CA-2975024-C - REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON ACTUATION MODULE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

Abstract

An actuation system used to actuate one or more buttons on a remote control device, such as a key fob, based upon commands that are generated from a mobile device. The actuation system includes an isolation enclosure that prevents RF signals from entering into or leaving an open interior of the enclosure. The enclosure surrounds a controller, a button actuator and the remote control device. The controller receives the command signals from the mobile device and converts the command signals into position commands that are used to activate the button actuator to move the plunger into alignment with one of the buttons on the key fob. The button actuator moves the plunger into contact with one of the buttons which generates an RF signal from the key fob. The controller utilizes a transmitting antenna to communicate a vehicle command signal out of the isolation enclosure for receipt by the vehicle.

Inventors

• Craig Arnold Tieman

Assignees

• Tieman Vehicle Technologies LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20170731

Priority Date

20160804

Claims (16)

1. 31 CLAIMS: 1. An actuation system to actuate one or more buttons on a remote control based on command signal generated by a mobile device, the actuation system comprising: a remote control support configured to securely receive the remote control and securely retain the remote control in a known location; a controller configured to receive the command signal from the mobile device and convert the command signal into position commands; a button actuator having an actuation tip, the button actuator being configured to receive the position commands from the controller and move the actuation tip to a position associated with the button and to move the actuation tip to engage the button of the remote control; and an isolation enclosure, wherein the remote control, the controller and the button actuator are contained within the isolation enclosure, wherein the isolation enclosure is configured to prevent radio frequency (RF) signals from reaching the remote control from outside of the isolation enclosure.
2. 2. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the remote control includes a plurality of buttons, wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit wireless command signals corresponding to the plurality of buttons, wherein the controller is configurable to position the actuator tip relative to each of the plurality of buttons, and wherein the controller is configurable to press a particular button of the plurality of buttons a particular distance and for a particular interval of time such that the wireless mobile device is operably linked to the actuation of the plurality of buttons on the remote control.
3. 3. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the button actuator further comprises: a rotatable pivot secured to a base; and a boom comprising a first end and second end, the boom rotatably mounted on the rotatable pivot at the first end and extendable from the pivot at the second end with the actuator tip fixedly mounted on the second end; 32 wherein the button actuator positions the actuator tip by rotating and extending the boom.
4. 4. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the button actuator further comprises: a boom comprising a first end and second end, the boom rotatably mounted on the pivot at the first end and the actuator tip slidably mounted on the boom proximate the second end; wherein the button actuator positions the actuator tip by rotating the boom and sliding the actuator tip along the boom.
5. 5. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the isolation enclosure is formed from a metallic material.
6. 6. The actuation system of claim 1, wherein the button actuator comprises: a plunger including the activation tip; a first servo motor operable to move the plunger in a first direction; a second servo motor operable to move the plunger in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a third servo motor operable to move the plunger in a third direction transvers to both the first direction and the second direction.
7. 7. An actuation system to actuate one or more buttons on a remote control device based on wireless command signal generated by a mobile device, the actuation system comprising: an isolation enclosure configured to prevent radio frequency (RF) signals from entering into or leaving an open interior; a remote control support located within the open interior and configured to securely receive the remote control device and securely retain the remote control device in a known location; a controller located within the open interior and configured to receive the command signal from the mobile device and convert the command signal into position commands; 33 a button actuator including a movable plunger having an actuation tip, the button actuator being configured to receive the position commands from the controller and move the actuation tip to a position associated with the one of buttons and to move the actuation tip to engage the one button of the remote control device; a receiving antenna in communication with the controller and positioned to receive the wireless command signal from the mobile device, wherein the receiving antenna is aligned with a first opening in the isolation enclosure; a remote control receiving antenna in communication with the controller and located within the open interior of the isolation enclosure, wherein the remote control receiving antenna is configured to receive control signals from the remote control device; and a transmitting antenna in communication with the controller and positioned to transmit vehicle command signals from the controller, wherein the transmitting antenna is aligned with a second opening in the isolation enclosure.
8. 8. The actuation system of claim 7, wherein the isolation enclosure is formed from a metallic material.
9. 9. The actuation system of claim 7, wherein the button actuator comprises: a plunger including the activation tip; a first servo motor operable to move the plunger in a first direction; a second servo motor operable to move the plunger in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a third servo motor operable to move the plunger in a third direction transvers to both the first direction and the second direction.
10. 10. The actuation system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of support pads positioned on a bottom wall of the isolation enclosure to receive the remote control device and securely hold the remote control device in a desired position within the open interior. 34
11. 11. The actuation system of claim 9, wherein the movement of the plunger in the third direction activates one of the buttons on the remote control device.
12. 12. The actuation system of claim 11, further comprising a force translating device positioned within the open interior of the isolation enclosure, wherein the translating device converts movement of the plunger in the third direction to movement of the force translating device in a direction transverse to the third direction.
13. 13. The actuation system of claim 11, further comprising a force translating device positioned within the open interior of the isolation enclosure, wherein the translating device converts movement of the plunger in the third direction to movement of the force translating device in a direction opposite the third direction.
