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US6049268A
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US
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Vehicle remote control system with less intrusive audible signals and associated methods
Assignee: Omega Patents LLC
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Filing: 1999-08-03
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Granted: 2000-04-11
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Expires: 2019-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle remote control system includes a remote transmitter to be carried by a user, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, an audible signal generator at the vehicle, and a controller connected to the receiver and being operable in response to a received signal. Moreover, the controller is also preferably connected to the audible signal generator for-causing generation of an audible signal based upon a received signal, and wherein the audible signal has at least one characteristic based on the transmission distance so that the audible signal is less intrusive for a shorter transmission distance. For example, the controller may determine the transmission distance based upon the received signal strength. In addition, the at least one characteristic may comprise one or more of a volume, duration, or frequency of the audible signal. The audible signal generation may be used for a vehicle security system, a remote keyless entry system, and/or a remote start system.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E. Flick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/10; B60R25/1003; B60R2225/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having at least one characteristic so that the audible signal is less intrusive for a higher received signal strength corresponding to a shorter transmission distance between said remote transmitter and said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having at least one characteristic so that the audible signal is less intrusive for a higher received signal strength corresponding to a shorter transmission distance between said remote transmitter and said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic of the audible signal comprises a volume of the audible signal; and wherein the volume is lower for a shorter transmission distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic of the audible signal comprises a duration of the audible signal; and wherein the duration is less for a shorter transmission distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic of the audible signal comprises a frequency of the audible signal; and wherein the frequency is lower for a shorter transmission distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to receiving the signal from said remote transmitter to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of receipt of the signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to an operation performed by said controller to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of performance of the operation by said controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller establishes a plurality of discrete values of the at least one characteristic of the audible signal based upon the received signal strength.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller permits selection of at least one default value of the at least one characteristic of the audible signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes responsive to respective arm and disarm signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller generates door lock and unlock signals responsive to respective lock and unlock signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said controller generates an engine start signal responsive to an engine start signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said audible signal generator comprises at least one of a horn, a siren, and a loudspeaker.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency remote transmitter and said receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having a lower volume for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having a lower volume for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to receiving the signal from said remote transmitter to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of receipt of the signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to an operation performed by said controller to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of performance of the operation by said controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller establishes a plurality of discrete values of the volume of the audible signal based upon the received signal strength.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller permits selection of at least one default value of the volume of the audible signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes responsive to respective arm and disarm signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller generates door lock and unlock signals responsive to respective lock and unlock signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said controller generates an engine start signal responsive to an engine start signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said audible signal generator comprises at least one of a horn, a siren, and a loudspeaker.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 14 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency remote transmitter and said receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having a shorter duration for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
100 words
A vehicle remote control system comprising: a remote transmitter to be carried by a user; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter, each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from said remote transmitter to said receiver; a controller connected to said receiver and being operable in response to received signals from said remote transmitter; and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to said controller; said controller causing said audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having a shorter duration for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to receiving the signal from said remote transmitter to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of receipt of the signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller causes said audible signal generator to generate the audible signal responsive to an operation performed by said controller to thereby serve as confirmation to the user of performance of the operation by said controller.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller establishes a plurality of discrete values of the duration of the audible signal based upon the received signal strength.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller permits selection of at least one default value of the duration of the audible signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes responsive to respective arm and disarm signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller generates door lock and unlock signals responsive to respective lock and unlock signals from said remote transmitter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said controller generates an engine start signal responsive to an engine start signal from said remote transmitter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said audible signal generator comprises at least one of a horn, a siren, and a loudspeaker.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle remote control system according to claim 24 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a radio frequency remote transmitter and said receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for operating a vehicle remote control system while reducing the intrusiveness thereof, the vehicle remote control system comprising a remote transmitter to be carried by a user, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter with each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from the remote transmitter to the receiver, a controller connected to the receiver and being operable in response to received signals from the remote transmitter, and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to the controller, the method comprising the steps of: operating the controller responsive to received signals from the remote transmitter; and causing the audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having at least one characteristic so that the audible signal is less intrusive for a higher received signal strength corresponding to a shorter transmission distance between the remote transmitter and the receiver.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for operating a vehicle remote control system while reducing the intrusiveness thereof, the vehicle remote control system comprising a remote transmitter to be carried by a user, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the remote transmitter with each received signal having a received signal strength corresponding to a transmission distance from the remote transmitter to the receiver, a controller connected to the receiver and being operable in response to received signals from the remote transmitter, and an audible signal generator at the vehicle and connected to the controller, the method comprising the steps of: operating the controller responsive to received signals from the remote transmitter; and causing the audible signal generator to generate an audible signal having at least one characteristic so that the audible signal is less intrusive for a higher received signal strength corresponding to a shorter transmission distance between the remote transmitter and the receiver.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a volume of the audible signal so that the step of causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal comprises causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal so that a volume thereof is lower for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a duration of the audible signal so that the step of causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal comprises causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal so that a duration thereof is shorter for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a frequency of the audible signal so that the step of causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal comprises causing the audible signal generator to generate the audible signal so that a frequency thereof is lower for a higher received signal strength.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the step of causing generation of the audible signal is performed responsive to receiving the signal from the remote transmitter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the step of causing generation of the audible signal is performed responsive to performance of an operation by the controller.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 34 further comprising the step of setting discrete values for the at least one characteristic of the audible signal based upon received signal strength.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 34 further comprising the step of selecting at least one default value of the at least one characteristic of the audible signal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes responsive to respective arm and disarm received signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the controller generates door lock and unlock signals responsive to respective lock and unlock received signals.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the controller generates an engine start signal responsive to an engine start signal received signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-11 | 2003-10-11 | 2004-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-10-11 | 2008-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-11 | 2011-10-11 | 2012-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |