Patent Publication Number: US-7898387-B2

Title: Portable remote transmitter to remotely control a vehicle function

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to portable remote transmitters to remotely control a vehicle function. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable remote transmitters are recently commonly placed on a key chain for use in remotely controlling various vehicle functions. For example, these key chain transmitters include multiple vehicle function switches to remotely accomplish such activities as, for example, locking the doors of a vehicle, unlocking the doors of the vehicle, opening a trunk, and/or operating a powered door. 
     One problem which has been associated with such portable transmitters is that the switches include buttons which are prone to inadvertent actuation. Thus, vehicle function signals are prone to being inadvertently transmitted by the portable transmitter. Such inadvertent actuations can occur as the transmitter is placed in the pocket or purse of a user, as the user performs other activities with the portable transmitter in his or her hands, or as a result of being compressed while in a pocket or purse of the user. Therefore, a portable transmitter which significantly reduces the possibility of such inadvertent vehicle function signal transmissions is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a portable remote transmitter for use in transmitting a signal to remotely control a vehicle function is provided. The transmitter includes a vehicle function switch and a controller electrically connected with the vehicle function switch. The controller has a passive mode of operation in which the controller is not responsive to activation of the vehicle function switch to transmit a vehicle function signal. The controller also has an active mode of operation in which the controller is responsive to activation of the vehicle function switch to transmit a vehicle function signal. A mode switch is associated with the controller and adapted to cause the controller to change from the passive mode of operation to the active mode of operation. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, portable remote transmitter for use in transmitting a signal to remotely control a vehicle function with a vehicle function switch is provided. A transmitter circuit is associated with the vehicle function switch and adapted to transmit a vehicle function signal in response to activation of the vehicle function switch. A mode switch is associated with the transmitter circuit and adapted to disable the transmitter circuit from transmitting a vehicle function signal in response to an activation of the vehicle function switch. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention a portable remote transmitter for use in transmitting a signal to remotely control a vehicle function is provided. The transmitter has an active mode of operation in which the transmitter is adapted to transmit a vehicle function signal in response to a particular activation activity. The transmitter also has a passive mode of operation in which the transmitter is adapted to change to the active mode of operation in response to a different activation activity. The transmitter being further adapted, while in the passive mode of operation, to avoid transmitting a vehicle function signal in response to the particular activation activity. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter for use in transmitting a vehicle function signal to remotely control a vehicle function; 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuitry of the preferred portable remote transmitter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter with a flip cover in a closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portable remote transmitter of  FIG. 4  with the flip cover in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuitry of the preferred portable remote transmitter of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter; and 
         FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuitry of the preferred portable remote transmitter of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter for use in transmitting a vehicle function signal to remotely control a vehicle function, indicated generally as  10 , is illustrated. The transmitter generally includes a housing  12  having several vehicle function switches  14  and a mode switch  16 . The housing  12  has a plurality of side surfaces  18 ,  20  which together encase the portable remote transmitter circuitry. The vehicle function switches  14  are located on a top side surface  18  and the mode switch  16  is located on an intermediate side surface  20  which is generally adjacent and orthogonal to the top side surface  18 . The vehicle function switches  14  are adapted, for example, to transmit signals to lock the doors, unlock the doors and open the trunk, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a general circuit diagram of the circuitry of the portable remote transmitter  10  is provided. A power supply  22  is electrically connected to a controller for the transmitter  10 . Specifically, the power supply  22  is connected to the mode switch  16  button which provides input to a timer circuit  24 . Upon activation of the mode switch  16  button, a timer circuit  24  begins timing a predetermined time period. During this period, the transmitter is active. As used herein, “activation” means manually manipulating a switch. Thus, activation includes manually moving a switch into an open or into a closed position (or into an off or an on position) and includes manually maintaining the switch in a position and/or permitting a biased switch to return to a home position by manually releasing the switch. Of course, the switch may alternatively be moved into either of these positions by non-manual means (e.g., by circuitry or software). 
     The mode switch  16  button of this embodiment is a sliding switch which is biased to the open position. Thus, the user activates the mode switch  16  button by a sliding activation activity which slides the mode switch  16  against the bias to the closed position. Closing the switch initiates the timer of the timer circuit  24 . During this predetermined time period, the portable transmitter  10  is in an active mode. As such, activation of a vehicle function switch  14  by a downward pressing activity results in the transmitter circuit  26  transmitting a corresponding vehicle function signal for receipt by a receiver of the automobile. 
     Upon the lapse of the predetermined time period, the timer circuit  24  output disables the transmitter circuit  26  and the controller enters a passive mode. As such, the activation of a vehicle function switch  14  will not result in any signal being transmitted. Thus, the timer circuit  24  is adapted to operate as a switch which allows an enable signal to flow to the transmitter circuit  26  for a predetermined time period after the mode switch  16  button has been activated. The predetermined time period may be any reasonable time period in which to use the portable transmitter  10 . Preferably, the predetermined time period is less than about 10 seconds; more preferably, less than about 5 seconds; and even more preferably, less than about 3 seconds. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter  10  is provided. The transmitter  110  includes a housing  112  and a flip cover  130  which, in an open position, enables access to the vehicle function switches  114 . Thus, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the cover  130  allows the vehicle function switches  114  to be manually activated. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the flip cover  130  also has a closed position in which the cover  130  restricts access to the vehicle function switches  114 . Thus, with the cover  130  in a closed position, the probability of accidental activation of the vehicle function switches  114  is essentially eliminated. 
