Vehicle remote control interface for controlling multiple electronic devices
An interface device for interconnecting fixed controls of a vehicle to electronic devices. The interface device is capable of receiving control signals from fixed controls, such as steering wheel controls, backseat controls, handlebar controls, and the like, and then transmitting corresponding control signals to the electronic devices. In one aspect, the device is programmable such that the interface device emits signals corresponding to the same signals that would be emitted from a handheld remote control sold in conjunction with the different electronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and a replacement stereo receiver. In another embodiment, the device is capable of recognizing spoken voice commands and generating corresponding IR signals in order to control the electronic devices. In still another embodiment, the device is an interface between the fixed controls and multiple electronic devices, such as an audio and video component.
1. A method of controlling both an existing entertainment device and an aftermarket entertainment device in a vehicle with a stereo control user interface originally configured to control the existing entertainment device, the method comprising:
adapting the stereo control user interface to selectively send control signals to the aftermarket entertainment device;
sending control signals from the stereo control user interface device to the existing entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the stereo control user interface;
detecting whether the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment devise; and
sending control signals from the stereo control user interface to the aftermarket entertainment device in response to user selection of the aftermarket entertainment device and user manipulation of the stereo control user interface
wherein the user interface includes a memory and is programmable to store in the memory output signals corresponding to the aftermarket entertainment device such that subsequent activation of the user interface results in recalling from the memory at least one output signal corresponding to the aftermarket entertainment device and wherein the user interface is programmable so that the user interface can be adapted for use with a plurality of different types of aftermarket entertainment devices.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting whether the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment device comprises detecting whether the user has activated a dedicated selection switch to select the aftermarket entertainment device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting whether the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment device comprises detecting a pre-selected pattern of user manipulation of the stereo control user interface to detect that the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises sending audio signals to occupants in the vehicle from the existing entertainment device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises sending video signals to occupants in the vehicle from the aftermarket entertainment device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting whether the user has selected the aftermarket entertainment device includes detecting a recognizable signal that induces the stereo control user interface to send control signals to the aftermarket entertainment device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein adapting the user interface to selectively send control signals to the aftermarket entertainment device comprises positioning a control interface device between the stereo control user interface and the existing entertainment device such that the control interface device selectively sends control signals from the stereo control user interface to at least one of the existing entertainment device and the aftermarket entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the stereo control user interface.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein sending control signals from the stereo control user interface to the aftermarket entertainment device includes sending wireless control signals from the control interface device to the aftermarket entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the stereo control user interface.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein sending wireless control signals from the control interface device to the aftermarket entertainment device includes sending infrared (IR) control signals from the control interface device to the aftermarket entertainment device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein sending wireless control signals from the control interface device to the aftermarket entertainment device includes sending radio frequency (RF) control signals from the control interface device to the aftermarket entertainment device.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises programming the control interface device to selectively send control signals from the user interface ge-viee to at least one of the existing entertainment device and the aftermarket entertainment device in response to user manipulation of the user interface geviee.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein programming the control interface device includes:
(i) receiving remote control signals from a handheld remote control device associated with the aftermarket entertainment device in response to a programmer depressing function keys on the handheld remote control device;
(ii) identifying operational control functions corresponding to the received remote control signals of the handheld remote control device; and
(iii) producing wireless control signals corresponding to the identified operational control functions in response to the programmer activating the stereo control user interface in a manner so as to control the aftermarket entertainment device.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises storing at least one remote control signal corresponding to the operational control functions of the handheld remote control device associated with the aftermarket entertainment device such that subsequent activation of the stereo control user interface results in at least one corresponding wireless control signal being transmitted to the aftermarket entertainment device.