14. 14. The actuation system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of reference posts positioned at known locations within the open interior of the isolation enclosure, wherein the reference posts are utilized by the controller to locate the remote control device within the open interior.
15. 15. An actuation system to actuate one or more buttons on a vehicle key fob based on wireless command signal generated by a mobile device, the actuation system comprising: an isolation enclosure configured to prevent radio frequency (RF) signals from entering into or leaving an open interior; a remote control support located within the open interior and configured to securely receive the key fob and securely retain the key fob in a known location; a controller located within the open interior and configured to receive the command signal from the mobile device and convert the command signal into position commands; a receiving antenna in communication with the controller and positioned to receive the wireless command signal from the mobile device, wherein the receiving antenna is aligned with a first opening in the isolation enclosure; a key fob receiving antenna in communication with the controller and located within the open interior of the isolation enclosure, wherein the key fob receiving antenna is configured to receive control signals from the key fob; a transmitting antenna in communication with the controller and positioned to transmit vehicle command signals from the controller, wherein the transmitting antenna is aligned with a second opening in the isolation enclosure; and a button actuator including a movable plunger having an actuation tip, the button actuator being configured to receive the position commands from the controller and move the actuation tip to a position associated with the one of buttons and to move the actuation tip to engage the one button of the key fob, the button actuator including: a first servo motor operable to move the plunger in a first direction; a second servo motor operable to move the plunger in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a third servo motor operable to move the plunger in a third direction transvers to both the first direction and the second direction.
16. 16. The actuation system of claim 15, wherein the isolation enclosure is formed from a metallic material.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON ACTUATION MODULE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD BACKGROUND [0001] Electronic systems in automotive vehicles and other devices may utilize handheld remote controls with finger-pressable buttons. These devices can be utilized to remotely actuate vehicle or device functions by hand, where such functions may be difficult to access otherwise by a vehicle operator. The remote controls of these electronic systems generally permit secure remote actuation of unlocking, locking, power door and trunk opening, remote engine starting, activation of horns, lights and panic features as well as other types of vehicle or device functions. [0002] In recent years, the rapid and widespread growth in long-range wireless connectivity and sophisticated hand-held mobile devices with touch-type graphical user interfaces and short or long-range wireless connectivity has led to the proliferation of machine-to-machine connectivity solutions and "anywhere at any time" device interactivity. Consumers now expect all of their vehicles, homes and devices to be connected and able to be interacted with via their mobile technology from anywhere and at any time. [0003] An increasing number of new vehicles come equipped with built-in wireless connectivity that enables connectivity to these vehicles via mobile devices and web-enabled devices for remote function actuation. Vehicles from General Motors, for example, equipped with ONSTAR telematics connectivity can be remotely started or unlocked with a smartphone running a downloaded software application ("app"). This is a proprietary, designed-in solution available only to purchasers of these vehicles and requires the purchase of an ongoing subscription from ONSTAR for the cellular data connectivity to the vehicle to enable this function. [0004] It is generally known that vehicle electronics suppliers have been offering retrofitted systems to expand the remote control capabilities available to vehicle owners. Directed Electronics, for example, offers aftermarket systems that control more functions and provide longer-range of connectivity, including the addition of telematics communications for control from any location with a smartphone application. One primary limitation of these systems includes the need for extensive custom engineering efforts to enable the electronics to 1 Date Re1rue/Date Received 2023-12-27 interface to and work with the electronics of the vehicles. In addition, consumers may be required to employ a professional technician for all installation efforts due to the technical complexity of the different vehicle installations. Consequently, these installations are generally expensive for consumers to consider. [0005] More recently, suppliers of aftermarket vehicle electronics have introduced systems that consumers can self-install at low-cost and complexity. Delphi Automotive, for example, has recently introduced a system that can be plugged into a standardized on-board diagnostics (OBD-11) connector found on all light-duty vehicles since 1996. The vehicle owner can easily install the system and, after downloading a smartphone application, can have remote control of vehicle access functions from their smartphone or a web-enabled device. By leveraging features found standard in many vehicles, this system advantageously allows for the addition of a new radio-frequency (RF) transmitter to operate as a secure remote control using procedures built into the vehicle by its manufacturer. Other suppliers are attempting to reverse engineer data bus commands for each vehicle to permit long-range remote control of the functions of the vehicle by transmitting data bus commands onto the OBD-11 connector from a consumer-installed device. The main limitations of the RF control technique are that many vehicles do not have any available method for adding a new transmitter by the owner. Additionally, many vehicles have such sophisticated secure RF designs that no method can be found practically to transmit the proper secure codes to a vehicle. [0006] The main limitation of a data bus control technique is the extensive effort to reverse-engineer data bus commands for each vehicle. Additionally, many vehicles cannot be controlled via this connector at some or all of the time, such as when an owner is away from their vehicle due and/or due to a lack of available data bus commands. [0007] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0108989 Al describes a remote control actuation system using a controller and solenoid(s) to press one or two remote control actuation buttons of a vehicle remote control. The system would be placed in a location within the confines of the vehicle. The '989 application describes an actuation method specific to a single type of remote control with a specific button location layout. The '989 application does not describe a configurable, or adaptable, system for mounting or actuating more than 2 buttons. The '989 application also fails to accommodate the numerous and widely-va