Apparatus and method for remote convenience function control with increased effective receiver seek time and reduced power consumption

• US 6,236,850 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Desai, Tejas Bhupendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/227,972
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 455/38.3, 455/574, 455/127, 455/343, 455/70
• US Class Current: 455/343.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A remote convenience system (10), via an associated method, causes remote control performance of a function. A portable, actuatable transmitter (14) of the system (10) transmits signals (16) that convey a function request during first portions of repeating, predetermined duration, request periods, and idles during second portions of the request periods. A receiver/controller (18) of the system (10) performs the requested function, within a response period of predetermined duration that begins upon transmitter actuation, in response to a received function request. Within the receiver/controller (18), power control circuitry (62) maintains receive circuitry (56) in a power OFF state for a first portion of a repeating, predetermined duration, power-save period, and cycles the power ON and OFF in a sequence for a second portion of the power-save period such that the receive circuitry (56) is eventually in the power ON state during one of the first portions of one of the request periods and such that one of the transmitted signals (16) is detected. The power control circuitry (62) maintains the power ON once the signal is detected to receive a next subsequent signal (16).

Claims

1. A remote convenience system for remote control of a function, said system comprising:

a portable, actuatable transmitter for requesting performance of a remote control function; and

a receiver/controller for causing performance of the requested function, within a response period of predetermined duration that begins upon transmitter actuation, in response to a received function request;

said transmitter including means for transmitting signals conveying a function request during first portions of repeating, predetermined duration, request periods and for idling during second portions of the request periods;

said receiver/controller including receiver means having an ON state for detecting and receiving transmitted signals and an OFF state, and power control means for maintaining said receiver means in the OFF state for a first portion of a repeating, predetermined duration, power-save period and for cycling said receiver means between the ON and OFF states in a sequence for a second portion of the power-save period such that said receiver means is eventually in the ON state during one of the first portions of one of the request periods of said transmitter and that one of the transmitted signal is detected, and said power control means for maintaining said receiver means in the ON state once said receiver means detects a signal such that a next subsequent signal is received and the requested function performed within the response time period.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power control means includes means for controlling the ON and OFF states of said receiver means such that said receiver means is in its ON state approximately 10 percent of the time during the power-save period.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power control means includes means for controlling the ON and OFF states of said receiver means during the second portion of the power-save period such that the duration of each ON state of said receiver means is of sufficient duration to allow said receiver means to stabilize during each ON state.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power control means includes means for controlling the ON and OFF states of said receiver means during the second portion of the power-save period such a first ON state of said receiver means is approximately 25 milliseconds in duration, each OFF state is approximately 10 milliseconds in duration, and each subsequent ON state is approximately 10 milliseconds in duration.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power control means includes means for controlling the OFF state of said receiver means during the first portion of the power-save period such that the first portion of the power-save period is approximately 400 milliseconds in duration, and for controlling the ON and OFF states of the receiver means during the second portion of the power-save period such that the second portion of the power-save period is approximately 105 milliseconds in duration.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting includes means for transmitting during approximately 32 percent of each request period.

7. A method of remotely controlling a remote convenience function, said method comprising:

remotely requesting performance of a remote control function, including transmitting signals conveying a function request during first portions of repeating, predetermined duration, request periods and idling during second portions of the request periods;

maintaining a receiver means in a power OFF state for a first, predetermined portion of a repeating, predetermined duration, power-save period;

cycling the power of the receiver means ON and OFF in a sequence for a second, predetermined portion of the power-save period such that the power of the receiver means is eventually in the ON during one of the first portions of one of the request periods;

detecting the presence of a signal when the power of the receiver means is eventually cycled ON during one of the first portions of one of the request periods;

maintaining the power of the receiver means ON in response to the detection, such that a next subsequent signal is received; and

causing performance of the requested function within a predetermined duration response period that begins upon the beginning of the signal transmission.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said steps of maintaining the receiver means in the power OFF state and cycling the power of the receiver means ON and OFF include controlling the power to the receiver means such that the power of the receiver means is ON approximately 10 during the power-save period.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step of cycling the power of the receiver means ON and OFF includes controlling the power of the receiver means such that the duration of each power ON state of the receiver means is of sufficient duration to allow the receiver means to stabilize during each power ON state.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step of cycling the power of the receiver means ON and OFF includes controlling the power of the receiver means such that the duration of a first power ON state of the receiver means is approximately 25 milliseconds in duration, each power OFF state is approximately 10 milliseconds in duration and each subsequent power ON state is approximately 10 milliseconds in duration.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said steps of maintaining the receiver means in the power OFF state and cycling the power of the receiver means ON and OFF include controlling the power of the receiver means such that the first portion of the power-save period is approximately 400 milliseconds in duration, and the second portion of the power-save period is approximately 105 milliseconds in duration.

12. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step of transmitting signals includes transmitting the signals during approximately 32 percent of the request period.