Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-11-20
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2735)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S005220, C340S005700, C307S010300, C307S010600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320514
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of remote control systems, and more particularly, to a remote control system, such as for vehicle security.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle.
The controller typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition.
A typical security system also includes a receiver associated with the controller that cooperates with one or more remote transmitters typically carried by the user as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,242 to Sassover et al. The remote transmitter may be used to arm and disarm the vehicle security system or provide other remote control features from a predetermined range away from the vehicle.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,867 to Stouffer and U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,215 to Drori, the security system controller may include features to store and compare unique codes associated with a plurality of remote transmitters, each remote transmitter having its own unique code initially programmed therein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,215 in particular discloses that remote transmitter codes may be added or deleted from the controller corresponding to the number of remote transmitters desired by the user. Unfortunately, a would-be thief gaining access to the controller may readily enter the program or learn mode and install the code of an unauthorized remote transmitter. The owner would thus be unaware of such activity, until the thief returns with the unauthorized remote transmitter to disarm the security system and steal the vehicle, or steal the vehicle contents.
Also related to remote control of a vehicle function U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,966 to Lambropoulous et al. discloses a remote keyless entry system for a vehicle. The keyless entry system permits the user to remotely open the vehicle doors or open the vehicle trunk using a small handheld transmitter. The system provides a thirty second time window in which to operate one or more uniquely coded remote transmitters to load the transmitter codes into memory. If someone desired to surreptitiously record a new transmitter code into someone else's receiver, the new code would overwrite the prior codes so that only the new code would remain. If the authorized transmitter ceased to operate, the user may recognize that the receiver had been the subject of tampering. Unfortunately, the user may also simply assume that the battery in his remote transmitter had failed and would be unaware that a new transmitter had been coded into the system without his knowledge.
Remote vehicle starting systems also typically include uniquely coded remote transmitters capable of remotely starting the vehicle engine, and wherein the transmitter codes may be learned into the system. Other remote control systems for a vehicle operate similarly, and are subject to tampering or bypassing by one gaining access to the controller to record a different unauthorized transmitter code. Unfortunately, the user may be completely unaware that a new transmitter has been coded and may operate the remote control system, until, for example, a thief returns with a coded remote transmitter, disarms the security system and steals the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle security system and related method for reducing the risk of an unauthorized remote transmitter being able to disarm the vehicle security system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a similar enhanced security feature to the remote control of other functions associated with a vehicle, such as keyless door entry, and remote engine starting, for example.
These and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the invention are provided by a remote control system for a vehicle for permitting a user to remotely control a function associated with the vehicle and comprising remote transmitter learning means for learning a unique code of a remote transmitter to define a learned remote transmitter capable of causing performance of a function associated with the vehicle; and remote transmitter verifying means for generating an indication relating to whether a new uniquely coded remote transmitter has been learned by the remote transmitter learning means. The system also preferable includes at least one uniquely coded remote transmitter, and a receiver for receiving a signal from the remote transmitters.
The remote control system is advantageously used, in one embodiment, for a vehicle security system. In particular, the security system further preferably includes at least one vehicle security sensor, and an alarm controller switchable between an armed mode and a disarmed mode responsive to a learned remote transmitter. The alarm controller in the disarmed mode is capable of generating an alarm responsive to a vehicle security sensor. If a remote transmitter were learned without authorization, the would-be criminal could return to the vehicle, disarm the security system and steal the vehicle. The present invention provides the user with a verification that only authorized remote transmitters can disarm the security system, and conversely that no unauthorized remote transmitters have been learned.
The remote control system can also be used for a remote keyless door entry system including a plurality of vehicle door locks movable between locked and unlocked positions, and a door lock controller for moving the vehicle door locks between locked and unlocked positions responsive to a learned remote transmitter. If the user is made aware of the possibility that an unauthorized remote transmitter has been learned into the remote keyless entry system, the user can take steps to delete the learned remote transmitters and relearn only authorized remote transmitters.
Similarly, the remote control system may also be used for a remote engine starting system. In particular, such an embodiment preferably includes a vehicle engine starter, and a remote start controller for operating the vehicle engine starter responsive to a learned remote transmitter. Again the user would be alerted by the remote transmitter verifying means to the possibility of an unauthorized remote transmitter being capable of remote starting the vehicle.
The remote transmitter learning means is preferably switchable between a learning mode permitting learning of a unique code of a remote transmitter, and a secure mode. The remote transmitter learning means also preferably includes remote transmitter deleting means for deleting all prior learned remote transmitters based upon entering the learning mode. If all the remote transmitters are deleted, the user can be assured that only authorized transmitters have been coded or learned thereafter.
In one embodiment, the remote transmitter verifying means comprises learning mode entered indicating means for indicating that the learning mode of the remote transmitter learning means has been entered. More particularly, the learning mode entered indicating means preferably comprises time lapse means for indicating when the learning mode of the remote transmitter learning means has last been
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Horabik Michael
Shimizu M
LandOfFree
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