Remote control of automobile component arrangements

• US 20050261807A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sorensen Research & Development Trust
• Original Assignee: Hens Ole Sorensen, Jens Erik Sorensen
• Inventors: Sorensen, Hens Ole, Sorensen, Jens Erik
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A control system causes arrangements of automobile components, such as the driver'"'"'s seat, the steering wheel and one or more mirrors, to be adjusted to a plurality of different memorized preferred component arrangements in response to unique component-arrangement signals respectively received from a plurality of remote control devices. The unique component-arrangement signals are transmitted by the remote control devices together with an unlock-request signal that causes a keyless-entry system to unlock one or more doors of the automobile. The control system responds to a lock-request signal that causes the keyless-entry system to lock the doors by causing the driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted to a locked position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile. A distance measuring system separately measures the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements. The control system can also remotely turn on a personal computer and send a memorized login password thereto.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile that includes means for arranging at least one component of the automobile to provide a plurality of arrangements of the at least one component, said preferred arrangements including at least a first component arrangement and a second component arrangement, the system comprising:

a controller for controlling at least one of the arranging means, wherein the controller includes means for memorizing a plurality of preferred component arrangements, including at least the first component arrangement and the second component arrangement;

a first means operable from a location remote from the automobile for causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized first component arrangement; and

a second means operable from a location remote from the automobile for causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized second component arrangement.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller further include means for causing the controller to selectively memorize said preferred component arrangements.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first means is embodied in a first handheld remote control device and the second means is embodied in a second separate handheld remote control device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first means is incapable of causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized second component arrangement.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the second means is incapable of causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized first component arrangement.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first means can be adapted to be incapable of causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized second component arrangement.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one component of the automobile includes at least one seat and one or more of the following:

at least one mirror, the steering wheel, a radio, a cell-phone interface, a window position control system, the air circulation control system, the air conditioning system and a GPS receiver.

8. A system according to claim 1 in combination with means for separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized component arrangements.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled to a plurality of personal computers located in the automobile;

wherein the controller includes means for memorizing a plurality of login passwords for a plurality of said coupled personal computers that are respectively associated with the preferred component arrangements, including at least a first login password for a first said coupled personal computer associated with the first component arrangement and a second login password for a second said coupled personal computer associated with the second component arrangement;

wherein the controller is adapted for responding to a first login signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by causing the first personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized first login password to the first personal computer; and

wherein the controller is adapted for responding to a second login signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by causing the second personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized second login password to the second personal computer.

10. A system for controlling the position of a seat in an automobile, comprising:

a seat positioning control system for controlling adjustment of the seat to a memorized seat position; and

a remote control device for transmitting a seat-position signal indicating a memorized seat position;

wherein the seat positioning control system is adapted for responding to said seat-position signal by causing the seat to be adjusted to the indicated memorized seat position; and

wherein the remote control device is adapted for also transmitting an unlock-request signal for causing a keyless-entry system to unlock one or more doors of the automobile.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the remote control device is adapted for transmitting both the seat position signal and the unlock-request signal in response to a single manipulation of the remote control device.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising a second said remote control device, wherein the second remote control device is adapted for transmitting a second seat-position signal that indicates a different memorized seat position than the seat position indicated by the seat-position signal transmitted by the first-recited remote control device;

and

wherein the seat positioning control system is adapted for responding to said second seat-position signal by causing the seat to be adjusted to the indicated different memorized seat position.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat;

wherein the remote control device is adapted for transmitting a lock-request signal for causing said keyless-entry system to lock the doors of the automobile; and

wherein the seat positioning control system is adapted for responding to said lock-request signal by causing the driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted to a locked seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

14. A system according to claim 13, in combination with:

safety means coupled to the driver'"'"'s seat for preventing the driver'"'"'s seat from being adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

15. A system according to claim 10, in combination with:

adjusting means coupled to the seat positioning control system and the seat for adjusting the seat in a backward or forward direction in response to the seat positioning control system;

wherein the adjusting means are inhibited from applying more than a threshold amount of force while moving the seat in a backward or forward direction in order to reduce or prevent damage to someone or something disposed behind or in front of the seat.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat, the system being in combination with:

safety means coupled to the driver'"'"'s seat and the seat positioning control system for preventing the seat positioning control system from responding to any signal received from a remote control device or from a source that is remote from said automobile by causing driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied.

17. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a second said remote control device, wherein the second remote control device is adapted for transmitting a second seat-position signal that indicates a different memorized seat position than the seat position indicated by the seat-position signal transmitted by the first-recited remote control device;

and

wherein the seat positioning control system is adapted for responding to said second seat-position signal by causing the seat to be adjusted to the indicated different memorized seat position.

18. A system according to claim 10 in combination with:

a controller coupled to a personal computer located in the automobile;

wherein the remote control device is adapted for transmitting a login signal; and

wherein the controller is adapted for responding to said login signal by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending a login password to the personal computer.

19. A system, comprising:

means for arranging at least one component of an automobile to provide a plurality of preferred arrangements of the at least one component, and

means for separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for memorizing at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements;

wherein the measuring means are adapted for separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized component arrangements.

21. A system for remotely logging into a personal computer, comprising:

a controller coupled to the personal computer, wherein the controller includes means for memorizing a login password for the personal computer; and

a remote control device for transmitting a login signal;

wherein the controller is adapted for responding to said login signal by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the personal computer is located in an automobile;

and

wherein the remote control device is adapted for also transmitting an unlock-request signal for causing a keyless-entry system to unlock one or more doors of the automobile.

23. A method of controlling a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile that includes means for arranging at least one component of the automobile to provide a plurality of arrangements of the at least one component, said preferred arrangements including at least a first component arrangement and a second component arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) with a controller for controlling at least some of the arranging means, memorizing a plurality of preferred component arrangements, including at least the first component arrangement and the second component arrangement;

(b) with a first means operated at a location remote from the automobile, causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized first component arrangement; and

(c) with a second means operated at a location remote from the automobile, causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide the memorized second component arrangement.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one component of the automobile includes at least one seat and one or more of the following:

at least one mirror, the steering wheel, a radio, a cell-phone interface, a window position control system, the air circulation control system, the air conditioning system and a GPS receiver.

25. A method according to claim 23 in combination with the step of:

(d) separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized preferred component arrangements.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the controller is coupled to a plurality of personal computers located in the automobile, the method further comprising the steps of;

(d) with the controller, memorizing a plurality of login passwords for a plurality of said coupled personal computers that are respectively associated with the preferred component arrangements, including at least a first login password for a first said coupled personal computer associated with the first component arrangement and a second login password for a second said coupled personal computer associated with the second component arrangement;

(e) with the first means, transmitting a first login signal that the controller responds to by causing the first personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized first login password to the first personal computer; and

(f) with the second means, transmitting a second login signal that the controller responds to by causing the second personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized second login password to the second personal computer.

27. A method of controlling the position of a seat in an automobile that includes a seat positioning control system for controlling adjustment of the seat to a memorized seat position, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) with a remote control device that is adapted for transmitting an unlock-request signal for causing a keyless-entry system to unlock one or more doors of the automobile, transmitting a seat-position signal indicating a memorized seat position; and

(b) with the seat positioning control system, responding to said seat-position signal by causing the seat to be adjusted to the indicated memorized seat position.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein step (a) includes the step of:

(c) transmitting both the seat position signal and the unlock-request signal in response to a single manipulation of the remote control device.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat, further comprising the steps of:

(c) with the remote control device that is also adapted for transmitting a lock-request signal for causing the keyless-entry system to lock the doors of the automobile, transmitting said lock-request signal and

(d) with the seat positioning control system, responding to said lock-request signal by causing the driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted to a locked position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:

(e) preventing the driver'"'"'s seat from being adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein adjusting means are coupled to the seat positioning control system and the seat for adjusting the seat in a backward or forward direction in response to the seat positioning control system;

further comprising the step of;

(c) inhibiting the adjusting means from applying more than a threshold amount of force while moving the seat in a backward or forward direction in order to reduce or prevent damage to someone or something disposed behind or in front of the seat.

32. A method according to claim 27, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat, further comprising the step of:

(c) preventing the seat positioning control system from responding to any signal received from a remote control device or from a source that is remote from said automobile by causing driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied.

33. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

(c) with the remote control device transmitting a login signal to a controller that is coupled to a personal computer located in the automobile; and

(d) with the controller, responding to said login signal by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending a login password to the personal computer.

35. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

(c) memorizing at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements;

wherein step (b) comprises separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized component arrangements.

34. A method, comprising the steps of:

(a) arranging at least one component of an automobile to provide a plurality of preferred arrangements of the at least one component, and

(b) separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements.

36. A method of remotely logging into a personal computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) with a remote control device, transmitting a login signal; and

(b) with a controller that is coupled to the personal computer and includes a memorized login password for the personal computer, responding to said login signal by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer.

37. A computer readable medium for use with a computer in a controller for controlling a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile that includes means for arranging at least one component of the automobile to provide a plurality of arrangements of the at least one component, said preferred arrangements including at least a first component arrangement and a second component arrangement, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for:

(a) enabling the controller to memorize a plurality of preferred component arrangements, including at least the first component arrangement and the second component arrangement;

(b) causing the controller to respond to a first component-arrangement signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by controlling the arranging means to provide the memorized first component arrangement; and

(c) causing the controller to respond to a second component-arrangement signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by controlling the arranging means to provide the memorized second component arrangement.

38. A computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the at least one component of the automobile includes at least one seat and one or more of the following:

at least one mirror, the steering wheel, a radio, a cell-phone interface, a window position control system, the air circulation control system, the air conditioning system and a GPS receiver.

39. A computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein the controller is coupled to a plurality of personal computers located in the automobile, and wherein the computer readable medium also contains program instructions for:

(d) enabling the controller to memorize a plurality of login passwords for a plurality of said coupled personal computers that are respectively associated with the preferred component arrangements, including at least a first login password for a first said coupled personal computer associated with the first component arrangement and a second login password for a second said coupled personal computer associated with the second component arrangement;

(e) causing the controller to respond to a first login signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by causing the first personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized first login password to the first personal computer; and

(f) causing the controller to respond to a second login signal received from a location remote from the automobile, by causing the second personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized second login password to the first personal computer.

40. A computer readable medium for use with a computer in a seat positioning control system that is adapted for controlling adjustment of the seat to a memorized seat position, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for:

(a) causing the seat positioning control system to respond to a seat-position signal that is received with an unlock-request signal from a location remote from the automobile by causing the seat to be adjusted to a memorized seat position indicated by the respective received seat-position signal.

41. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat, and wherein the computer readable medium also contains program instructions for:

(b) causing the seat positioning control system to respond to a lock-request signal received from a location remote from the automobile by causing the driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted to a locked position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

42. A computer readable medium according to claim 41, wherein the computer readable medium also contains program instructions for:

(c) preventing the driver'"'"'s seat from being adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied to the seat position that cannot be utilized for driving the automobile.

43. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, wherein adjusting means are coupled to the seat positioning control system and the seat for adjusting the seat in a backward or forward direction in response to the seat positioning control system;

wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for;

(b) inhibiting the adjusting means from applying more than a threshold amount of force while moving the seat in a backward or forward direction in order to reduce or prevent damage to someone or something disposed behind or in front of the seat.

44. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the seat is the driver'"'"'s seat, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for:

(b) preventing the seat positioning control system from responding to any signal received from a remote control device or from a source that is remote from said automobile by causing driver'"'"'s seat to be adjusted while the driver'"'"'s seat is occupied.

45. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, for use in a said control system computer that is coupled to a personal computer located in the automobile, wherein the computer readable medium also contains program instructions for:

(b) enabling the control system computer to memorize a login password for the personal computer; and

(c) causing the control system computer to respond to a login signal received from a location remote by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer.

46. A computer readable medium for use with a computer in a control system for controlling a plurality of preferred arrangements of at least one component of an automobile that includes means for arranging at least one component of the automobile to provide a plurality of arrangements of the at least one component, including at least a first component arrangement and a second component arrangement, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for:

(a) causing the controller to control the arranging means to provide a plurality of preferred arrangements of the at least one component, and

(b) separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements.

47. A computer readable medium according to claim 46, wherein the computer readable medium also contains program instructions for:

(c) memorizing at least some of the plurality of preferred component arrangements; and

(d) separately measuring the distance over which the automobile is driven while respectively in at least some of the memorized component arrangements.

48. A computer readable medium for use with a computer in a controller that is coupled to a personal computer, wherein the computer readable medium contains program instructions for:

(a) enabling the controller to memorize a login password for the personal computer; and

(b) causing the controller to respond to a login signal received from a location remote from the controller by causing the personal computer to be turned on and by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer.