Patent Publication Number: US-2007096938-A1

Title: System and method for adaptation of wireless remote controls

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to wireless remote controls and more particularly to a system and method for adapting one or more existing wireless remote controls for use with another wireless remote control system.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Wireless remote controls are commonly used to control functions of keyless entry systems, security systems, televisions, and other consumer electronics. For example, keyless entry systems provide keyless entry to vehicles, such as locking/unlocking or opening/closing the vehicle&#39;s doors, or in the case of buildings, opening/closing doors. A wireless remote control has a radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) transmitter, which communicates with a receiver in the remotely controlled system. The remote control is matched to a specific remotely control system receiver in at least two respects. First, each receiver is matched to a specific model of remote control that is designed to work with that particular system. The transmitter in the remote control must be compatible with the receiver in the system in terms of frequency (for RF-based remotes), wavelength (for IR-based remotes), pulse repetition frequency, coding scheme, and so on. Second, each receiver and its corresponding remote control may be programmed with the same coded information to permit only the intended remote control to access the remotely controlled system, such as a remote control used for keyless entry to a vehicle. Older remote controls use a fixed code for each function, i.e., the same code is transmitted by the remote control each time the user presses a particular button or key. Newer remote controls for vehicles use rolling codes, in other words, the code for each function changes each time a particular button or key is pressed, and the transmitter and receiver are synchronized by a common algorithm.  
      Wireless remote control systems are typically proprietary and cannot be upgraded or updated without complete replacement of the remote controls and the remote control receiver in the system controlled. This approach is expensive, complex, and otherwise impractical for most systems that are controlled by wireless remote controls.  
      The only known prior art approach to the aggregation of multiple wireless remote controls is the use of an IR remote control for consumer electronics that can “learn” the codes for existing remote control functions. However, this approach does not provide any greater capability beyond that provided by the existing remote controls, only aggregation.  
      There exists a need, not met by the state of the art, to upgrade or improve an existing wireless remote control system without replacement or removal of the existing remote control system. Another need not solved in the art is the requirement to combine or aggregate control of a plurality of disparate remotely controlled systems in one wireless remote control, using at least part of the components of the existing remote controls.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a system and method for upgrading an existing wireless remote control system while using at least part of the existing wireless remote control. In another aspect of the present invention, a system and method is provided for combining or aggregating control over several disparate wireless remote control systems into one wireless remote control.  
      The invention implements a wireless remote adapter system that interfaces with one or more remotely-controlled or keyless entry systems (native systems) by incorporating a remote control (or parts thereof) that is originally designed for (or able to program to) said native systems. This approach enables the wireless remote adapter system to control each native system while also having the ability to introduce new functions to the native systems through the features of the wireless remote adapter system.  
      The advantages of the present invention over the known prior art include, but are not limited to 1) “plug-and-play” installation with no need to splice wires; 2) the ability to control multiple disparate systems through one wireless remote device; 3) the ability to extend the features of an existing remotely controlled system without the need to remove or replace it or install (through tedious wired installation) another system; 4) the ability to continue to use the existing remote control of a native system in conjunction with the new remote control and the enhanced capabilities of the remote adapter system; 5) the ability to exceed the maximum number of remotes a native system might be limited to; and 6) the flexibility to change the form factors of the remote controls.  
      The present invention facilitates upgrades of existing keyless entry systems and the remote controls that operate them, without removal of the existing system receiver or the splicing of electrical wires. Examples of the types of plug-and-play upgrades facilitated by the invention are 1) multi-vehicle remote control, in which one master remote control operates one or more vehicles; 2) passive keyless entry that automatically unlocks and locks vehicle based on user proximity; 3) Bluetooth integration, permitting authentication and operation using any Bluetooth-enabled devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), laptop computers, or any other Bluetooth enabled device; 4) long-range two-way remote controls that notify the user upon vehicle alarm activation; 5) ease and affordability of additional remotes, avoiding the high price of OEM remotes and associated programming fees; 6) innovative remote control form factors, facilitating hybrid devices such as combined key remotes, watch remotes, necklace remotes, etc.; and 7) personalized remote control colors and styles.  
      The invention is comprised of four components: 1) a wireless user remote control; 2) a wireless remote adapter cartridge, one for each type of vehicle or other wireless remotely-controlled system; 3) a wireless remote adapter receiver module, which wirelessly interfaces with the wireless user remote control; and 4) the remote control adapter, which houses the wireless remote adapter cartridge and wireless remote adapter receiver module, and receives power from the vehicle.  
      The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a wireless remote control adapter system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  shows an example of a wireless user remote control capable of controlling three disparate systems.  
       FIG. 2B  shows an alternative embodiment of the wireless user remote control.  
       FIG. 3  shows the wireless remote adapter receiver used in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangement of the receiver and cartridge within the wireless remote adapter.  
       FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary wireless remote adapter cartridge.  
       FIG. 5B  shows further detail of an exemplary wireless remote adapter cartridge.  
       FIG. 5C  shows an alternative embodiment of the wireless remote adapter cartridge. 
    
