Patent Publication Number: US-2015061843-A1

Title: Remote key for control of vehicles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102130665 filed on Aug. 27, 2013 in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to controls for vehicle functions, and particularly to a remote key for control of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A remote key can be used for remotely locking or unlocking a vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a remote key for control of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is block diagram illustrating the remote key of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the remote key of  FIG. 1  in operation. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of another remote key in operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
       FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a remote key  100  for control of a vehicle (not shown). The remote key  100  includes, but is not limited to, a main body  20  and a touch panel  30  arranged on the main body  20 . A plurality of function icons  31  are arranged on the touch panel  30 , and each of the function icons  31  is operable to control the vehicle to perform a function, such as lock or unlock doors, open or close a trunk, open or close a convertible roof, or turn on and turn off the vehicle engine. In one embodiment, a user can touch these icons  31  in a predetermined way to control the vehicle to perform functions. 
     In one embodiment, the touch panel  30  is made of transparent materials, and the function icons  31  are provided in the interior of the touch panel  30 , in order to prevent wear and tear caused by repeated touches. In another embodiment, the function icons  31  can be printed or laser etched on the touch panel  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the remote key  100  further includes a storage device  50 , a touch sensing unit  60 , a micro controller  70 , and a wireless communicating unit  80 , which are arranged in the interior of the main body  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the storage device  50  can store coordinates of the function icons  31  and a mapping list which defines a relationship between predetermined touches and predetermined functions. 
     The touch sensing unit  60  is coupled to the touch panel  30 , and can sense a touch  32  applied to the touch panel  30 . 
     The micro controller  70  can search the mapping list to determine whether the sensed touch matches one of the predetermined touches. If the sensed touch matches one of the predetermined touches, the micro controller  70  can further search the mapping list to determine a required function corresponding to the sensed touch, and generate a remote control signal for controlling the vehicle to execute the required function. 
     The wireless communicating unit  80  can transmit the remote control signal to a receiver (not shown) of the vehicle, to control the vehicle to execute the required function. 
     In one embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3 , in use, user can touch one of the function icons  31  and slide it along a predetermined direction such as upward or downward, or slide with a predetermined pattern such as in a straight or curved line, to trigger the micro controller  70  to generate the remote control signal. 
     In the embodiment, each predetermined touch stored in the storage device  50  includes a predetermined touch track starting from the coordinates of one of the function icons  31 . In one embodiment, each predetermined touch track starts from the coordinates of one of the function icons  31 , and extends in a predetermined direction. In another embodiment, each predetermined touch track starts from the coordinates of one of the function icons  31 , and follows a predetermined pattern. 
     In the embodiment, the micro controller  70  can determine whether the sensed touch includes a track starting from a start point located on the coordinates of one of the function icons  31 . If the sensed touch includes a track starting from a start point located on the coordinates of one of the function icons  31 , the micro controller  70  can further determine whether the track of the sensed touch matches a predetermined touch track starting from the start point. If the track of the sensed touch matches a predetermined touch track starting from the start point, the micro controller  70  determines that the sensed touch matches one of the predetermined touches. 
     In another embodiment, referring to  FIG. 4 , a plan view of another remote key  100 ′ is shown in operation. In the embodiment, the remote key  100 ′ further includes an indicator icon  33  arranged on the touch panel  30 . In use, user can touch one of the function icons  31  and slide it towards the indicator icon  33  to trigger the micro controller  70  to generate the remote control signal. 
     In the embodiment, the storage device  50  can further store coordinates of the indicator icon  33 , and each predetermined touch includes a predetermined touch track starting from the coordinates of one of the function icons  31  and ending with the coordinates of the indicator icon  33 . 
     In the embodiment, the micro controller  70  can determine whether the sensed touch includes a track starting from a start point located on the coordinates of one of the function icons  31  and ending with an end point located on the coordinates of indicator icon  33 . If the sensed touch includes a track starting from a start point located on the coordinates of one of the function icons  31  and ending with an end point located on the coordinates of indicator icon  33 , the micro controller  70  determines that the sensed touch matches one of the predetermined touches. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the remote key  100  further includes a plurality of buttons  40  arranged on the main body  20 . The buttons  40  can be pressed by a user and generate a pressing signal. The mapping list further defines a relationship between pressing signals generated by each of the buttons  40  and predetermined functions. The micro controller  70  can further receive the pressing signals, search the mapping list to determine a function corresponding to the pressing signal, and generate a remote control signal for controlling the vehicle to execute the function. 
     In the embodiment, the remote key  100  further includes a prompt unit  90  configured to indicate to a user the fact of a touch. In one embodiment, the prompt unit  90  is a vibrator configured to vibrate when one or more of the function icons  31  is touched. In another embodiment, the prompt unit  90  is a lighting control unit configured to highlight a touched icon  31 . 
     In other embodiments, the remote key  100  can be provided with near-field communication capabilities and applications, such as e-wallet function, or personal identity certification. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in particular the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.