Abstract:
The disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for wirelessly actuating a component of a vehicle such that it is selectively transitionable between an on condition and an off condition. The systems and devices may include a receiver and a remote transmitter. The receiver may be electrically coupled to the vehicle component within a first compartment of the vehicle and the remote transmitter may be mounted within another compartment of the vehicle that is physically isolated from the first compartment while still being wirelessly paired to one another.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Prov. Ser. No. 62/092,391 filed Dec. 16, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a wireless remote controlled electronic system for a vehicle, and more particularly to an electronic system for remotely controlling components, e.g., a horn and/or lights, of a vehicle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    For many, cars are more than a means of transportation; they are part of one&#39;s self-image. However, given today&#39;s mass-produced cookie-cutter cars imbuing a car with one&#39;s personality is not an easy task. 
         [0006]    Lack of personalization options from car manufacturers hasn&#39;t stopped those with the desire, cash, and skill to install accessories (e.g., designer wheels, musical horns, etc.), from adding and modifying various components of their automobiles, thereby injecting some much-needed personality. Such individuals have turned the aftermarket automotive accessory market into an industry that is estimated to be worth over $300 billion, and the demand for after-market automotive accessories is steadily increasing. 
         [0007]    Some accessories, particularly those that are electrical, require a level technical know-how to successfully and safely install. Given the difficulty of installing such accessories, some of those who may desire such accessories may be deterred from installing those accessories. For example, for devices that need to be actuated when inside or driving the vehicle, such as a car horn, a light, a physical electrical connection conventionally needs to be established to actuate the device. For example, typically if a car horn that is to be used while driving the car is installed, the horn may be located within the engine compartment. To turn on or turn off the device, electrical wiring would need to run through the firewall such that the wiring connects an actuator within the passenger compartment with the device within the engine compartment. Drilling through the firewall is difficult and may pose a safety hazard since doing so might compromise its integrity. 
         [0008]    Consequently, a continuing need exists for accessories for vehicles (e.g., cars, boats, etc.) that are more easily and readily installed without necessitating complicated wiring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present disclosure generally relates to a wireless remote control system, devices, and methods for wirelessly actuating a component of a vehicle such that the component is selectively transitionable between an on condition and an off condition. The component may be wirelessly actuated while the vehicle is being driven. Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for wirelessly actuate a component of a vehicle such that it is selectively transitionable between an on condition and an off condition. The systems and devices may include a receiver and a remote transmitter. The receiver may be electrically coupled to the vehicle component within a first compartment of the vehicle and the remote transmitter may be mounted within another compartment of the vehicle that is physically isolated from the first compartment while still being wirelessly paired to one another. Embodiments of such systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. 
         [0010]    The system may include devices including the receiver and the remote transmitter. The receiver may include a processor unit configured to process an instruction from a receipt of a radio signal transmitted from the remote transmitter and to selectively operate in one of two modes. The two modes may include: (a) a first mode in which the component remains in the on condition while the radio signal is being transmitted and is transitioned to the off condition when receipt of the radio signal is interrupted; and (b) a second mode in which the component remains in the on condition once the instruction from the radio signal has been received and only transitioned to the off condition once the radio signal is once again transmitted. 
         [0011]    The wireless remote control device may be configured to actuate a component of a vehicle having an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The device may include a receiver including a processor unit configured to process an instruction from a receipt of a radio signal transmitted from the remote transmitter and to selectively operate in one of two modes. The two modes may include: (a) a first mode in which the component remains in the on condition while the radio signal is being transmitted and is transitioned to the off condition when receipt of the radio signal is interrupted; and (b) a second mode in which the component remains in the on condition once the instruction from the radio signal has been received and only transitioned to the off condition once the radio signal is once again transmitted. The receiver may be physically contained within the engine compartment and may be physically isolated from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The wireless remote control device may further include a separate remote transmitter, and wherein the remote transmitter may be configured to be paired with the receiver. 
