Vehicle control system including multi-digit control switch and associated methods

A vehicle control system comprising:

• a transmitter to be carried by a user;
• a controller at the vehicle for performing at least one vehicle function responsive to said transmitter, said controller being switchable among a plurality of modes;
• a switch at the vehicle and cooperating with said controller for switching said controller to a desired mode responsive to operation of said switch in a sequence corresponding to a multi-digit user code;
• said controller counting operations of said switch occurring within a predetermined time of each other as a respective digit of the multi-digit user code;
• and
• an indicator for confirming entry of a digit of the multi-digit user code irrespective of whether the digit is correct or not.

A vehicle control system comprising:

• a controller at the vehicle for performing at least one vehicle function responsive to a transmitted signal, said controller being switchable among a plurality of modes;
• and
• a switch at the vehicle and cooperating with said controller for switching said controller to a desired mode responsive to operations of said switch in a sequence corresponding to a multi-digit user code;
• said controller counting operations of said switch occurring within a predetermined time of each other as a respective digit of the multi-digit user code.

A method for switching a controller at a vehicle among a plurality of modes, the controller for performing at least one vehicle function responsive to a transmitter signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a depressable switch at the vehicle and connected to the controller;
• depressing the switch in a sequence corresponding to a multi-digit user code and switching to a predetermined mode responsive thereto;
• and
• using the controller to count operations of the switch occurring within a predetermined time of each other as a respective digit of the multi-digit user code.