VWGoA - Ex. 1003
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
`
`1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`
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`

`
`US. Patent
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`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
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`5,113,427
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`3
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`

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`May 12, 1992
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`Sheet 3 of 23
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`5,113,427
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`
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`U.S.Patent
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`4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
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`5,113,427
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
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`Sheet 5 of 23
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`5,113,427
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` OPERATE
`
`TIMER TM2
`
`TURN ON HEADLIGHT
`ENERGIZING CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`courmso 5 MIN.
`OR. MORE ?
`
`
`
`S35
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
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`5,113,427
`
`FIG.8
`
`START
`
`SHIFT AUTOMATIC
`TRANSMISSION TO "P"
`POSITION OR MANUAL
`TRANSMISSION
`
`
`
`HANDBRAKE
`LEVER IN OPERATED
`POSIJION
`
`NO
`
`OPERATE
`TIMER ms
`
`TO "R" POSITION
`
`
`TURN on
`SOLENOID A2
`
`ROTATE MOTOR A1
`SLIGHTLY IN
`NORMAL DIRECTION
`
`
`
` IS ENGINE
`STARTED ?
`
`
`
`OPERATE
`HANDBRAKE,
`LEVER
`
`TURN ON
`SOLENOID A3
`
`REVERSE
`MOTOR A1
`
`OPERATE
`TIMER TM3
`
`
`
`
`
`HAS TM4
`COUNTED
`PRESET TIME 7
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
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`5,113,427
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`FlG.9
`
`
`
`START
`
`OPERATE
`HANDBRAKE
`
`OPERATE
`FOOT BRAKE
`
`.
`
`
`
`“
`
`IS ENGINE
`STARTED
`
`SHIFT AUTOMATIC
`
`TRANSMISSION TO "P"
`POSITION OR MANUAL
`TRANSMISSION
`TO "N" POSITION
`
`TURN ON
`IGNITION CIRCUIT
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`HAS TM3
`COUNTED 1 MIN.
`OR MORE
`
`YES
`
`TURN ON HEATER
`OR AIR
`CONDITIONING
`SYSTEM
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`C
`
`OPERATE
`TIMER TM2
`
`
`COUNTED 10 SEC.
`
`K H
` OR M?ORE
`
`YES
`
`352%
`
`L
`
`TURN ON
`STARTER MOTOR
`
`
`
`HAS TM3
`
`
`COUNTED 5 SEC.
`OR MORE 7
`
`
`YES
`YES
`“"*" °"‘ —
`STARTER MOTOR
`RELEASE FOOT BRAKE
`
`IS HANDBRAKE
`RELEASED ?
`
`8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, .1992
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`FIG.1O
`
`START
`
`IS ENGINE
`ROTATING 7
`
`
`
`
` TURN ON HORN SWITCH
`
`IS VEHICLE
`
`STOPPED 7
`
`YES
`
`OPERATE HANDBRAKE
`
`SHIFT AUTOMATIC
`TRANSMISSION TO "P"
`POSITION OR MANUAL
`TRANSMISSION To
`
`"l"OR "R" POSITION
`
`TURN OFF IGNITION
`AND EFI CIRCUITS
`
`ACTUATE STEERING
`WHEEL LOCK
`
`OPERATE DOOR LOCK
`
`TURN OFF HORN
`
`I
`
`9
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`f.He4...aPS”U
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`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
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`5,113,427
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`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`
`
`
`OPERATE TIMER
`TM5
`
`
`
`
`
`HAS TM6
`
`FlG.13
`
`(secono MODIFICATION)
`
`SI
`
`
`
`OR MORE ?
`
`COUNTED 3 MIN.
`
` IS NUMBER
`KEYBOARD DEPRESSED
`
`PROPERLY ?
`
`
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`
`HAS TM5
`COUNTED 6 MIN.
`
`
`OR MORE 7
`
`HAS TM6
`
`
`
`
`COUNTED 6 MIN.
`
`OR MORE ?
`
`12
`
`
`
`
` ENERGIZE
`DOOR UNLOCKING
`SOLENOID
`
`12
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 12,of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May12, 1992
`
`A
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
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`5,113,427
`
`FIG-.15
`
`
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`58
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`

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`4...He4...aD.3U
`
`‘May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
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`5,113,427
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`FIGJ8
`
`5/
`
`52
`
`INITIALIZE
`
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`
`CLEAR DATA
`FROM MEMORY
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`53
`
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`
`START
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`
`ERASE DATA
`mom DISPLAY
`
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`IN MEMORY
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`
`53
`
`54
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`55
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`
`MADE 7
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`17
`
`17
`
`

`
`
`
`18
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 17 of 23
`
`FlG.I9
`
`80
`
`
`
`8/
` LIGU D
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`CRYS AL
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`DISPLAY
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`74
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`74
`
`18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May12,1992
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`. 5,113,427
`
`I=|G.22
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 19 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`F|G.23.
`
`
`
`CALLING
`POWER
`
`souno
`SUPPLY
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`CIRCUIT
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`202
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`/00
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`402
`
`20
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`FIG-.27
`
`
`
`506
`
`OPERATING
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`5“ 507
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`ssnsoa
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`500
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`505
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`21
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`5,113,427
`
`FIG.28
`
`5060
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`T
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`5000
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`
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`POWER
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`53
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`POWER
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`
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`
`CONTROLLER
`
`22
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 12, 1992
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
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`5,113,427
`
`23
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`‘
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`May 12,1992
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
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`5,113,427
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`FlG.31
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`5/
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`
`52
`
`START
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`24
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`

`
`1
`
`5,113,427
`
`RADl()-SIGNAL-RESPONSIVE VEHICLE DEVICE
`CONTROL SYSTEM
`
`This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 283.928.
`filed Nov. 21. 1988.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`radio-signal-
`to a
`invention relates
`The present
`responsive control system for controlling various de-
`vices on a motor vehicle. and more particularly to a
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`employing a small-size personal radio paging unit as a
`receiver unit.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Various techniques have been proposed to automati-
`cally allow a motor vehicle such as an automobile to
`warm up or to automatically cool or warm the passen-
`ger compartment ofthe motor vehicle before the driver
`gets into the motor vehicle especially when the weather
`is cold or hot.
`
`Publication No.
`Patent
`Laid-Open
`Japanese
`55-14873‘) discloses an automatic warming-up device
`which includes a timer for starting the engine of an
`automobile to get
`it warm several minutes before a
`certain desired time to start the automobile in motion.
`
`particularly in a cold winter morning. When the driver
`enters the automobile at the desired starting time. the
`automobile has already warmed up. and hence can im-
`mediately be moved.
`If the time to start the automobile is changed. how»
`ever. the driver has to go to a parking lot where the
`automobile is parked. and to set the timer again to a new
`starting time.
`in-
`Another system includes a remote control unit
`stalled at a suitable location in an automobile and a radio
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`K: m
`
`30
`
`.w u-
`
`40
`
`50
`
`control unit for operating the remote control unit. The
`remote control unit can be operated by a control signal
`transmitted from the radio control unit. With this sys-
`tem combined with the above automatic warming-up
`device ofthe automobile. the driver does not have to go
`to the parking lot to set the timer again. The system may
`also be hooked up with various devices in an automobile
`to control these devices. For example, various lights of 45
`the automobile may be controlled by the system so that
`they can later be turned off under remote control when
`the driver forgot to turn them off or is not sure if they
`were turned off when the automobile was parked. The
`doors of the automobile may be locked by the remote
`control system when the driver forgot to lock them or
`is not sure if they were locked at the time the driver left
`the parked automobile. The driver may instruct
`the
`remote control system to get on the handbrake when
`the driver forgot to pull the handbrake or is not sure if 55
`the handbrake was on in the parked automobile.
`The above remote control system is however disad-
`vantageous in that it is expensive since both the remote
`control unit and the radio control unit are manufac-
`tured, and considerations have to be given to the radio
`law and regulations.
