| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090096575 | Vehicle remote access and control apparatus and communications gateway - A remote access control and communication gateway for a vehicle includes a vehicle function control mounted on the vehicle and having a receiver and/or transmitter for communicating with a transmitter and/or a receiver carried in a portable key fob. The transmitter generates a signal in response to a user initiated and/or a vehicle initiated and/or a passive distance threshold signal related to a particular vehicle function. A communication gateway is formed between the fob and a user consumer device to establish wireless local area network communication between the fob and the consumer device, such as cell phones, PDA's, personal computers, and home security systems, to enable the vehicle owner to access vehicle status information, command remote engine start or stop, and control vehicle access via the consumer device while maintaining the vehicle proprietary remote keyless entry access control system security. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090096576 | Fault tolerant vehicle communication and control apparatus - Medium-range and global network information and control for a vehicle is achieved with a portable wireless key fob, a user-provided nomadic device, and a vehicle-installed telematics unit including a medium-range RF transceiver and a wireless network transceiver. The fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit, and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the nomadic device. The fob communicates with the telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the nomadic device. If a communication initiated via the fob cannot be completed because the fob is out of range, the communication is sent to the nomadic device for network transmission to the telematics unit. If a communication initiated via the nomadic device cannot be completed due to inadequate signal reception, the communication is sent to the fob for RF transmission to the telematics unit. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090096596 | Apparatus for medium-range vehicle communications and control - Medium-range remote communication and control for a vehicle is achieved with a wireless vehicle telematics unit, a medium-range wireless portable fob, and an unmodified wireless personal communication device. The portable fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the personal communication device. The fob communicates with the vehicle telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the personal communication device. Communication can be initiated by the telematics unit or by the operator via the fob or personal communication device. Once communication is initiated, the fob relays: (1) menu options and status information from the telematics unit to the personal communication device; and (2) menu selections from the personal communication device to the telematics unit. No cellular network service or special programming is required for the personal communications device. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090243796 | Adaptive power keyless fob - A method and apparatus for remotely activating vehicle control functions using a controller mounted in a vehicle and a remote keyless entry device having transmitter, a power source and at least one activatable input member corresponding to a vehicle control function. In response activation of an input member, a remote keyless entry control transmits a vehicle control function signal to the controller at a first transmitter power level. The control determines the distance between the controller and the remote keyless entry device and adjusts the transmitter power level to the minimum power level required to support communication between the controller and the remote keyless entry device. In one aspect, the control, in response to the absence of the return signal from the controller of predetermined signal strength, increases the transmitter power magnitude to a second power magnitude and retransmits the control signal. In an other aspect, the control generates the first control signal at a first high power level and decreases the power level in proportion to the magnitude of the return signal received from the controller. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090243821 | Vehicle key fob with scanning device and display - An apparatus and method for capturing and displaying images in a vehicle RKE fob includes an imager carried on the fob for capturing images for storage in a memory coupled to a fob control. The stored images are viewable on a display on the fob and are scannable for commercial use. The imager may provide one or more axis movement of the display by movement of a user's finger over the image control display and selection of stored images. The imager and image memory storage may also be used for biometric data comparison. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090264082 | Vehicle locator key fob with range and bearing measurement - An apparatus and method of determining bearing and distance measurements between a mobile device and an object using Rf based measurements. The mobile device communicates with a control in the object to determine the relative bearing between the mobile device and the object with respect to magnetic north and, optionally, the distance between the mobile device and the object. An indicator on the mobile device aid in directing s the user of the mobile device toward the object as the mobile device is moved relative to the object. The mobile device can be a key fob and the object can be a vehicle. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090275362 | Method and apparatus for remote vehicle communications and control - Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in a vehicle instrument panel or console. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply battery charging current and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090312012 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTROL - Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in the vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply power and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100045207 | Low-cost drive system for an LED triad - A drive system for powering LED triads includes a controller for supplying power to one or more LED triad modules with integral encoding of the desired hue and intensity information. The LED triad modules each include an LED triad and decoding circuitry for activating the individual LED elements of the triad according to the encoded hue and intensity information. In the illustrated configuration, the controller supplies power to the LED triad modules over a pair of conductors, and the supplied power is modulated using a four-phase encoding sequence that is decoded by the decoding circuitry of each LED triad module so that each LED triad module produces light of the desired hue and intensity. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100109914 | Communication method for locating a parked vehicle - A method of locating a parked vehicle that is equipped with a RKE system including a vehicle-installed RF communication module and a driver-borne wireless RF nomadic device such as a key fob involves installing a RFID tag in the nomadic device and a RFID interrogator in the vehicle. The driver depresses a button on the nomadic device to transmit a location request to the vehicle's communication module, and the RFID interrogator in turn emits a RF interrogation signal to identify the RFID tag and determine its location relative to the vehicle. The communication module then transmits a compass bearing to the nomadic device, and an indicator of the nomadic device is activated to provide the driver with a bearing for locating the vehicle. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100198428 | MULTI-PURPOSE FOB SYSTEM - A wireless device is provided having an integrated vehicle fob and entertainment functionality. The wireless device includes a vehicle fob transponder for providing signals to a vehicle for at least one of remote keyless entry, passive entry, passive start, and immobilization functions. The wireless device also includes one or more entertainment receivers for providing entertainment and information functionality on board the vehicle. A controller controls the vehicle fob transponder and the entertainment receivers. One or more communication links are provided for communicating between the wireless device and a vehicle to provide vehicle fob functionality and entertainment and information functionality. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100321203 | INTELLIGENT USER-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - An intelligent communication system used with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a vehicle-installed telematics unit, and a nomadic device in communication with the vehicle-installed telematics unit via a plurality of different communication paths. The nomadic device is modified by including a software routine that is executed to determine which of the plurality of communication paths is to be used based upon a proximity between the nomadic device and the vehicle-installed telematics unit when a user of the nomadic device instructs the nomadic device to communicate with the vehicle-installed telematics unit. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110063425 | Vehicle Operator Control Input Assistance - A vehicle operating system that assists a vehicle operator with locating a control input of a vehicle device so as to minimize operator distraction when operating the vehicle device. The system includes a camera having a first perspective view of the control input, a display readily observed by the operator, and a processor configured to process a signal from the camera to determine a hand position of a hand approaching the control input and output a display signal having a second perspective view of the control input that is dependent on the operator's hand position relative to the control input. The second perspective view corresponds to that of a virtual camera attached to the operator's forearm or wrist, and so provides a perspective view that is substantially fixed relative to the hand. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110094725 | THERMALLY-PROTECTED CHAMBER FOR A TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A thermal-protection apparatus disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing enveloping a chamber in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device is received, a thermoelectric module mounted in a wall of the housing, and a remote electronic controller and power source coupled to the housing via an electrical cable for activating the thermoelectric module, and optionally the consumer electronic device, in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device. | 04-28-2011 |