         [0012]    The receiver may include a relay that is configured to send an appropriate amount of power to the component from a power source. The remote transmitter may include an internal power source. Furthermore, the remote transmitter may be configured to transmit a plurality of radio frequencies and the receiver may be programmed to be paired with the remote transmitter such that it recognizes a radio frequency code of the remote transmitter, thereby pairing the transmitter and the receiver. 
         [0013]    The remote transmitter including an actuator and a transmitter circuit, wherein when the actuator is actuated the transmitter circuit is configured to transmit the radio signal. The vehicle may include an engine and passenger compartments. The component may be coupled to the receiver and may be physically isolated from the transmitter, that is without having to be directly electrically coupled to the transmitter such that direct wiring need not be installed through a firewall separating the engine and passenger compartments of the vehicle. To wit, the receiver may be mounted within the engine compartment and the transmitter may be mounted within the passenger compartment. 
         [0014]    A method of using the system and devices may include mounting the devices of the above described system at desired locations within the vehicle, pairing a remote transmitter with the receiver such that the radio signal is transmittable from the remote transmitter to the receiver, selecting one of the two modes, mounting the processor unit within an engine compartment of the vehicle, electrically connecting the receiver to a power source of the vehicle, placing the remote transmitter within the vehicle, and using the remote transmitter to transmit the radio signal to the receiver to selectively actuate the component. The method may further include selecting one of a plurality of radio frequencies to be transmitted by the remote transmitter, and programming the receiver to be paired with the remote transmitter such that transmission of the one of the plurality of radio frequencies selectively causes component to be turned on or to be turned off. 
         [0015]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated preferred embodiment is merely exemplary of methods, structures and compositions for carrying out the present invention, both the organization and method of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention. 
           [0017]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following drawings in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a back view of a receiver in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the receiver of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 1C  is a front view of the receiver of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  D is a side view of the receiver of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting the circuitry of the receiver of  FIGS. 1A-D . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a remote transmitter in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the remote transmitter of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting the circuitry of the remote transmitter of  FIG. 3A-B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems, compositions and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein, which define the scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, below, etc., or motional terms, such as forward, back, sideways, transverse, etc. may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. 
         [0028]    A universal wireless remote control system is described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1A-4 . The system includes a receiver  100  ( FIGS. 1A-1D ) having circuitry as depicted in  FIG. 2 , and a remote transmitter  200  ( FIGS. 3A-3B ) having circuitry as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The receiver  100  may be configured to be electrically coupled to one or more electrical accessories or components (not shown) of a vehicle or vessel such that electrical power can be selectively supplied to the one or more electrical accessories or components, and to wirelessly receive signals which determine whether or not such electively power is supplied. 
         [0029]    The receiver  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1A , may include a housing  102  which may be generally shaped as a rectangular prism having a length  1 , a width w, and height h, and may include one or more anchor members  104   a  and  104   b  extending from the housing. The anchor members  104   a  and  104   b  which may include one or more apertures  105  ( FIG. 1B ) through which securing members (e.g., screws) (not shown) may be inserted to facilitate securing of the housing  102  to a surface of the vehicle (e.g., a surface within the engine compartment). Alternatively, an adhesive may be used to facilitate securing of the housing  102  to a surface of the vehicle (e.g., a surface within the engine compartment). 
         [0030]    The receiver  100  may include a power inlet  106  that is accessible through the housing  102 , and includes a negative lead  106   a  and a positive lead  106   b  to which a fuse  111  may be electrically coupled ( FIG. 1D ). The power inlet  106  may be connected to a power source having a voltage, e.g., 12V. The receiver  100  may further include a power outlet  108  accessible through the housing  102 . The outlet  108  may include a negative lead  108   a  and a positive lead  108   b  to provide electrical power to a component or accessory (e.g., a horn and/or lights). A fuse  110  (e.g., a I-AMP Type GMA fuse), which is configured to protect the circuitry, may be accessible through the housing  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1C , the receiver  100  a switch  112  may be accessible through the housing, and may facilitate selection between two modes: (a) a first accessory (e.g., lights) on/off mode in which upon the receiver receiving a signal, the accessory may be actuated or selectively turned on; and (b) a second accessory (e.g., a horn) on/off may be actuated or selectively turned on. 
