Abstract:
Medium-range remote communication and control for a vehicle is achieved with a wireless vehicle telematics unit (12), a medium-range wireless portable fob (14), and an unmodified wireless personal communication device (16). The portable fob (14) includes a medium-range RF transceiver (24) for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit (12) and a short-range wireless transceiver (26) for bi-directional communication with the personal communication device (16). The fob (14) communicates with the vehicle telematics unit (12) in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit (12) and the personal communication device (16). Communication can be initiated by the telematics unit (12) or by the operator via the fob (14) or personal communication device (16). Once communication is initiated, the fob (14) relays: (1) menu options and status information from the telematics unit (12) to the personal communication device (16); and (2) menu selections from the personal communication device (16) to the telematics unit (12). No cellular network service or special programming is required for the personal communications device (16).
Abstract:
Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle (10) is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices (40, 14) provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device (40) is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device (14) is dedicated to the vehicle (10) and placed in a docking station (12) provided in a vehicle instrument panel or console. The vehicle docking station (12) is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces (26, 28, 30, 38) to supply battery charging current and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device (14) and an on-board vehicle computer (16). The secondary cellular device (14) remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer (16) and the primary cellular device (40) or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A system (10), controller (20), and method (500) for displaying an image corresponding to a field of view (12) about a vehicle (14). The controller (20) stores images from a camera (16), and outputs a processed signal (26) to display (28) to a vehicle operator (30) stored images (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F) from a time period prior to the controller (20) receiving an operator input signal (36). A vehicle (14) equipped so will allow a vehicle operator (30) actuate the operator input device (32) in order to review images and thereby verify that another vehicle (14) or a pedestrian (42) has moved away from the vehicle (14).
Abstract:
A system and method for controlling communication modes of a personal communication device traveling in a vehicle. The system includes a communication center configured to provide communication services, a personal communication device (PCD) configured to communicate with the communication center, and a controller installed in a vehicle. The communication center is configured to selectively disable any of the PCD communication modes when the PCD is residing or traveling in the vehicle. Which communication modes are disabled may be based on a customer profile. The system and method provide a way for a parent to limit the communication modes of PCD used by their child, especially when the child is traveling in and presumably operating a particular vehicle such as the family car. The system and method may also be used by employers to limit the PCD communication modes available to employees operating company vehicles.
Abstract:
A vehicle security system (10) for a vehicle (12) equipped with a passive keyless entry/passive start security system (14) (PEPS (14)) including a nomadic device (16) configured to determine a present location (20) of the nomadic device (16) (e.g. key fob, smart phone), and a controller configured to control a security-status based on the present location (20). The controller determines the security status based on the proximity of the nomadic device (16) in order to thwart theft of the vehicle (12) using a relay attack.
Abstract:
A thermal-protection apparatus (10) disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing (16) enveloping a chamber (26) in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device (18) is received, a thermoelectric module (20) mounted in a wall (16b) of the housing (16), and a remote electronic controller (12) and power source (14) coupled to the housing (16) via an electrical cable (24) for activating the thermoelectric module (20), and optionally the consumer electronic device (18), in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber (26) from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device (18) or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device (18).
Abstract:
A drive system (10) for powering LED triads (66, 68, 70) includes a controller (12) for supplying power to one or more LED triad modules (14) with integral encoding of the desired hue and intensity information (22, 24). The LED triad modules (14) each include an LED triad (66, 68, 70) and decoding circuitry (72-82) for activating the individual LED elements of the triad (66, 68, 70) according to the encoded hue and intensity information. In the illustrated configuration, the controller (12) supplies power to the LED triad modules (14) over a pair of conductors (16a, 16b), and the supplied power is modulated using a four-phase encoding sequence that is decoded by the decoding circuitry (72-82) of each LED triad module (14) so that each LED triad module (14) produces light of the desired hue and intensity.