Remote control systems with ambient noise sensor

• US 6,927,685 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas L. Wathen
• Original Assignee: Douglas L. Wathen
• Inventors: Wathen, Douglas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/817,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/435, 340/457, 340/457.2, 340/459, 340/460, 340/461, 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/326, 340/328, 340/329, 340/332, 340/426.13, 340/426.18, 340/426.22, 340/426.23, 340/426.36, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/76 wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote control system includes a remote control transmitter that transmit a signal and a receiver than can receive the signal from the transmitter. A control device performs a function having a first and a second option. The control device responds to the signal received by the receiver and performs the first option if the distance between the remote control transmitter and the receiver is greater than a particular distance and performs a function based on the ambient noise level.

Claims

1. A vehicle with a remote control system, comprising:

a vehicle;

a remote control transmitter operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver operable to receive the signal from the remote control transmitter;

a confirmation device operable to selectively produce two or more distinct confirmatory signals;

an ambient noise sensor operable to determine an ambient noise level in the area of the vehicle;

a control device in communication with the receiver and sensor and being operable to control a function of the vehicle in response to the signal from the remote control, the control device further being in communication with and operable to control the confirmation device such that when the receiver receives a signal from the remote control, the control device controls the function of the vehicle and causes the confirmation device to produce one of the confirmatory signals, the confirmatory signal being produced depending on the ambient noise level determined by the sensor.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the confirmatory signals include at least two audible signals, a first audible signal being louder than a second audible signal, the control device causing the confirmation device to produce the first audible signal when the ambient noise level in greater than a predetermined level and to produce the second audible signal when the ambient noise level is less than the predetermined level.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a first confirmatory signal is an audible signal and a second confirmatory signal is an inaudible signal, the control device causing the confirmation device to produce the first signal when the ambient noise level is greater than a predetermined level and to produce the second signal when the ambient noise level is less than the predetermined level.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the function of the vehicle controlled by the control device is a function selected from the group consisting of alarm arming, alarm disarming, door locking, door unlocking, and trunk opening.

5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the ambient noise sensor is a microphone.

6. A method of controlling a remote function comprising:

providing a remote control transmitter and a receiver;

sending a signal from the remote control transmitter to the receiver;

determining the ambient noise level in the area;

performing a first function in response to the signal from the transmitter if the ambient noise level is less than a first predetermined level; and

performing a second function in response to the signal from the transmitter if the ambient noise level is greater than a second predetermined level.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first function includes producing a first audible signal and the second function includes producing a second audible signal that is louder than the first audible signal.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first function includes not producing an audible signal and the second function includes producing an audible signal.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first and second predetermined levels are the same level.

10. A method of controlling a remote function comprising:

providing a remote control transmitter and a receiver;

sending a signal from the remote control transmitter to the receiver;

determining an ambient noise level;

performing a function in response to the signal from the remote control transmitter;

producing a first confirmatory signal having an adjustable output level, the output level being adjusted based on the ambient noise level.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the confirmatory signal is an audible signal and the signal loudness is adjusted based on the ambient noise level, the loudness increasing with increasing ambient noise level.

12. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control transmitter operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver operable to receive the signal from the remote control transmitter;

an ambient noise sensor operable to determine the ambient noise level;

a control device responsive to the signal received by the receiver and operable to produce an audible signal if the ambient noise level is greater than a first predetermined level and to not produce an audible signal if the ambient noise level is less than a second predetermined level.

13. The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the control device is further operable to control a function of a vehicle.

14. The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the first and second predetermined levels are the same level.

15. The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the ambient noise sensor is a microphone.