Communication system and method

• US 8,878,646 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Trainor, James E., Golden, Jeffrey, Geerlings, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKKI, MUNEAR T
• Application Number:
  US13/123,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20110250845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.71, 340/932.2, 340/545.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A communication system and method in which the communication system comprises a first communication module (11) and a second communication module (12). The first communication module (11) is located inside a vehicle (1), and the second communication module (12) is located in a garage door opener (3) and/or a home (2). A first information (11) relating to status information of the vehicle (1) is transmitted wirelessly between the first and second communication modules (11, 12). Additionally or alternatively, a second information is transmitted between the first and second communication modules (11, 12). The second information relates to status information of the garage door opener (3) and/or the home (2).

Claims

1. A method of electronically assisting a driver with positioning a vehicle within a garage using communication between a vehicle control system and a garage door opener comprising:

receiving, at a vehicle sensor interface, a first positioning information from a vehicle sensor;

receiving, using a vehicle communication module, a second positioning information from the garage door opener;

determining, using a vehicle processor and based on the first positioning information and the second positing information, whether the vehicle is positioned within the garage;

using the vehicle processor to notify an occupant of the vehicle that the vehicle is positioned within the garage;

determining, using the vehicle processor and based on the first positioning information and the second positioning information, that the vehicle is positioned such that the garage door will come into contact with an obstructing object while closing; and

sending, using the vehicle communication module, an open instruction to the garage door opener which forces the garage door opener to open a garage door.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor is at least one of a global positioning system receiver, a compass, and a vehicle speedometer, and wherein the second positioning information includes a safety photocell status which indicates whether a safety photocell beam has been interrupted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle using the vehicle processor and the first positioning information from the vehicle sensor;

transmitting the first positioning information to the garage door opener, using the vehicle communication module, as the vehicle approaches the garage;

receiving the first positioning information using a garage door opener communication module;

generating a notification using the garage door opener indicating that the vehicle is approaching the garage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating a notification using the garage door opener indicating that the vehicle is approaching the garage includes at least one of turning on a light and playing a sound.