Trainable transceiver

• US 7,221,256 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Krouse, Garry L., Skekloff, Jon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/898,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.65, 340/5.72, 340/5.22, 340/825.22, 340/426.36, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00698 actuated in function of displayed informations
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A wireless control system for a vehicle includes a controller provided in a vehicle for controlling a vehicle component in response to a first signal transmitted from a first transmitter and a transceiver provided in the vehicle for receiving a second signal from a second transmitter. The second signal differs from the first signal. The transceiver is configured to transmit a third signal to the controller in response to the second signal, the third signal emulating at least a portion of the first signal.

Claims

1. A wireless control system for a vehicle comprising:

a controller provided in a vehicle for controlling a vehicle component in response to a first signal transmitted from a first handheld wireless transmitter; and

a transceiver provided in the vehicle for receiving a second signal from a second handheld wireless transmitter, the second signal differing from the first signal;

wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a third signal to the controller in response to the second signal, the third signal emulating at least a portion of the first signal.

2. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the vehicle component in response to the third signal.

3. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver transmits the third signal via a wired communication link.

4. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver transmits the third signal via a wireless communication link.

5. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the third signal is identical to the first signal.

6. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the third signal includes at least a portion of a data code included in the first signal.

7. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal have at least one of different data codes and different carrier frequencies.

8. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is programmed to associate the second signal with the third signal such that the third signal is transmitted in response to the second signal.

9. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the third signal in response to a fourth signal transmitted from a third transmitter, the fourth signal being different from the first signal and the second signal.

10. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the first handheld transmitter and the second handheld transmitter provide remote keyless entry signals.

11. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted as one of radio frequency signals, Bluetooth-compatible signals, infrared signals, and laser beams.

12. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is provided in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

13. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein first handheld wireless transmitter and the second handheld wireless transmitter are produced by different manufacturers.

14. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is selected from a remote keyless entry system, a window, a horn, a light, a radio, a seat, a mirror, an air conditioning system, and a vehicle security system.

15. A method of controlling a vehicle system comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first handheld wireless transmitter; and

in response to the first signal, transmitting a second signal to a controller configured to operate a vehicle system in response to the second signal, the second signal being different from the first signal and emulating at least a portion of a third signal;

whereby the first wireless transmitter may be used to operate the vehicle system without directly transmitting the second signal to the controller.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second signal emulates at least a portion of a third signal that may be transmitted from a second handheld wireless transmitter, the third signal being different from the first signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller is also configured to actuate the vehicle system in response to the third signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second signal emulates the entire third signal.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and third signals have at least one of different data codes and different carrier frequencies.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first handheld wireless transmitter and the second handheld wireless transmitter are selected from a pager, a cellular phone, and a personal digital assistant.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the second signal is transmitted to the controller over a wired connection.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the second signal is transmitted to the controller over a wireless connection.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the vehicle system comprises at least one of a remote keyless entry system, a window, a horn, a light, a radio, a seat, a mirror, an air conditioning system, and a vehicle security system.

24. A method of programming a vehicle keyless entry system to operate in response to signals received from multiple handheld wireless transmitters, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first handheld wireless transmitter at a transceiver, the first signal configured to cause a controller to actuate vehicle door locks;

storing at least a portion of the first signal as an emulation signal;

receiving a second signal from a second handheld wireless transmitter at the transceiver, the second signal being different from the first signal; and

associating the second signal with the emulation signal such that upon receipt of the second signal, the transceiver transmits the emulation signal to the controller to cause the controller to actuate the vehicle door locks.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first handheld wireless transmitter is associated with a first vehicle and the second handheld wireless transmitter is associated with a second vehicle.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the emulation signal is transmitted via a wireless connection to the controller.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the emulation signal is transmitted via a wired connection to the controller.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first signal and the second signal have different data codes.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the first signal and the second signal have different carrier frequencies.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the emulation signal is identical to the first signal.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the transceiver is provided in a vehicle passenger compartment.