Wireless trainable transceiver device with integrated interface and GPS modules

• US 9,412,264 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Geerlings, Steven L., Swiftney, Steven, Foy, Landon S., Ohler, Jens, Huisingh, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/982,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/12.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/62 Rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A trainable transceiver having an integrated interface connections with various vehicle modules for use with various remote electronic devices and a method of programming and using the same. The wireless trainable transceiver is in a vehicle with an integrated interface allowing connection to a human to machine interface and vehicle position determination device, such a navigation system and compass and the wireless trainable transceiver has the ability to change functions associated with preset buttons on the trainable transceiver, depending upon the location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wireless control system in a vehicle having an instrument panel or mirror, a center console and a vehicle position determination device, for wireless control of a remote electronic system, said wireless control system:

a display located within at least one of the instrument panel, the mirror and the center console;

a transmitter module configured to transmit a wireless control signal having control data which will control the remote electronic system;

an interface module in communication with the vehicle position determination device and wherein said interface module receives current geographic position data; and

a control module in communication with said display, said interface module, and said transmitter module, and wherein said control module receives geographic position data from said interface module and wherein said control module upon determining that the current geographic position data is within a specified range of a preprogrammed geographic location tag communicates a prompt to said display relating to the preprogrammed geographic location tag, wherein the prompt is displayed to prompt a user to provide a user input by selecting a function associated with the preprogrammed geographic location tag, and wherein said control module performs the selected function in response to receipt of the user input,

wherein multiple functions are preprogrammed into said control module, each of the multiple functions having the preprogrammed geographic position, and wherein said control module upon determining that the current geographic position data is within the specified range of the preprogrammed geographic position communicates a plurality of prompts to said display where each prompt is associated with a different one of the multiple functions such that the user may select amongst the multiple functions.

2. A method of training and using a wireless control system located in a vehicle having an instrument panel, a center console and a vehicle position determination device, the wireless control system having a control module, an interface module and a transmitter module, said method comprising the steps of:

programming the wireless control system with a specific function and wherein the function has a programmed geographic location tag obtained from the vehicle position determination device;

providing a current vehicle geographic position from the vehicle position determination device to the control module via the interface module;

determining if the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag;

providing an output from the control module to the display upon determining that the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag during said step of determining if the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag;

displaying the output from the control module on the display in order to prompt a user to provide a user input;

receiving the user input in response to said output from the control module to the display; and

transmitting with the transmitter module the specific function related to the received user input upon receiving said user input,

wherein the step of programming the wireless control system further comprises displaying an animation or video on the display that assists a user in training procedures for performing the programming step.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving a user input further includes a step of registering a contact to the display in the vicinity of the output displayed or a press of a button associated with the output from said step of displaying the output.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of displaying the output from the control module on the display further includes a step of providing a soft key popup on the display.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of providing a soft key popup on the display further includes a step of programming a unique name to be associated with the specific function.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing a soft key popup on the display further includes steps of:

retrieving the unique name from said step of programming a unique name; and

graphically outputting the unique name on said display to label the soft key popup with the unique name.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said displaying the output from the control module on the display occurs automatically and without any interaction with the user.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said vehicle position device includes both a GPS device and compass and wherein both of the programmed geographic tag and the current vehicle geographic position includes both the GPS location of the vehicle as well as a heading direction.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving an input includes the steps of:

receiving a modified control input; and

transmitting the modified control input.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of receiving a modified control input is the user inputting that they want the specific function to be automatically modified as previously programmed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of the user inputting that they want the specific function to be automatically modified includes the steps of:

programming the modified specific function; and

transmitting the modified specific function upon selection of a modified input.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of programming the modified specific function is a step of programming a garage door to open or close partially.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of displaying an output to the display further includes the step of providing a voice prompt and preparing to receive a voice command.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of programming a unique name also includes the step of programming a graphical representation of the specific function.

17. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of:

transmitting the specific function to a remote device;

receiving a status update from the remote device; and

providing an output to the display representing the status update received from the remote device.

7. A method of training and using a wireless control system located in a vehicle having an instrument panel, a center console and a vehicle position determination device, the wireless control system having a control module, an interface module and a transmitter module, said method comprising the steps of:

programming the wireless control system with a specific function and wherein the function has a programmed geographic location tag obtained from the vehicle position determination device;

providing a current vehicle geographic position from the vehicle position determination device to the control module via the interface module;

determining if the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag;

providing an output from the control module to the display upon determining that the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag during said step of determining if the current vehicle geographic position is within a specified distance of the programmed geographic location tag;

displaying the output from the control module on the display, wherein said step of displaying the output from the control module on the display further includes the step of providing a soft key popup on the display, wherein said step of providing a soft key popup on the display further includes the step of programming a unique name to be associated with the specific function;

retrieving the unique name from said step of programming a unique name;

graphically outputting the unique name on said display to label the soft key popup with the unique name;

programming multiple specific functions, each having a programmed geographic location tag; and

displaying each specific function when the current geographic position of the vehicle is in the desired geographical proximity to the programmed geographic location tag.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of:

programming a unique name for each specific function; and

displaying each unique name with each specific function displayed during said step of displaying each specific function when the current geographic position of the vehicle is in the desired geographical proximity to the programmed geographic location tag.

18. A wireless control system in a vehicle having an instrument panel or mirror, a center console and a vehicle position determination device, for wireless control of a remote electronic system, said wireless control system:

a display located within at least one of the instrument panel, the mirror and the center console;

a transmitter module configured to transmit a wireless control signal having control data which will control the remote electronic system;

an interface module in communication with the vehicle position determination device and wherein said interface module receives current geographic position data; and

a control module in communication with said display, said interface module, and said transmitter module, and wherein said control module receives geographic position data from said interface module and wherein said control module upon determining that the current geographic position data is within a specified range of preprogrammed geographic location tag communicates a prompt to said display relating to the preprogrammed geographic location tag, wherein the prompt is displayed to prompt a user to provide a user input by selecting a function associated with the preprogrammed geographic location tag, and wherein said control module performs the selected function in response to receipt of the user input,

wherein said display displays an animation or video that assists a user in training procedures for performing programming of the system.