GB2337341A

GB2337341A - Wireless remote control of cruise control apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2337341A
Application number: GB9810556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chao Ting Lin; Ming Jen Wang; Chih Wah Chang
Original assignee: Lite On Automotive Corp
Current assignee: Lite On Automotive Corp
Priority date: 1998-05-14
Filing date: 1998-05-15
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Also published as: FR2778773B3; FR2778773A3; GB9810556D0; NL1009180C2; DE29808754U1

Abstract

A wireless, infrared remote control for issuing commands to a cruise control system 3 in a vehicle comprises a transmitter 1 for generating and transmitting infrared carrier signals, and a receiver 2 for receiving the infrared carrier signals in order to provide acceleration/Resume and deceleration/Set commands to the cruise control 3. The transmitter can be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle, and can comprise an encoding integrated circuit for setting different encoding modes. The receiver can comprise a receiving circuit and a decoder, for filtering and decoding the transmitted signals. The cruise control apparatus comprises a speed adjuster for adjusting the vehicle speed in response to the acceleration/Resume and deceleration/Set commands. An LED may be provided on the transmitter to indicate when there is a low supply voltage from the battery.

Description

2337341 CRME COMMOL APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL OF AUrOMOBILE,

SPEED

FIELD OF THE DIVEIsMON

The invention generally relates to wireless remote control based on application of infrared me and particularly to wreless remote col, based on application of infirared medium, for the speed of an automobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE R.,TMON

It has never been found that h me4iium is applied to wireless signal transmission for 9 cal (acceleration IRmnne and deceleration/ Setl hence die present invention is suggested to provide an ahmative (application of h m) for signal transmission so that the wireless remote s control of an automobile can be designed to adapt to various enviromnents, better dim pnor arts.

SUMY OF TIHE R,4ON The of the mtion is to provide a speed controlling apparatus including a h-insmittcr installed in an automobile for ummittffig hffim-cd mediwn to be received by a receiver and ffitered (demodulated)ldecoded thereat before being sent to a cruise control, so diat the signal can be recognized as an accelmadon/Rmmc or dmeleradm/Sct a for adjusting the speed of the automobile.

The pr on may best be under through the following description with refer to the accanpanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TBE DRAWINGS

Fig, 1 is a block diagrarn showing the structure of an embodiment based on the invention.

invention.

Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of an embodied transmitter based on the Fig. 3 shows a chmfit diagram of an embodied receiver based on the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS MST 1 transmitter 1 2 receiver 21 voltage regulator (voltage stabilizer) 22 change power supply circuit to ON/OFF switch and LED indicator 23 recemng circuit 24 decoder multiplexed output converter 3 cruise control DETA1W DESCRIMON OF PREFERRED ElvMOMIENTS A pref embodiment of the speed controlling apparatus basnd on thic inv as shown in Fig. 1, comptises a transmitter 1, a receiver 2, and a control module 3. IIx htter 1 which may be installed somewhere convenient (fiw to steering wheel, for example) in an automobile comp as shown in Fig. 2, an encoding IC (integrated circuit) U1, encoding switches SW1 and SW8, resonator XI, resistors RI-RS, capacitors Cl- C4, SW9, SW10, h-m Q, two infirared source diodes IR LED1 and IR LED2, a light ernitting diode LED, an IC U2 for detecting low voltage, and selection ss COMI and COIC to be selectively wt according to the arbium seleded kation at the left and fight side of a steering wheel, at proper s for acceleration or deceleration, whereby convenient installation, and the opera con- esponding to acceleration/Resurne and deceleration/Set cian be acJn The light emitting diode LED turns on (becomes active) when operating voltage to a level about 2.5 volts, warning an user m response to Insufficient power supply, whereby an unexpected system failure can be avoided. The encoding IC U1 is for g the encoding mode for internal codes (contained in the carrier signal to be transmitted) through encoding switches SW9 and SW10. Switches SW1 SW8 in the embodiment, together with SW9 and SW10, can be used to set several encoding modes, The transmitter 1 carrier signals of 38 1= which is generated on the basis of infirared medium.

The receiver 3 shown in Fig. 3 comprises a voltage regulator 21, a power AWly circuit 22, change power supply circuit to ON/OFF switch and LED indicator 23, a decoder 24, and a multiplexed output conventer 25. The voltage regulator 21 which comprises an IC (integrated circuit) U3, capacitors C4--C7, a diode DO, and a Me absorber MOV, receives from engine ignition signal line a voltage V IGN which is 2 rectifiedlfilteredlstabilized thereat to provide a power source of 5V.

The power supply circuit 22 comprises a power switch SW, a fight emitting diode LED, a zener diode M, a flip-flop U4, transistors Q1.and Q2, resistors R5-RlO, capacitors C"10, and terminal blocks P2, P4 etc. V1 of the terminal block P2 is connected to the negative pin of diode D0of voltage regulator 21while CR of the tennirW block P2 is connected to pin CIX of flip-flop U4 through a resistor R9, pin Q of flip-flop U4 is connected through a resistor R7 to the base of transistor Q2 which has its collector connected through a resistor R5 to the collector of transistor QI and V1 of tc block P2; the emitter of istor Q1 is connected to VP of terminal block P2 while the base is connected to the collector of transistor Q2 through a resistor R6.

A press on power switch SW leads to short-circuiting between V1 and CR of tenninal block P4, rewking in status ition of flip-flop U4, and transimrs QI and Q2 are then by to conduct V IGN to circult elements (such as cruise control) as operational voltage.

Reed catifit 23 which comprises transistor Q7, res R18and R19, c& from transmitter 1 carrier signals did are fd (or demodulated) dweat.

Connected to the output pin of receiving circuit 23, the decoder 24 comprises a dg IC US, a resistors R20, capaciton Cl I, C12, and switches SW5- SW12 for setting internal codes of the carrier signals. Decoder 24 decodes the signal provided by receiving circuit 23 as a resuk of fittering the carrier signal, and outputs the a=leration/Resume deccleration/Set commands represented by the decoded signal (a=le.raemune command through pin 4 of U5 and deceleration/Set command through pin 3 of U5).

Bias circuit 25 with hWW pins (bases of Q5 and Q6) connected to the output pins of decoder 24 (pins of U51 and output pins connected to crum control 3, is configured to comprise transistors Q3-Q6, resistors R11-R17. Bias circuit 25 is for conducting signals to cruise control 3 according to the signú outputted from decoder 24.

An acceleration/Resume command provided by decoder 24 enables pin 4 of U5 to output a voltage of high level for turning on transistors Q3 and Q5, ting in conduction of the voltage at VP of terminal block P2 to cruise control 3, whereby a microprocessor therein ( in cruise control 3) can recognize the acceleration/Resume command to control the speed of an automobile.

3 Similarly an deceleration/Set command provided by decoder 24 enables pin 3 of US to o a voltage of high level for burning on transistors Q4 and Q6, resulting m conduction of the voltage at VP of terminal block P2 to cruise control 3 through resistor R15, whereby a microprocessor of cruise control 3 can reco the deceleration/Set. command to control the speed of an automobile.

It can be seen from the above disclosure that the speed controlling apparatus suggested by the present invention applies infrared m to wireless signal transmission for speed control, particularly for speed control of an ammobile, and thus provides an alternative of conf a wireless remote speed control which can adapt to various operating envm=cnts better than pnor arts.

the invention has be= described m term of what are presently considered to be the practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cam various modifications, and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended clam Much are to be accorded with the broadest inttation so as to encor all such modffications and s structures.

-1 WHAT IS CLAEUM IS: 1. A emise control apparatus for remote wireless controlling of the speed of an automobile through acceleration and deceleration/Set commands, ing: a tritter for generating and htting h medium s; and a rc for receiving said i medium signals from said trans and for filtering and do said h medium 9 nx thereat to provide said wcelcration/Rcsume and decelcration/Sct commands. 2. ne cruise control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an encoding integrated circuit for setting different encoding modes for die internal codes of said h medium s whereby an abnormal operaflon can be avoided. 3. Ilw cruise control appu according to claim 2 wherein said trans further vo U 1 j MJ L ^ 0 p 1 a fight emitting diode for emitting light to indicatc low Mvcl of npply voltagr, of the b. which supplies operating power for said transmittcr.

4. Ilw control appa according to claim 2 wherein said tranamitter fbMer comprises selection switefies to be sd according to d= installations at right and lcft side of a stecring wheel, whereby arb installations at right and left side of sad steering wheel is allowable.

5. The cruise control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiver compit s a re=fvmg circuit and a decoder, said receiving circuit for filtering said niftarr.d medim signals and providing said decoder with internal codes winch are obtamed from filtering said infrared medium, aignals, said decoder for decoding mid internal codes to provide said acceleration/Rcgume and deceleration/Set commands.

6. 11x- cruise control aatus according to claim 1 f comprising a s ter for controling the speed of said automobile in response to said accelcration/Resume and decel=ation/Set conunands.

7. ne cruise control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said speed adj comprises a microprocessor for providing si m response to said acceleration/Resurne and deceleration/Set commands, to control the speed of said automobile.

8.]be cruise control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter is fastened to a steering wheel by a belt 9. A cruise control apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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