Control device for vehicles

• US 20060211368A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: DEI Headquarters Inc (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wisnia, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine

Abstract

There is described a remote controller for a vehicle, the remote controller comprising: a storage module for storing control data to be transmitted to an in-vehicle transceiver; a transceiver switch having a transmit mode to transmit a data signal to the in-vehicle transceiver and a receive mode to listen for an acknowledgement signal from the in-vehicle transceiver; a user interface having at least one translucent key switch to contact the transceiver switch and thereby activate transmission of the data signal; a light source beneath the translucent key switch to illuminate the translucent key switch when the acknowledgement signal has been received; and control circuitry adapted to receive a command from the translucent key switch when it is depressed, retrieve the control data from the storage module, and provide the control data to the transceiver switch for transmission as the data signal, and to cause the light source to illuminate when the acknowledgement signal has been received.

Claims

1. A remote controller for a vehicle, the remote controller comprising:

a storage module for storing control data to be transmitted to an in-vehicle transceiver;

a transceiver switch having a transmit mode to transmit a data signal to said in-vehicle transceiver and a receive mode to listen for an acknowledgement signal from said in-vehicle transceiver;

a user interface having at least one translucent key switch to contact said transceiver switch and thereby activate transmission of said data signal;

a light source beneath said translucent key switch to illuminate said translucent key switch when said acknowledgement signal has been received; and

control circuitry adapted to receive a command from said translucent key switch when it is depressed, retrieve said control data from said storage module, and provide said control data to said transceiver switch for transmission as said data signal, and to cause said light source to illuminate when said acknowledgement signal has been received.

2. A remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

3. A remote controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said LED flashes a predetermined number of times when said acknowledgement signal is received.

4. A remote controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said LED only flashes after said translucent key switch is released.

5. A remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a secondary light source that illuminates when said data signal has been transmitted.

6. A remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuitry causes an audio sound to be emitted from said remote controller when said acknowledgement signal has been received.

7. A remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one translucent key switch comprises four translucent key switches, each one having a programmed functionality.

8. A remote controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one translucent key switch comprises one auxiliary translucent key switch for programming said four translucent key switches.

9. A remote controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary translucent key switch can be used as a shift function to provide an additional twelve functionalities using said four translucent key switches.

10. A remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transceiver switch toggles between said transmit mode and said receive mode while said key switch is depressed.

11. A method for transmitting a data signal from a handheld transceiver to a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing in said vehicle a remote starter module having an in-vehicle transceiver;

providing said handheld transceiver with a user interface having at least one key switch to activate transmission of said data signal;

exerting pressure on said key switch to cause a transceiver switch in said handheld transceiver to toggle between a transmit mode and a receive mode, wherein said data signal is transmitted from said handheld transceiver to said in-vehicle transceiver while said transceiver switch is in said transmit mode, and said handheld transceiver listens for an acknowledgement signal from said in-vehicle transceiver when said transceiver switch is in said receive mode; and

releasing pressure on said key switch, thereby placing said transceiver switch in said receive mode for a predetermined amount of time.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said toggle process is terminated when said handheld transceiver receives said acknowledgement signal from said in-vehicle transceiver.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said predetermined amount of time is two seconds.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data signal is a door lock signal.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data signal is an engine start signal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said handheld transceiver provides an audio signal when said acknowledgement signal is received.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said providing said handheld transceiver with a user interface comprises providing said at least one key switch with a translucent cover and a light source beneath said cover, and said light source illuminates upon said releasing pressure on said key switch if said acknowledgement signal has been received.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said light source is programmed to flash a predetermined number of times for a given type of data signal.