`Automobile radio telephone units are currently in use
`as an automobile-mounted device as disclosed in Japa-
`nese Laid-Open Utility Model
`Publication No.
`61-19566]. Such automobile radio telephone units em-
`ploy pushbutton dialing as with ordinary telephone
`units for both signal
`transmission and reception. An
`automobile radio telephone unit moves with an automo-
`
`65
`
`2
`bile in which it is mounted. and transmits and receives a
`call through a nearby radio station.
`The user of an automobile radio‘ telephone unit often
`finds it difficult to dial the telephone number ofa party
`to be called through the pushbutton dialing system
`within the vibrating automobile as it runs. Therefore.
`there is a demand for an automobile radio telephone
`unit which can be operated more simply and reliably.
`An automobile radio telephone unit
`is necessarily
`equipped with a tracking device which transmits a radio
`wave to indicate the location of the automobile radio
`telephone unit at all times in order to determine a radio
`station which is to be used when receiving an incoming
`signal Since the tracking device is indispensable, the
`entire automobile radio telephone system is complex
`and highly costly.
`Recently, personal radio paging units have widely
`been used which receive a radio signal transmitted from
`an ordinary telephone unit to summon the person carry-
`ing the paging unit. Ordinary personal radio paging
`units generate a buzzer sound in response to a radio
`signal received.
`Publication No.
`Patent
`Japanese
`Laid-Open
`55-l33l-19 discloses a mobile message communication
`system employing a personal radio paging unit. In the
`disclosed s_vstem, an encoded message is transmitted to
`the personal radio paging unit, which receives, stores,
`decodes. and displays or reproduces the message as a
`voice sound.
`
`According to a selective paging unit or personal
`radio paging unit disclosed in Japanese Patent Publica-
`tion No. 59-3839, a signal for calling the person carrying
`the unit is produced as an acoustic sound, and if there
`are a number of persons calling the person carrying the
`unit. some pieces of information for identifying the
`calling persons such as the names or telephone numbers
`are displayed on a display screen on the paging unit.
`The information is ho\ve\-‘er displayed on the display
`screen on the paging unit for a limited period oftime. If
`the paging unit is carried by the driver of a motor vehi-
`cle such as an automobile. the driver may find it difficult
`to confirm the displayed information or may fail
`to
`catch the calling sound while driving the automobile.
`Where there are a plurality of calling parties. the driver
`may forget who called him and when the calls came.
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`The inventors have achieved the present invention in
`order to effectively solve the aforesaid problems with
`respect to the control of various devices in a motor
`vehicle such as an automobile.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`which employs a small—size receiver unit that can re-
`ceive a calling signal from a general telephone unit, for
`remotely controlling an automobile-mounted device,
`and which takes up only a small space, can be manufac-
`tured inexpensively, and can be used easily by anybody.
`Another object of the present invention to provide a
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`which allows a vehicle telephone unit with no signal
`reception capability to perform both signal reception
`and transmission with a simple and inexpensive arrange-
`ment.
`
`To achieve the above objects, there is provided in
`accordance with the present invention a radio-signal-
`responsive vehicle device control system comprising a
`receiver unit for receiving a radio signal generated
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`based on a signal transmitted from a calling telephone
`unit and for generating a detectable signal based on the
`received radio signal.
`receiver unit storage means
`mounted in a motor vehicle for storing the receiver unit.
`detector means for producing a detected signal in re-
`sponse to detection of the detectable signal from the
`receiver unit. control means responsive to the detected
`signal from the detector means for producing a control
`signal based on at least the detectable signal. and actua-
`tor means for controlling at
`least one device in the
`motor vehicle based on the control signal from the
`control means.
`
`U-
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`I0
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`The actuator means comprises receiver-transmitter
`means for automatically producing an outgoing signal
`to dial the calling telephone unit so as to be connected -
`through to the calling telephone unit based on an outgo-
`ing transmission signal from the control means. and a
`telephone unit which can be connected through to the
`calling telephone unit via the receiver-transmitter
`means based on a connection control signal from the
`control means.
