Patent Application
20120306618
The invention generally relates to a communication module for relaying a remote keyless entry command to a vehicle keyless entry receiver, and more particularly relates to a module with a keyless entry transmitter located in the vehicle and configured to transmit a remote keyless entry signal to the vehicle keyless entry receiver.
Many vehicles are equipped with remote keyless entry (RKE) systems that operate certain aspects of the vehicle in response to a signal from a key fob, such as locking or unlocking the vehicle doors, or starting the vehicle. However, the range of these key fobs is typically limited, and vehicle operator's must carry and maintain the key fob along with other electronic devices most people already carry, such as a personal communication device.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an in-vehicle communication module for relaying a remote keyless entry command from a cellular network to a vehicle keyless entry receiver is provided. The module includes a cellular network receiver and a keyless entry transmitter. The cellular network receiver is configured to receive a remote keyless entry command from a cellular network. The keyless entry transmitter is located in the vehicle and is in communication with the cellular network receiver. The keyless entry transmitter is configured to transmit a remote keyless entry signal to a vehicle keyless entry receiver in the vehicle in order to execute a vehicle operation. The remote keyless entry signal corresponds to the remote keyless entry command.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the keyless entry transmitter includes a remote keyless entry key fob circuit board assembly. The module is coupled to the remote keyless entry key fob circuit board assembly in a manner effective for the module to operate the remote keyless entry key fob circuit board assembly to transmit a remote keyless entry signal.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a communication system for relaying a remote keyless entry command from a personal communications device to a vehicle keyless entry receiver is provided. The system includes a personal communication device, a cellular network receiver, and a keyless entry transmitter. The personal communication device is configured to send a remote keyless entry command via a cellular network. The cellular network receiver is located in a vehicle. The cellular network receiver is configured to receive the remote keyless entry command from the cellular network. The keyless entry transmitter is located in the vehicle and is in communication with the cellular network receiver. The keyless entry transmitter is configured to transmit a remote keyless entry signal to a vehicle keyless entry receiver in the vehicle in order to execute a vehicle operation. The remote keyless entry signal corresponds to the command message.
Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In general, the PCD 12 is configured to send a RKE command 8A to the cellular network 18, and the cellular network retransmits the RKE command 8B. The PCD 12 may be, for example, but not limited to, a cellular phone, personal data assistant (PDA), a smart phone such as a Blackberry® or iPhone®, or other such devices. The cellular network 18 may be a distributed network of communication nodes typically associated with a cellular phone network, where one of these nodes may be an antenna tower 20, as illustrated in
The system 10 may include a cellular network receiver 22 that is located in the vehicle 16. In general, the cellular network receiver 22 is configured to receive a RKE command 8B from the cellular network 18. The cellular network receiver 22 may be part of a cellular network transceiver 24 that includes a cellular network transmitter 26. A suitable example of a cellular network transceiver is a radioOne® RF Processor from Qualcomm. The cellular network transceiver 24 may be assigned a phone number if the system 10 is communicating with a cell phone network, or may be assigned an Internet Protocol address (IP address) if the system 10 is communicating with a network of Wi-Fi™ hot spots.
The system 10 may include a keyless entry transmitter 28 located in the vehicle 16 and in communication with the cellular network receiver 22, for example via wires, fiber optics, or other suitable signal conductor. In general, the keyless entry transmitter 28 is configured to transmit a radio frequency type remote keyless entry signal 6 to the vehicle keyless entry receiver 14 that is also located in the vehicle 16, in order to execute a vehicle operation such as: lock the vehicle doors, unlock a vehicle door, start the vehicle engine, flash the vehicle lights, or sound the vehicle horn. As such, the remote keyless entry signal 6 transmitted by the keyless entry transmitter 28 may be characterized as corresponding to the RKE command 8A, 8B transmitted by the PCD 12 and retransmitted by the cellular network 18, respectively.
The cellular network receiver 22 and the keyless entry transmitter 28 may be assembled together to form an in-vehicle communication module 30 for relaying the remote keyless entry command 8B from the cellular network 18 to the vehicle keyless entry receiver 14. As used herein, the term relaying generally means receiving a wireless signal conveying information at one carrier frequency, and transmitting at least part of or a reformatted version of the information at a different carrier frequency. For example, the remote keyless entry command 8B, may characterized as conveying information and having a first carrier frequency typically associated with cellular networks, and the remote keyless entry signal 6 may be characterized as conveying at least part of that information at a second carrier frequency typically associated with remote keyless entry systems.
For any of the embodiments described above, the keyless entry transmitter 28 transmits a remote keyless entry signal 6 that is essentially the same as what would be transmitted when a person pressed a button on a remote keyless entry key fob in their possession. Because of this feature, the module 30 may be installed almost anywhere in the vehicle 16 in order to enable the PCD 12 to execute various vehicle operations such as those described above. Since many vehicles are assembled with factory installed remote keyless entry (RKE) systems that provide the vehicle keyless entry receiver 14, adding the module 30 is little more than providing a source of power for the module 30, programming the module 30 with a phone number so the cellular network 18 can establish communication with the cellular network receiver 22, and programming the keyless entry transmitter 28 with the necessary codes so the vehicle keyless entry receiver 14 recognizes the remote keyless entry signal 6 as being authorized to execute a vehicle operation. This programming may be by way of connecting the module 30 to a personal computer (not shown), or for the case where the key fob 34 is actually a programmable transmitter, by way of the module ‘learning’ the codes from the remote keyless entry system in the vehicle, where this learning method is known.
The processor 32 may also be configured to send messages to the cellular network 18 by way of the cellular network transmitter 26 that may be part of the cellular network transceiver 24. As such, the module 30 may be configured to send a confirmation message to the PCD 12 via to the cellular network 18 for providing confirmation that a remote keyless entry command 8B was received.
In an alternative embodiment, the cellular network transceiver 24 may be replaced by a short range transceiver such as a Bluetooth™ transceiver, and communication to the cellular network 18 may be by way of a second personal communication device located in the vehicle 16, or an in-vehicle cellular radio (not shown), such as an On-Star® in-vehicle cellular radio. As such, the module 30 may be configured to communicate with cellular network 18 via an in-vehicle cellular radio.
Accordingly, a system 10, a module 30 for relaying a remote keyless entry command 8A, 8B from a cellular network 18 to a vehicle keyless entry receiver 14 is provided. The system 10 and module 30 have a particular advantage over systems having a wired data communication path to the vehicle 10 because determining the proper wiring connection and command codes for a wired connection can be very time consuming and expensive, particularly if the vehicle manufacturer is not cooperative. By making use of an already installed remote keyless access system via the vehicle keyless entry receiver 14, the engineering cost may be reduced, and the installation can be very simple.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow.
