Ventilation – Vehicle – Having inlet airway
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-14
2004-12-07
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Vehicle
Having inlet airway
C062S264000, C361S231000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827642
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of control systems and, more particularly, to vehicle control systems and associated methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft and perform various security-related vehicle functions. A typical vehicle security system includes a controller having a receiver connected thereto. The controller may perform security-related functions, such as locking/unlocking doors, or switching between armed and disarmed modes responsive to signals received from one or more remote transmitters.
Vehicle remote control systems are also widely used to perform vehicle functions. Some of these functions may include locking/unlocking doors, remote engine starting, or trunk release, for example. Still other vehicles are equipped with remote keyless entry (RKE) controllers to permit a user to remotely lock and unlock the vehicle doors using a handheld transmitter. A particularly advantageous security system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,877, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. A window unit, spaced from the controller, carries the receiver, antenna, and control switches/indicators. Better range and enhanced user convenience are provided.
Ion generators are generally used to eliminate a portion of pollutants in a surrounding area. More specifically, ion generators generate and emit negative ions which collide with airborne particles to provide them with a negative charge. The negatively charged airborne particles accumulate over time until the particles are heavy enough to fall to the ground. This process is advantageous in removing pollutants from the air.
An ion generator for use in a vehicle is offered by The Sharper Image® as the “Ionic Dashboard Ionizer” under model number SI629BLK. This ion generator includes a cigarette lighter adapter to provide power, and generates ions within the vehicle compartment. This type of ion generator may be disadvantageous, however, as it must be manually removed from the cigarette lighter to be turned off. In some vehicles, if the ion generator is left plugged into the cigarette lighter, it may drain the vehicle battery when the vehicle is not running.
Other such ion generators that are powered using a cigarette lighter adapter include those offered by Electrocorp™ under model no. IG-2000, MGT™ under model no. CAI-991, and Comtech™ under model no. IG-1202. These ion generators also suffer from same disadvantages of the ion generator offered by The Sharper Image® in that they must be manually removed from the cigarette lighter so as not to drain the vehicle battery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a selectively operable air treatment device, such as a vehicle ion generator, for example.
This and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are provided by a vehicle remote control and air treatment system that may include an air treatment device to treat air in the vehicle. The air treatment device may comprise an electrically powered ion generator for selectively generating ions in the vehicle. The system may further include at least one remote transmitter, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, and a controller at the vehicle. In some embodiments, the controller may be connected to the receiver for performing at least one vehicle function based upon signals from the remote transmitter, and may also selectively operate the electrically powered ion generator.
The controller may comprise a security controller that may be switchable to different modes and may operate the electrically powered ion generator based upon the mode. More specifically, the security controller may be switchable between armed and disarmed modes, and may turn the electrically powered ion generator on when in the disarmed mode, and off when in the armed mode.
The electrically powered ion generator may comprise a power supply for generating a high voltage from a vehicle supply voltage, and an electrode structure connected to the power supply. The electrode structure may comprise a conductive brush, for example. The electrically powered ion generator may further comprise a housing separate from the controller. The housing may carry the power supply, the electrode structure, the receiver, and/or an antenna. A control switch may also be connected to the controller and carried by the housing.
In one embodiment, the controller may comprise a remote keyless entry controller that operates the electrically powered ion generator responsive to a signal to unlock at least one vehicle door. In other embodiments, the controller may comprise a remote engine start controller that operates the electrically powered ion generator responsive to a signal to start an engine of the vehicle.
A manual switch for selectively operating the electrically powered ion generator may also be included. The electrically powered ion generator may further comprise at least one indicator for indicating operation of the electrically powered ion generator.
In other embodiments, the electrically powered ion generator may be carried by a housing separate from the controller. This separate housing may also carry a controller device, such as the receiver, antenna, or a control switch or indicator, for example.
A method aspect of the present invention is for treating air within a vehicle. The method may include providing an electrically powered ion generator in the vehicle, and selectively operating the electrically powered ion generator using a controller at the vehicle that is also for performing at least one vehicle function based upon signals from at least one remote transmitter.
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Cal Sun Electronics Technology, 2001, The Auto Air Ionizer™, Model No.'s SEYB- 101, 102 and 103 available at www.calsuntech.com.
MGT Online SDN BHD, 1998-2002, MGT Automobile & Car Ionizer product, various models, available at www.mgt.com.my/automobileionizer.
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Electrocorp, 2002, Ion Air Care brochure, available at www.electrocorp.net.
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Joyce Harold
Omega Patents, L.L.C.
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