Self-diagnosing remote entry apparatus

A remote keyless entry apparatus for use with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiving unit for disposing within the vehicle;
• a key fob, the key fob including
• transmitting means for transmitting a plurality of signals to the receiving unit;
• control means operatively connected to the transmitting means for controlling transmission of the plurality of signals;
• diagnostic gathering and storage means operatively connected to the control means for supplying diagnostic data to the control means;
• command input means selectively connected to the control means and to the diagnostic means, the arrangement being such that in a first operative disposition of the command input means, the command input means triggers the control means so that a first signal of the plurality of signals is generated by the transmitting means for reception by the receiving unit and in a second operative disposition of the command input means, the command input means triggers the control means so that diagnostic data is supplied to the control means and a second signal of the plurality of signals is generated by the transmitting means for reception by the receiving unit;
• the transmitting means including link means for transmitting the diagnostic data by a pulse width modulated radio frequency carrier;
• whereby the receiving unit may provide a diagnostic report after reception of the second signal.

A system for remotely controlling an actuator operatively disposed to be responsive to selected ones of a plurality of actuation signals, comprising:

• a receiving unit electrically coupled to the actuator and capable of generating an actuation signal;
• a transmitting unit;
• the transmitting unit including
• a controller;
• a plurality of command switches operatively coupled to the controller for providing the controller a plurality of switch signals;
• a signal generator operatively coupled to the controller for generating command signals indicative of respective ones of the plurality of switch signals;
• a transmitter for transmitting to the receiving unit the command signals;
• the command signals including diagnostic information.

A method for diagnosing transmitter conditions in a remote keyless entry system comprising the steps of:

• in the transmitter:
• awaiting the actuation of a command switch;
• upon said actuation, determining the presence of a command indicative of the transmission of transmitter diagnostic information;
• upon said command, polling transmitter conditions, storing in memory data indicative of the transmitter conditions, and transmitting said data;
• in the receiver:
• awaiting the presence of said transmitted data;
• and
• upon receipt of said transmitted data, storing the data in receiver memory.