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit associated with the door opening device, said vehicle-based door opening system comprising:

a vehicle-based transmitting unit positionable at the vehicle and operable to transmit a first signal, said vehicle-based transmitting unit being operable to transmit said first signal to control at least one vehicle-based accessory, said at least one vehicle-based accessory comprising at least one of a vehicle door locking mechanism, a truck release mechanism, a vehicle ignition and an illumination source of the vehicle; and

an actuating device positionable at or near the door opening device and operable to receive said first signal from said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said actuating device being configured to receive the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit associated with the door opening device and being operable to actuate the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to said first signal from said vehicle-based transmitting unit, the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit transmitting a second signal in response to actuation of the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit by said actuating device to actuate the door opening device to open or close the door, said second signal being inoperable to control said at least one vehicle-based accessory.

20. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein the building comprises a garage and said vehicle-based door opening system is adapted for use with a garage door opening device.

21. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said actuating device is operable to mechanically actuate the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to said first signal.

22. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 21, wherein said actuating device includes an actuating member which is movable to depress a button on the domestic hand held garage door opener transmitting unit in response to said first signal.

23. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19 including a portable transmitting unit operable to transmit said first signal.

24. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 23, wherein said at least one vehicle-based accessory comprises a door locking mechanism of the vehicle to unlock and lock the door locks of the vehicle, said door locking mechanism locking or unlocking the door locks in response to said first signal.

25. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 24, wherein said portable transmitting unit is operable to transmit a third signal which is receivable by said control, said control being operable to at least one of sound an alarm or horn of the vehicle, activate the ignition of the vehicle, activate lights of the vehicle and open the trunk of the vehicle in response to said third signal.

26. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is fixedly positionable at the vehicle.

27. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is positionable at one of an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, an accessory module of the vehicle, a windshield electronics module of the vehicle, a console of the vehicle, an instrument panel of the vehicle, a steering wheel of the vehicle.

28. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle.

29. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 28, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle at the vehicle assembly plant.

30. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said first signal is receivable by a vehicle-based receiver associated with or in communication with said at least one vehicle-based accessory.

31. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 19, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is associated with said actuating device and said vehicle-based door opening system is purchased as an aftermarket unit.

32. A vehicle-based door opening system for opening a door at a building, the door being openable by a door opening device that is operable in response to a domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit associated with the door opening device, said vehicle-based door opening system comprising:

a vehicle-based transmitting unit positioned at the vehicle and operable to transmit a first signal in response to a user input;

a control which receives said first signal and activates a door locking mechanism of the vehicle in response to said first signal to lock and unlock the vehicle doors; and

an actuating device positioned at or near the door opening device and having a receiver for receiving said first signal from said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said actuating device including learning circuitry for learning at least a code superimposed on a signal from the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit associated with the door opening device, said actuating device having a transmitter for transmitting a second signal in response to said receiver receiving said first signal from said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said second signal having said learned code superimposed thereon, said second signal being received by the door opening device to open or close the door.

33. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32, wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit said second signal over a wide band of frequencies.

34. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 33, wherein said learning circuitry is operable to learn the code superimposed on the signal from the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit irrespective of a frequency of the signal from the domestic hand held door opener transmitting unit.

35. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32 including a portable transmitting unit associated with said control and operable to transmit said first signal in response to a user input.

36. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 35, wherein said portable transmitting unit is operable to transmit a third signal which is receivable by said control, said control being operable to at least one of sound an alarm or horn of the vehicle, activate the ignition of the vehicle, activate lights of the vehicle and open the trunk of the vehicle in response to said third signal.

37. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit, said control and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle.

38. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 37, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit and said actuating device are associated with the vehicle at the vehicle assembly plant.

39. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32, wherein said vehicle-based transmitting unit is associated with said control and said actuating device and said vehicle-based door opening system is purchased as an aftermarket unit.

40. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32 including an override function that is operable to cause said control to be non-responsive to said first signal when said override function is activated.

41. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 40, wherein said override function is activated in response to an activating event.

42. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 41, wherein said activating event comprises at least one of a user input, activation of the vehicle ignition, deactivation of the vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, closing of a vehicle door, locking of a vehicle door, unlocking of a vehicle door and movement of the vehicle.

43. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 40, wherein said override function automatically deactivates in response to a deactivating event to cause said control to be responsive to said first signal.

44. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 43, wherein said deactivating event comprises at least one of a user input, activation of the vehicle ignition, deactivation of the vehicle ignition, opening of a vehicle door, closing of a vehicle door, stopping of vehicle movement, and passing of a period of time following activation of said override function.

45. The vehicle-based door opening system of claim 32, wherein the building comprises a garage and said vehicle-based door opening system is adapted for use with a garage door opening device.