Granted Patent B2

US 7,295,849 · App. 10/738,081 · Granted Nov 13, 2007

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A two way remote communication system for a vehicle, comprising:

a key fob having an electrical power source;

a fob transceiver disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob electrical power source, said fob transceiver operable to transmit and receive electrical signals;

at least one button disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob transceiver and operable to initiate a transmission of a command by said fob transceiver;

a fob timer disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob transceiver and said fob power source;

a vehicle having an electrical power source;

a vehicle transceiver disposed in said vehicle and electrically connected to said vehicle electrical power source, said vehicle transceiver operable to transmit and receive electrical signals;

at least one electrical component disposed in said vehicle and electrically connected to said vehicle transceiver and operable to receive signals from and transmit commands to said vehicle transceiver;

a vehicle timer disposed in said vehicle and electrically connected to said vehicle transceiver and said vehicle power source;

wherein said transceivers are operable to transmit and receive electrical signals in response to commands transmitted by said at least one button and said at least one electrical component, and

wherein said timers are synchronized to simultaneously activate and deactivate said transceivers to establish periodic time intervals when said fob transceiver is open to transmission, thereby establishing idle time for said transceivers and reducing the amount of power consumed by said fob electrical power source.

2. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said timers simultaneously activate said transceivers for a first predetermined time interval after which said timers simultaneously deactivate said transceivers for a second predetermined time interval to complete an activation/deactivation sequence, thereby increasing the life of the fob battery.

3. The communication system according to claim 2 wherein said activation/deactivation sequence is continued for a predetermined number of sequences, after which said transceivers transmit synchronization data to ensure that said timers continue to simultaneously activate and deactivate said transceivers.

4. The communication system according to claim 1 including at least one display disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob transceiver, said display operable to display information received from said fob transceiver.

5. The communication system according to claim 4 wherein said at least one display is a liquid crystal display.

6. The communication system according to claim 4 wherein when said transceivers are unable to communicate, said display displays a “NO LINK” status.

7. The communication system according to claim 1 including a buzzer disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob transceiver, said buzzer operable to emit a sound after receiving a command from said fob transceiver.

8. The communication system according to claim 1 including a first microprocessor disposed in said key fob and a second microprocessor disposed in said vehicle, said first microprocessor operable to activate and deactivate said fob transceiver, said second microprocessor operable to activate and deactivate said vehicle transceiver.

9. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle transceiver is operable to transmit a signal including status data from said at least one electrical component and said fob transceiver receives said signal and stores said status data, said stored status data available to be accessed by said fob transceiver.

10. The communication system according to claim 9 wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said signal in response to a change in status of said at least one electrical component.

11. The communication system according to claim 9 wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said signal in response to receiving an initial signal including query information from said fob transceiver.

12. The communication system according to claim 11 wherein said fob transceiver transmits said initial signal including query information after said at least one button is pressed, said fob transceiver remaining active for a brief predetermined period of time to detect said signal from said vehicle transceiver.

13. The communication system according to claim 9 wherein after a preset period of time, said vehicle transceiver transmits a reminder signal including reminder status data and said fob transceiver receives said reminder signal and stores said reminder status data, said stored reminder status data available to be accessed by said fob transceiver

14. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one button is a one of a status check button, a remote start button, a shift button, an engine status check button, and a tire pressure check button.

15. A method for operating a two way remote communication system for a vehicle with low battery power consumption, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a key fob having a battery, said key fob including a fob transceiver disposed in said key fob and electrically connected to said fob battery, said fob transceiver being operable to transmit and receive electrical signals;

b) providing at least one button in said key fob, said at least one button being electrically connected to said fob transceiver and operable to initiate a transmission of a command by said fob transceiver;

c) providing a fob timer in said key fob, said fob timer being electrically connected to said fob transceiver and said fob battery;

d) providing a vehicle having a battery, said vehicle including a vehicle transceiver disposed in said vehicle and electrically connected to said vehicle battery, said vehicle transceiver being operable to transmit and receive electrical signals;

e) providing at least one electrical component in said vehicle, said at least one electrical component being electrically connected to said vehicle transceiver and operable to receive signals from and transmit commands to said vehicle transceiver;

f) providing a vehicle timer in said vehicle, said vehicle timer being electrically connected to said vehicle transceiver and said vehicle battery; and

g) synchronizing said timers to simultaneously activate and deactivate said transceivers to establish periodic time intervals when said transceivers are open to transmission, thereby establishing idle time for said transceivers and reducing the amount of power consumed by said fob battery.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein step g) is performed by said timers simultaneously activating said transceivers for a first predetermined time interval after which said timers simultaneously deactivate said transceivers for a second predetermined time interval to complete an activation/deactivation sequence, thereby increasing the life of the fob battery.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said activation/deactivation sequence is continued for a predetermined number of sequences, after which said transceivers transmit synchronization data to ensure that said timers continue to simultaneously activate and deactivate said transceivers.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said vehicle transceiver is operable to transmit a signal including status data from said at least one electrical component and said fob transceiver receives said signal and stores said status data.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said signal in response to a change in status of said at least one electrical component.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said signal in response to receiving an initial signal including query information from said fob transceiver.

Assignments (12)