    
      Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The preferred embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , includes four components: wireless user control  10 , wireless remote adapter  11 , wireless remote adapter receiver  12 , wireless remote adapter cartridge  13 , and native remote control receiver  14 .  
      Wireless user remote control  10  is a wireless remote control capable of controlling one or more RF or IR remote control systems.  FIG. 2A  shows an example of a wireless user remote control capable of controlling three disparate systems, using function buttons  20 ,  21 , and  22 . For example, function buttons  20  control one remotely controlled system such as a first vehicle, function buttons  21  control another, different remotely controlled system such as second vehicle, and function buttons  22  control a third remotely controlled system such as a garage door opener.  
       FIG. 2B  shows an alternative embodiment of wireless user remote control  10 , in which there is only one set of function buttons  24  that are shared by several wireless remote adapters, but only one at a time. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2B , the user must select the desired wireless remote adapter by setting selector switch  23 . For example, setting selector switch  23  to Adapter  1  would permit remote control of vehicle  1 , while selection of Adapter  2  would permit control of vehicle  2 , and so forth.  
      Wireless user remote control  10  can be implemented using any remote control transmitter known in the art without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. The fundamental requirement of wireless user remote control  10  is to have sufficient channels available to control the number of desired wireless remote adapters and the respective functions on each wireless remote adapter.  
       FIG. 3  shows the wireless remote adapter receiver  12  used in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Wireless remote adapter receiver  12  receives RF or IR control signals from wireless user remote control  10 , which causes the state of one or more channels, identified as channels  1  through n on  FIG. 3 , to change accordingly. For example, if channel  1  of wireless remote adapter receiver  12  is associated with the vehicle door lock function, pressing the button on wireless user remote control  10  for door lock will change the state of the channel  1  output of the receiver. Wireless remote adapter receiver  12  can be implemented using any remote control receiver known in the art without departing from the scope and intent of the present invention. The fundamental requirement of wireless remote adapter receiver  12  is to have sufficient channels available to control the number of desired functions on the wireless remote adapter within which the receiver is housed.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates how receiver  12  and cartridge  13  of the invention are housed within the wireless remote adapter  11 . Wireless remote adapter  11  provides the power supply to receiver  12  and cartridge  13  as well as connectivity between them using either a backplane or wiring harness, or a combination of both. Wireless remote adapter  11  receives its power supply from the vehicle, preferably with an adapter (the wireless remote adapter port) that connects to the vehicle&#39;s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port. Typically, a vehicle&#39;s OBD port is always powered on, even when the vehicle is turned off, providing a constant power source. Additionally, the use of the OBD port makes it unnecessary to splice into the vehicle&#39;s wiring system. In the preferred embodiment, the connector to the OBD port includes an OBD pass-through to permit a service provider to access the OBD port without disturbing or disconnecting the invention.  
       FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary wireless remote adapter cartridge  13 . Each such cartridge is specific to a particular vehicle or remotely controlled system, and contains all or part of the original remote control associated with the vehicle&#39;s existing keyless entry system.  FIG. 5B  shows further detail of an exemplary wireless remote adapter cartridge  13 , in which the existing wireless remote control has been electrically connected to the cartridge connector, which connects cartridge  13  to wireless remote adapter receiver  12  through the wireless remote adapter  11 . For example, when channel  1  is asserted by the wireless user remote control, the switch associated with that channel on the existing remote control within the cartridge  13  will be actuated.  
       FIG. 5C  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which cartridge  13  contains an existing remote control that is mechanically actuated upon assertion of one or more channels by receiver  12 . For example, when channel  1  is asserted by receiver  12 , a motor or other actuating device capable of controlled motion will press the button or key associated with the function assigned to channel  1 .  
      To install the invention in a vehicle, the wireless remote adapter port is plugged into the vehicle&#39;s OBD port for power supply and secured appropriately. The vehicle&#39;s keyless entry system is programmed using original equipment programming procedures, if necessary, and the wireless remote adapter receiver is programmed to match the wireless user remote control.  
      A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the invention has been described with reference to keyless entry systems used in vehicles, it is equally applicable to any application that uses wireless (RF or IR) remote controls. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.