     The mode switch  116  is associated with the hinge of cover  130  to activate the mode switch  116  by a rotation activity which moves it into an on position when the cover  130  is open. In addition, the cover  130  is associated with the mode switch  116  to activate the mode switch  116  by moving it into an off position when the cover  130  is closed. As used herein, the “on position” corresponds to the active mode and the “off position” refers to the passive mode of operation. Consequently, activation of the vehicle function switches  114  by a downward pressing activity will only transmit a corresponding vehicle function signal when the cover  130  is in the open position. If a vehicle function switch  114  is activated while the cover  130  is in a closed position, a corresponding vehicle function signal will not be sent. Associating the mode switch  116  with a cover  130  enables a user to activate a vehicle function switch  114  to transmit a corresponding signal without holding down both the buttons of the vehicle function switch  114  and the mode switch  116  simultaneously. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a general circuit diagram of the circuitry of the portable remote transmitter  110  is provided. A power supply  122  is electrically connected to a controller for the transmitter  110 . Specifically, the mode switch  116  is located between the power supply  122  and the vehicle function switches  114  which feed power to the transmitter circuit  126  upon their activation. Thus, when the cover  130  is closed, the mode switch  116  is in an open position the transmitter circuit  126  is disabled. In contrast, when the cover  130  is open, the vehicle mode switch  116  is closed and the transmitter circuit  126  is enabled. As such, activation of a vehicle function switch  116  with the cover  130  open results in the transmission of a corresponding vehicle function signal. 
     As a result, the controller is adapted to determine if the mode switch  116  is in the closed, or active mode position. In this embodiment, this corresponds to the open position of the cover  130  and the closed position of the mode switch  116 . If the mode switch  116  is in the active position, the controller is adapted to respond to activation of the vehicle function switches  114  to transmit a corresponding vehicle function signal. If the mode switch  116  is in the passive position, the controller is adapted to ignore any possible activation of the vehicle function switches  114 . In this embodiment the passive position of the mode switch  116  corresponds to the closed position of the cover  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , yet another preferred embodiment of a portable remote transmitter  210  is provided. In this preferred embodiment, the mode switch and one of the vehicle function switches (i.e., the door lock switch) are associated with the same mechanical switch  215 . The door lock switch  215  is wired to a timer circuit  232  which is adapted to toggle the transmitter mode between the active mode and the passive mode each time the switch  215  is activated by the activity of holding it down for a predetermined period of time. Thus, the timer circuit  232  operates as a switch which moves between an active position, where the transmittal circuit  226  transmits vehicle function signals from the vehicle function switches  214 ,  215 , and a passive position, in which the transmitter circuit  226  does not process the vehicle function signals received. 
     The timer circuit  232  does not respond to activation of the door lock switch  215  to change the internal mode switch from the active to passive mode, or visa versa, unless the door lock switch  215  is maintained in an activated state for at least a predetermined period of time. If the timer circuit  232  detects that the door lock switch  215  has been maintained in an activated state for the predetermined period of time, then the controller will toggle the mode between the active and passive transmitter mode. A preferred predetermined time period in which the switch  215  must be maintained in an activated state in order to result in a change of mode status is less than about 3 seconds; more preferably, less than about 2 seconds; and even more preferably, less than about 1 second. 
     As a result, when in the passive mode, the controller is adapted to ignore activation of any vehicle function switch  214 ,  215  with respect to transmitting a corresponding vehicle function signal. Activation of the door lock vehicle function switch  215 , however, initiates the timer of the timer circuit  232 . If the timer circuit  232  determines that the vehicle function switch  215  remains in an activated state for the predetermined time period, then the controller moves to the active state. As a result of the change of states, the audible signal circuit  234  generates a short beep to signify the change of states. Thus, the user is notified of any inadvertent change in mode status of the transmitter  210 . In addition, the controller now activates the transmitter circuit  226  in response to any subsequent activation of a vehicle function switch  214 ,  215  by any short downward pressing activity so that a corresponding vehicle function signal is transmitted. 
     The portable transmitter  210  remains in this active state until the controller detects that the door lock function switch  215  has been maintained in an activated state for the predetermined period of time. Activation of the door lock function switch  215  results in a vehicle function signal being transmitted to lock the doors of the automobile. Activation of the door lock function switch  215  also starts the timer circuit  232  timing the period of activation. Upon detecting that the period of activation of the door lock function switch  215  reaches the predetermined time period, the transmitter  210  is toggled into the passive mode and the audible signal circuit  234  generates an audible beep to signify the change in states of the transmitter mode. When in this mode, the controller ignores any subsequent activation of the vehicle function switches  214 ,  215  with respect to transmitting a corresponding vehicle function signal as discussed above. 
     Of course, many possible modifications to the above described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, with respect to the preferred transmitter embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cover could be activated by a sliding action instead of the described flip action activity. With respect to the preferred transmitter embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an additional timer circuit, similar to the timer circuit of  FIG. 2 , may additionally be provided to automatically return the transmitter back into the passive mode after a predetermined period of time. In addition, although the principles of the invention are described with respect to electrical circuitry, software can alternatively be utilized to provide the various switches and/or modes. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.