         [0031]    A schematic depicting the circuitry of the receiver  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , will now be described. It is to be understood that while a specific embodiment of the circuitry of the receiver  10  is shown, the specific values of the circuitry (e.g., voltage, resistor, etc.) is not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure. The receiver  100  may include a processor unit  120 , a relay  130 , and a voltage regulator  140 , which has a safety function to protect the circuitry by reducing the voltage, e.g., from 12V to 5V. The processor unit  120  may include one or more microcontroller units  121  (MCUs) that control the operation of the receiver  100 . The MCU  121  may be operatively coupled to an antenna via a connector. The antenna may operate, for example, at a frequency of 433 MHz and may have a range of approximately 150 ft. When the antenna receives a signal, the microcontroller is configured to send an electrical signal via the relay  130  to an appropriate output, e.g., horns or lights. 
         [0032]    The relay  130  functions as a single pole, single throw on/off switch, and is configured to receive a voltage, e.g., 12V, from for example the battery of the vehicle that selectively is transmitted to the car&#39;s horn and/or other components desired to be actuated. The relay may include an interface  31  that may have, for example, a value of 30, 20, or 10 A (amperes), and may regulate high voltage and/or current to output an appropriate power voltage and/or current to the desired component and/or accessory (e.g., car horn and/or lights). 
         [0033]    The remote transmitter  200  may be configured to be programmed to wirelessly communicate with the receiver  100 . In particular, the transmitter  200  may include a housing  202  enclosing internal circuitry ( FIG. 4 ), an activation button  204  which may be depressed in a direction along the height H of the transmitter, a button  206  which may be depressed to initiate a programming sequence such that the transmitter may learn a code for wirelessly communicating with the receiver  100 . One or more LED&#39;s (indicator unit  240  ( FIG. 4 )) may be lit when at least one of the buttons  204  and  206  actuates a function of the transmitter  200 . A door  208  may be slidable relative to a chamber formed in the housing  202  such that an internal power source, e.g., a battery, may be placed therein and connected to the circuitry. 
         [0034]    A schematic depicting the circuitry of the remote transmitter  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , will now be described. The remote transmitter  200  may include a microcontroller unit (MCU)  210 , an actuator unit  220 , a transmitter circuit  230 , an indicator unit  240 , and a voltage regulator  250 . The voltage regulator  250  provides a safety function and may be configured to regulate the voltage. The voltage regulator  250  may include a transistor  251  for voltage regulation, a transient suppressor  2151  to prevent voltage spikes, and a vener diode  253  to protect the MCU  210  such that the inputted voltage, e.g., 12V from a power source such as a battery, is maintained at or below a lower voltage, e.g., 5V. 
         [0035]    The MCU  210  may be programmed to execute the various operations of the transmitter  200 , such as providing electrical power to the indicator unit  240  and/or to the transmitter circuit  230  upon an appropriate signal from the actuator unit  220 . The actuator unit  220  may include a first button switch K 1  and a second button switch K 2  one of which is linked to button  204  and the other to button  206 . When actuated, a signal is sent to the indicator unit  240  and/or the transmitter circuit  230 . The transmitter circuit  230  includes circuitry for transmitting a signal, e.g., over a radio frequency over a frequency that may be 433 MHz, to the receiver  10 . 
         [0036]    Installation and use of the system including the receiver  100  and the transmitter  200  are now described. 
         [0037]    As discussed above, the receiver  100  may include one or more anchor members  104   a  and  104   b . Once a desired mounting location for the receiver  100 , preferably somewhere close to the component (e.g., a car horn) to which the receiver  100  is to be operatively connected, is determined, the receiver  100  may be mounted by securing the members  104   a  and  104   b  to a surface via screws (not shown) or by a suitable adhesive. The receiver  100  should preferably be mounted in a dry location. If the receiver  100  is mounted in the engine compartment, the receiver should be safe from the engine&#39;s exhaust heat and moving parts. The housing  102  and the apertures  105  may be used as a template to mark the locations on the surface such that holes may be drilled to size. Thereafter, the receiver  100  may be mounted and secured to the surface at the desired location and position. 
