US 6,049,268 A · Vehicle remote control system with less intrusive audible signals and associated methods

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.

Claims44

Dependent claims

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.

3 more elements

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle remote control system with less intrusive audible signals and associated methods

Life of this patent

Vehicle remote control system with less intrusive audible signals and associated methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44