Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for remote convenience function control with increased effective receiver seek time and reduced power consumption

US6236850A · kind A · utility

69Cited by
18References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 1999
Grant dateMay 22, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A remote convenience system (10), via an associated method, causes remote control performance of a function. A portable, actuatable transmitter (14) of the system (10) transmits signals (16) that convey a function request during first portions of repeating, predetermined duration, request periods, and idles during second portions of the request periods. A receiver/controller (18) of the system (10) performs the requested function, within a response period of predetermined duration that begins upon transmitter actuation, in response to a received function request. Within the receiver/controller (18), power control circuitry (62) maintains receive circuitry (56) in a power OFF state for a first portion of a repeating, predetermined duration, power-save period, and cycles the power ON and OFF in a sequence for a second portion of the power-save period such that the receive circuitry (56) is eventually in the power ON state during one of the first portions of one of the request periods and such that one of the transmitted signals (16) is detected. The power control circuitry (62) maintains the power ON once the signal is detected to receive a next subsequent signal (16).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.