         [0038]    When electrically connecting the receiver  100  to the horn or accessory, wires  108   a ,  108   b  from outlet  108  may be electrically connected to the horn or accessory to the device to be remotely and selectively turned on/off. The wire from the positive terminal or post  108   b  may be connected to a positive terminal or post on the desired component or accessory and the wire extending from the negative terminal or post  108   a  may be connected to a negative terminal or post on the desired component or accessory. If the desired component does not have a polarity, the wires  108   a ,  108   b  may be connected to either electrical terminal of the component. 
         [0039]    When electrically connecting the receiver  100  to a power source (e.g., a 12V power source such as the vehicle&#39;s battery (not shown)), the negative wire  106   a  of the inlet  106  may be electrically connected to ground by securing the negative wire  106   a  under any metal body bolt or the negative battery post and the positive wire  106   b  may be connected to a positive 12V power source such as the fuse block (not shown) or the positive battery post of the vehicle&#39;s battery. Fuse  111  may contain the interface  31  may have a value of 15, 20, or 25 A (amperes), and should preferably be in relatively close proximity (e.g., within 10 inches) to the power source. 
         [0040]    The transmitter  200  may be paired with the receiver  100  via a self-learning technology such that the receiver  100  is configured to identify the coded radio signal of the transmitter  200  when using the system for the first time. When the programming is completed, the receiver  100  will lock the coded signal into its memory such that the receiver is only controlled by the transmitter  200 . A sequence for programming the receiver  100  to recognize only the radio signal of the transmitter  200  will now be described. The switch  112  may be positioned in either of its positions for actuating either first component such as the horn or the second component such as the lights. The programming button  206  of the transmitter  200  may be pressed and the component actuator button  204  may be pressed. The programming button may be released upon receipt of an indication from an LED of the visual indicator unit  240  of the transmitter  200 . Once seeing the visual indication, the programming button  206  may be released and the transmitter  200  is now programmed to work with the receiver  100 . 
         [0041]    The transmitter  200  may be mounted on a flat surface within the vehicle such as via an adhesive tape or material and/or VELCRO tape. Preferably, the transmitter  200  should not be placed in any location that may interfere with the vehicle&#39;s operation, impair visibility, or in the path of an air bag. Advantageously, since the transmitter  200  communicates wirelessly with the receiver  100  such that the transmitter  200  may be placed within the passenger compartment vehicle and the receiver  100  may be placed within the engine compartment, wiring through the firewall of the vehicle separating the passenger and engine compartments of the vehicle is not required. 
         [0042]    During use, as discussed above, the receiver may be set to one of two operating modes: (a) a first accessory (e.g., lights) on/off mode in which upon the receiver receiving a signal, the accessory may be actuated or selectively turned on; and (b) a second accessory (e.g., a horn) on/off may momentarily actuated or selectively turned on just when the signal is being received. That is, when in mode (a), the accessory may remain on until the button  204  is pressed once again, and when in mode (b), the accessory may remain on momentarily, that is during the time when the button  204  is being pressed and may turn off once the button  204  is released. Furthermore, selection of a particular mode of operation may also determine which accessory is selectively turned on/off by actuation of the button  204 . For example, momentary actuation of particular devices as in mode “b” may be desirable for a car horn such that it only sounds when the button  204  is being pressed, whereas a more continuous on status of an accessory may be desireable for car lights such as they remain on unless the user turns them off as would be the case in mode “a”. The transmitter may also provide a visual indication that a radio signal has been sent, for example, by lighting an illumination source, e.g., an LED, such that the user has confirmation of the transmission of the signal from the transmitter to the receiver. 
         [0043]    In the claims, means or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
         [0044]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely exemplary and that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention. It should be appreciated that the present invention is capable of being embodied in other forms without departing from its essential characteristics.