Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-06
2001-07-24
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C455S273000, C340S426110, C714S747000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265988
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to remote convenience systems, and is particularly directed to a system which includes a remote transmitter for transmitting a message to cause a function, such as a vehicle location alerting function (e.g., “vehicle finder” function), to be performed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Remote convenience systems are known in the art. Such remote convenience systems permit remote control of certain functions. One example type of a remote convenience system is for remotely controlling vehicle functions. Other example types of remote convenience systems include garage door opener systems and entry light activation systems.
Focusing now on the remote convenience vehicle systems, examples of a remotely controlled functions include locking and unlocking of one or more vehicle doors. A remote convenience vehicle system that permits remote locking and unlocking functions is commonly referred to as a remote keyless entry system.
Such remote convenience vehicle systems may provide for control of other vehicle functions. For example, a remote vehicle locator function may be provided. The vehicle locator function causes the vehicle horn to emit a horn chirp and/or the headlights of the vehicle to flash “ON”. This allows a person to quickly locate their car within a crowded parking lot.
Known remote convenience vehicle systems include a receiver mounted in an associated vehicle and at least one portable hand-held transmitter located remote from the receiver. The receiver has a memory that stores one or more security codes, each of which is associated with a transmitter that is authorized to cooperate with the receiver mounted in the vehicle. Each transmitter is provided with one or more manually actuatable switches. Each switch is associated with a vehicle control function to be performed. The transmitter includes circuitry that responds to the actuation of one of its switches to transmit a message in the form of a digital signal. The transmitted digital signal also includes the appropriate security code. When the receiver receives such a digital signal, it compares the security code portion of the received signal against its stored security code, and, if a match is found, the receiver provides the received message to an actuation controller, which, in turn, directs performance the requested function.
The portable transmitters operate in the ultra high frequency (“UHF”) portion of the radio frequency (“RF”) spectrum. Specifically, the remote transmitters operate in the portion of the RF spectrum that is allocated by the Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) for unlicensed transmission devices. FCC regulations stipulate that such unlicensed devices can not have a transmitted signal strength that exceeds a stipulated maximum value.
It is desirable to have a system which will provide consistent performance within a certain range. However, one problem associated with the UHF band is that of multipath interference. This problem manifests itself as “dead spots” inside of what would otherwise be a distance at which the system is capable of operating. These “dead spots” are caused by destructive interference and their location relative to the point of transmission are (i) frequency (i.e., wavelength) dependent and (ii) strength of signal dependent. Because the FCC regulates the transmitted signal strength, transmission power cannot merely be increased to overcome the interference and, thereby, obviate the problem of dead spots.
Further, it is often desirable to accomplish remote control performance of certain functions at a longest possible distance. One example is the remote vehicle locator function. To illustrate such a scenario, consider a shopping mall patron exiting a shopping mall building and being faced with the task of visually locating their car within a vast shopping mall parking lot. It would be beneficial to be able to actuate the remote vehicle locator function from a location near the exit door of the shopping mall, before proceeding into the parking lot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a portable transmitter apparatus is provided for use in a remote convenience system. The remote convenience system has a receiver/controller unit responsive to a function request transmitted by the transmitter for controlling performance of a function. The apparatus includes means for providing a message that contains a function request. Means transmits a first signal that conveys the message using a first frequency. Means transmits a second signal that conveys the same message using a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency.
In accordance with other aspect, the present invention provides a remote convenience system for remote control of performance of a function. The system includes portable transmitter means for remote control requests. The transmitter means includes means for providing a message that contains a function request. The transmitter means includes means for transmitting a first signal that conveys the message using a first frequency. The transmitter means includes means for transmitting a second signal that conveys the same message using a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency. The system includes receiver/controller means for receiving the remote control requests and for controlling performance of the requested function. The receiver/controller means includes means for receiving at least a portion of the first signal and means for receiving at least a portion of the second signal. The receiver/controller means includes means for discerning at least a portion of the message from the first signal and means for discerning at least a portion of the message from the second signal.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for conveying a remote function request from a portable transmitter apparatus of a remote convenience system to a receiver/controller unit that is responsive to such a function request from the transmitter apparatus. A message is provided that contains a function request. A first signal conveying the message is transmitted using a first frequency. A second signal conveying the same message is transmitted using a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of remote controlling performance of a function with a system having portable transmitter means for remote control requests and receiver/controller means for receiving remote control requests. A message is provided in the transmitter means that contains a function request. A first signal containing the message is transmitted using a first frequency. A second signal containing the same message is transmitted using a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency. At least portions of the first and second signals are received at the receiver/controller means. The complete message is discerned from the received portions of the first and second signals. The performance of the requested function is controlled in response the message.
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Desai Tejas Bhupendra
LeMense Thomas John
Horabik Michael
Shimizu M
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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