SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE USING INDUCTION FIELD COMMUNICATION

• US 20100144284A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Zeinstra, Mark, Vanderwall, Philip J., Trainor, James E., Chutorash, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,324,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing a control signal to a remote device based on information stored in a portable electronic device includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the remote device. The system also includes a first circuit configured to receive first information from the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and the first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within the induction field of the first circuit. The system also includes a second circuit configured to use the first information received from the portable electronic device and to at least one of format the control signal in accordance with the first information and to cause the radio frequency transmitter to format the control signal in accordance with the first information.

Claims

1. A system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing a control signal to a remote device based on information stored in a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the remote device;

a first circuit configured to receive first information from the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and the first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within the induction field of the first circuit; and

a second circuit configured to use the first information received from the portable electronic device and to at least one of;

(a) format the control signal in accordance with the first information, and

(b) cause the radio frequency transmitter to format the control signal in accordance with the first information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a near-field communication (NFC) device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first information comprises at least one of a fixed code, a portion of a variable code, a manufacturer identifier, a frequency, a crypt key, a rolling code count, synchronization information, and a modulation scheme identifier.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the remote device is a receiver coupled to a garage door opener and wherein the portable electronic device is a transmitter configured for communications with the garage door opener.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first circuit is configured to send second information to the portable electronic device, the second information configured to request the first information from the portable electronic device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first circuit comprises a loop antenna configured to be located behind a structure of the vehicle relative to a passenger location in the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the loop antenna is configured to be mounted in the vehicle at least one of a center stack location, a dashboard location, a center console location, an overhead console, a floor console location, an instrument panel location, a door panel location, a visor location, a rear-view mirror, and a headliner location.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the structure is at least one of an interior trim panel, an interior panel coverstock, and soft trim.

9. A method for providing a control signal from a RF transmitter coupled to a vehicle to a remote device based on information stored in a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving first information from the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and a first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within the induction field of the first circuit;

using a second circuit to process the first information received from the portable electronic device to at least one of;

(a) format the control signal in accordance with the first information, and

(b) cause the RF transmitter to format the control signal in accordance with the first information; and

transmitting the control signal to the remote device via the RF transmitter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first circuit comprises a near-field communication (NFC) device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first information comprises at least one of a fixed code, a portion of a variable code, a manufacturer identifier, a frequency, a crypt key, a rolling code count, synchronization information, and a modulation scheme identifier.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote device is a receiver coupled to a garage door opener and wherein the portable electronic device comprises a transmitter configured for communications with the receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

sending second information to the portable electronic device using the first circuit, the second information configured to request the first information from the portable electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first circuit comprises a loop antenna, and wherein the loop antenna is configured to be located behind a structure of the vehicle relative to a passenger location in the vehicle, wherein the loop antenna is configured to be mounted in the vehicle at least one of a center stack location, a dashboard location, a center console location, an overhead console, a floor console location, an instrument panel location, a door panel location, a visor location, a rear-view mirror, and a headliner location, and wherein the structure is at least one of an interior trim panel, an interior panel coverstock, and soft trim.

15. A system for facilitating hands-free communication in a vehicle using a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a first circuit configured to receive first information from the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and a first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within the induction field of the first circuit;

a hands-free communication module configured to control an RF transceiver and to use the first information received at the first circuit to connect the RF transceiver to the portable electronic device;

electronics configured to restrict the use of other portable electronic devices in the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronics configured to restrict the use of other portable electronic devices in the vehicle are configured to transmit a control signal to the other portable electronic devices via the RF transceiver, the control signal configured to command the disabling at least one feature of the other portable electronic to restrict the use of the other portable electronic devices.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electronics configured to restrict the use of other portable electronic devices in the vehicle are configured to cause the transmission of the control signal when the vehicle is moving.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronics configured to restrict the use of other portable electronic devices in the vehicle comprises a radio frequency jammer configured to jam mobile phone communications to and/or from the other portable electronic devices.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first circuit is installed inside a bin inside the vehicle, the bin configured to receive the portable electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the bin is shielded and includes an interface for receiving first communications from the portable electronic device for a source remote from the vehicle, the interface coupled to an antenna module configured to retransmit the first communications outside of the vehicle, the antenna module further configured to receive second communications for the portable electronic device from the source remote the vehicle and to retransmit the second communications from the interface to the portable electronic device within the bin.