`'
`
`20
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. I is a block diagram ofa radio-signal-responsive
`vehicle device control system according to a flrst em-
`bodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 isa perspective view ofa motor vehicle incor-
`porating therein the radio-signal-responsive vehicle
`device control system of the first embodiment;
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of
`a door handle area of the motor vehicle shown in FIG.
`2:
`-
`FIG. 4 is an elevational view ofa device for actuating
`the handbrake lever of the motor vehicle of FIG. 2:
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a program for actuating the
`handbrake lever:
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program for unlocking a
`doon
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`FIG. 7 is a flowchart ofa program for turning on and 40
`offa headlight:
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart ofa program for preventing the
`handbrake from being frozen against movement;
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a program for starting an
`engine;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a programyfor preventing
`the motor vehicle from being stolen:
`FIG. 1] is a block diagram of a first modification of
`the radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control sys-
`tem ofthe first embodiment. with respect to the turning
`on and off of vehicle lights;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a second modification
`of the radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control
`system of the first embodiment, with respect to the
`locking and unlocking of a vehicle door;
`FIG. 13 is a flowchart ofa program for unlocking the
`door in the radio-signal-responsive vehicle device con-
`trol system according to the second modification;
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a radio-signal-respon-
`sive vehicle device control system according to a sec-
`ond embodiment of the present invention, which incor-
`porates a motor vehicle radio telephone unit;
`FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an operation sequence of the
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`shown in FIG. 14;
`FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a modification of the
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14;
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`FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the manner in
`which a motor vehicle radio telephone system shown in
`FIG. 16 is located in the passenger compartment of a
`motor vehicle:
`FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an operation sequence ofthe
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control device
`illustrated in FIG. 16:
`FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a copying system for
`copying information displayed on a display unit of a
`receiver unit employed in the modified radio-signal-
`responsive vehicle device control system shown in
`FIG. 16:
`FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a storage means
`storing a copying unit for copying information dis-
`played on the display unit of the receiver unit in the
`modified radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control
`system of FIG. 16;
`FIG. 2] is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the
`storage means of FIG. 20 with the copying unit stored
`therein;
`FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a recording and
`reproducing device for use with the receiver unit in the
`modified radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control
`system shown in FIG. 16:
`FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an electric circuit ofthe
`recording and reproducing device shown in FIG. 22;
`FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an operation sequence ofthe
`recording and reproducing device of FIG. 22;
`FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an audio device in a
`
`motor vehicle. incorporating the electric circuit of the
`recording and reproducing device shown in FIGS. 23
`and 24;
`FIG. 26 is a view ofa window means in the recording
`and reproducing device for allowing visual observation
`of a display screen on the receiver unit shown in FIG.
`25;
`FIG. 27 is a block diagram ofa dialing system in the
`radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control system
`according to the second embodiment;
`_
`FIG. 28 is a view showing an XY touch sensor and
`switches in the dialing system shown in FIG. 27;
`FIG. 29 is a view illustrating the XY touch sensor and
`the switches shown in FIG. 28 which are located in the
`passenger compartment of a motor vehicle;
`FIG. 30 is a block diagram of the dialing system of
`FIG. 27 which is incorporated in the radio-signal-
`responsive vehicle device control system of the second
`embodiment;
`FIG. 31 is a flowchart of an operation sequence ofthe
`dialing system illustrated in FIG. 30; and
`FIG. 32 is a view of the manner in which output
`signals from the dialing system of FIG. 27 are displayed.
`A radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control sys-
`tem according to a first embodiment of the present
`invention will hereinafter be described with reference
`to the accompanying drawings.
`As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a motor vehicle or auto-
`mobile 1 has an engine E, a battery B, and headlights L.
`The automobile 1 also has a door 2 with a receiver
`insertion slot 4 defined therein behind a door handle 3
`mounted on the outer panel of the door 2. The receiver
`insertion slot 4 is connected to a guide passage 5 defined
`in the door 2. The guide passage 5 includes an outer
`guide passageway 5a and an inner guide passageway Sb
`between which there is defined a slit 7 for passage of a
`window glass panel 6 therethrough. The inner guide
`passageway 5b is connected to a storage box 8 disposed
`as a receiver storage-means on the inner panel of the
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`door 2 which is normally disposed in the passenger
`compartment of the automobile 1. The storage box 8 is
`angularly movably mounted on the inner panel of the
`door 2 by means ofa hinge 8a. A personal radio paging
`unit 9 can easily be taken into and out ofthe storage box
`8 by a person in the passenger compartment. When the
`window panel 6 is lowered into the slit 7. the guide
`passage 5 is closed by the window glass panel 6. When
`the window glass panel 6 is lifted. the personal radio
`paging unit 9 which is inserted from outside through the
`receiver insertion slot 4 is slid through the guide passage
`5 into the storage box 8. Since the slit 7 is of a small
`width,
`the inserted personal
`radio paging unit 9 is
`smoothly guided through the guide passage 5 without
`dropping into the slit 7.
`The personal radio paging unit 9 which is employed
`as a receiver unit in this embodiment generates a calling
`sound and a message sound when it receives a radio
`calling signal and a signal such as a message signal fol-
`lowing the radio calling signal. More specifically. when
`the personal radio paging unit 9 receives a radio calling
`signal and a following message signal.
`it generates a
`calling sound and a message sound as signals which can
`be detected by a detector means comprising a sensor 10
`and a code converter 11 (described below).
`The sensor 10 is disposed in a position near the stor-
`age box 8. The sensor 10 comprises either a microphone
`for detecting a calling sound and a message sound
`which are produced by the personal radio paging unit 9
`or a pickup coil for detecting a change in the magnetic
`flux ofa loudspeaker in the personal radio paging unit 9.
`When the sensor 10 detects a calling sound given off
`from the personal radio paging unit 9. the sensor 10
`issues a signal to turn on the code converter 11 and a
`control unit S serving as a control means. as shown in
`FIG. 1. The sensor 10 is also constructed to convert a
`
`message sound following the calling sound from the
`personal radio paging unit 9 into an electric signal and
`to transmit the electric signal to the code converter 11.
`The code converter 11 then converts the transmitted
`electric signal to a prescribed operating electric signal
`(such as a four-digit binary code signal. e.g., “00lO“).
`and delivers the operating electric signal to the control
`unit S. The sensor 10 and the code converter 11 jointly
`constitute a detector means D. Thus. a detectable signal
`generated by the personal radio paging unit 9 is'de-
`tected by the detector means D, and a detected signal or
`operating electric signal is transmitted from the detec-
`tor means D to the control unit or means S.
`
`The control unit S comprises a microcomputer which
`is normally employed in recent automobiles. As shown
`in FIG. 1, the control unit S is arranged to operate
`various actuators in response to input signals (such as
`signals indicating various detected conditions of the
`automobile and signals from driver-operated members
`such as knobs, switches, and the like) other than the
`input signal from the personal radio paging unit 9. The
`signal input means which are not related to the personal
`radio paging unit 9 and the actuators which are opera-
`ble in response to input signals from those signal input
`means will not be described below as they have not
`direct bearing on the present invention.
`The control unit S comprises a memory M storing
`various control programs P0, P1, P2, .
`.
`.
`, an input port
`I, an output port 0, and a central processing unit CPU
`including a timer circuit TM (not shown). In the illus-
`trated embodiment, the program P0 is a program for
`operating the handbrake lever of the automobile 1 (see
`
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`FIG. 5). the program P] is a program for unlocking the
`doors of the automobile 1 (see FIG. 6). the program P2
`is a program for turning on the headlights of the auto-
`mobile 1 (see FIG. 7). the program P3 is a program for
`preventing the handbrake from being frozen against
`movement (see FIG. 8). the program P4 is a program
`for starting theengine ofthe automobile 1 (see FIG. 9).
`and the program P5 is a program for preventing the
`automobile from being stolen (see FIG. 10).
`The central processing unit CPU selects and executes
`one of the control programs Pi (i=0, 1, 2,
`.
`.
`.) in the
`memory M in response to an operating electric’ signal
`applied from the code converter 11 to the input port I.
`The central processing unit CPU issues an output signal
`as a control signal from the output port 0, and the con-
`trol signal
`is transmitted through a suitable amplifier
`(not shown) to a remote control actuator for operating
`a certain device in the automobile. There are a plurality
`of remote control actuators Al, A2, .
`.
`.
`, as described
`later. The input port I is supplied with signals indicating
`operating conditions from remote control condition
`detectors serving as condition detecting means which
`detect conditions of the automobile devices.
`The remote control condition detectors include a
`
`brake lever operation detector K1. a shift lever/parking
`position detector K2. an engine operation detector K3,
`and other detectors. As described later on, dependent
`on the control program to be executed, the central pro-
`cessing unit CPU corrects the control signal according
`to an operating condition signal supplied from a remote
`control condition detector to the input port I.
`The radio-signal-responsive vehicle device control
`system of the present embodiment will be described
`with reference to the handbrake lever ofthe automobile
`. which is employed as a vehicle device to be controlled.
`As shown in FIG. 4, a support bracket 12 is fixedly
`mounted on the automobile floor on one side of the
`driver‘s seat in the automobile. the support bracket 12
`having ratchet teeth 12a on an arcuate edge thereof. A
`handbrake lever 14 is rotatably supported on a support
`shaft 13 supported on the support bracket 12. The hand-
`brake lever 14 has a lower portion 14a and a grip 14b
`serving as an upper portion. The lower portion 140 has
`a pin 14c thereon and is connected to a handbrake cable
`15. When the grip 14b is manually lifted to turn the
`handbrake lever 14 clockwise in the direction of the
`arrow X in FIG. 4. the handbrake cable 15 is pulled to
`operate a pair of laterally spaced rear wheel brakes 16.
`The handbrake cable 15 has a handbrake operation
`detector (i.e., a tension sensor) Kl serving as a remote
`control condition detector. The tension sensor Kl pro-
`duces a signal when the tension of the handbrake cable
`15 which is pulled is increased beyond a certain value.
`To the pin 14c on the handbrake lever 14, there is
`rotatably coupled a rear end 170 of a movable rack 17
`which is movable in the longitudinal or fore-and-aft
`direction of the automobile (i.e., in the lateral direction
`in FIG. 4). The movable rack 17 is held in mesh with a
`free pinion 18 adjacent to which a swing plate 19 swing-
`able about a shaft 19a is disposed. A handbrake lever
`remote control actuator (i.e., a handbrake lever remote
`control motor) Al is fixedly supported on the swig plate
`19. The handbrake lever remote control motor A] has a
`rotatable output shaft with a worm gear 20 mounted on
`its distal end. The worm gear 20 is brought into mesh
`with the free pinion 18 when the swing plate 19 is angu-
`larly moved into a suitable position. The components
`denoted by the reference numerals 17 through 20 jointly
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`constitute an actuating force transmitting means 21.
`Between the swing plate 19 and an automobile body.
`there is disposed a tension spring 22 for normally urging
`the swing plate 19 to turn in one direction (i.e.. clock-
`wise in FIG. 4) to keep the worm gear 20 out of mesh
`with the free pinion 18. Another remote control actua-
`tor for controlling the transmission ofan actuating force
`(i.e.. a solenoid for controlling the transmission of an
`actuating force) A2 is positioned adjacent to the swing
`plate 19. When the solenoid A2 is energized. it gener-
`ates magnetic forces to actuate its plunger to turn the
`swing plate 19 counterclockwise (FIG. 4) about
`the
`shaft 19:1. thus bringing the worm gear 20 and the free
`pinion 18 into mesh with each other.
`The grip 14b of the handbrake lever 14 accommo-
`dates therein a ratchet pawl 23 angularly movably sup-
`ported on a shaft 24 adjacent to the ratchet teeth 120 on
`the support bracket 12. A tension spring 25 is coupled
`between the ratchet pawl 23 and the grip 14b for nor-
`mall_v urging the ratchet pawl 23 into engagement with
`the ratchet teeth 12a. A rod 26 is longitudinally mov-
`ably supported in the grip 14b. the rod 26 having an end
`260 (i.e.. a lower end in FIG. 4) angularly movably
`connected to the upper end of the ratchet pawl 23. A
`knob 27 is mounted on the upper distal end ofthe rod 26
`and projects from the distal end of the grip 14b. When
`the knob 27 is pushed into the grip 1417. the rod 26 is
`moved in the direction of the arrow Y to turn the
`ratchet pawl 23 out of engagement with the ratchet
`teeth 1211. A handbrake lever unlocking actuator serv-
`ing as a remote control actuator (i.e.. a solenoid for
`unlocking the handbrake lever) A3 is disposed on ofthe
`rod 26. When the handbrake lever unlocking solenoid
`A3 is energized. the rod 26 is moved in the direction of
`the arrow Y to displace the ratchet pawl 23 out of en-
`gagement with the ratchet teeth 12a.
`As can be understood from the above description
`with respect to FIG. 4. when the handbrake lever 14 is
`in an inoperative position. the solenoids A3. A2 can be
`energized under
`remote control and thereafter
`the
`motor A1 can be energized under remote control to
`cause the handbrake lever 14 to actuate the rear wheel
`brakes 16. When the handbrake lever 14 is operated and
`the tension of the handbrake cable 14 is increased be-
`yond a certain value. the tension sensor K1 issues a
`signal. At this time, the rear wheel brakes 16 are oper-
`ated. and the output signal from the tension sensor K1
`which indicates the operation of the rear wheel brakes
`I6 is applied to the input port I shown in FIG. 1.
`Operation of the first embodiment will be described
`below.
`
`First. the personal radio paging unit 9 is either stored
`in the storage box 8 by a person in the passenger com-
`partment. or inserted from outside into the receiver
`insertion slot 4 behind the door handle 3. Ifthe personal
`radio paging unit 9 is inserted into the receiver insertion
`slot 4. then the inserted personal radio paging unit 9
`drops down the guide passage 5 into the storage box 8
`on the inner panel of the door 2 which is located in the
`passenger compartment. A calling number is dialed by
`the pushbuttons of a general wire telephone unit TEL
`(FIG. 1), and those pushbuttons which represent a code
`number. e.g..
`(decimal notation) corresponding to
`a desired message signal are pushed. A radio wave indi-
`cating these calling and message numbers is automati-
`cally radiated from a fixed radio station St of a tele-
`phone company, and the personal radio paging unit 9
`receives the calling number and the following message
`
`8
`In response to the calling number. the
`number
`personal radio paging unit 9 generates a calling sound
`_ which is detected b_v the sensor 10. The sensor 10 then
`issues an output signal to turn on the power supply of
`the code converter 11 and the control unit S. Then. the
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`personal radio paging unit 9 generates a sound corre-
`sponding to the message signal
`which is subse-
`quentl_v received. The sensor 10 detects this sound and
`converts it into an electric signal. and then transmits the
`electric signal to the code converter 11. The code con-
`verter ll converts the electric signal,
`representing
`(decimal notation) into a prescribed operating
`electric signal, i.e.. a four-digit binary digital code signal
`The code signal
`is then sent
`to the
`control unit 5, which then selects and executes a pro-
`gram corresponding to the code signal "0000", i.e., the
`control program P0 stored in the memory _M. As de-
`scribed above_. the control program P0 is a program for
`operating the handbrake under remote control, and is
`executed to remotely control the handbrake when the
`driver forgot to pull the handbrake lever 14 or is not
`certain if he applied the handbrake.
`The program F0 for operating the handbrake will be
`described with reference to FIG. 5.
`The control unit S first determines whether the hand-
`
`brake lever 14 is in an operative position or not in a step
`S1 based on an input signal from the tension sensor Kl.
`If the handbrake lever 14 is in the operative position,
`then control ends the control program P0. If not in the
`operative position, then the solenoid A2 for controlling
`the transmission of an act