Abstract: A security system is disclosed having a base controller, a base transceiver, a remote control, and a passive locking prevention device. The passive locking prevention device includes a detection device preferably located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle for detecting the remote control. The detection device preferably has a detection range extending only to the inside of the vehicle. The passive locking prevention device is configured such that the vehicle will not passively lock when the passive locking prevention device detects the remote control. The passive locking prevention device can be connected to the base controller via a wired or wireless connection. The remote control can contain an emission device that emits a detectable signal by the detection device, and upon such detection, the vehicle is prevented from locking. The system can visibly or audibly alert a vehicle owner if the vehicle is not passively locked.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting and alleviating the pinching of an object in a window of a vehicle having a drive unit motor controlling a window based upon current signals received from a control switch, security system remote control, or security system controller. The detection method includes determining a current threshold for the motor, determining time required to close the window, monitoring drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation, and determining if the current threshold is reached before window close time has elapsed. The alleviation method includes determining a current threshold, determining window close time, monitoring drive unit motor current draw during a window close operation, determining if current threshold has been reached before window close time has elapsed, and positioning the window so the drive unit motor current is less than the current threshold. The methods can be programmed into a window control module.

Abstract: An AM/FM modulation scheme is presented for optimizing communications between a remote control device held by a user and a receiving unit installed in a vehicle. Historically, these systems communicated with amplitude modulated signals having good range but poor immunity to ambient random radio frequency noise. Frequency modulated systems provide improved immunity to noise however at the expense of range. The object of this invention is to use two or more modulation modes to combine their advantages. A scheme has been devised whereby circuitry capable of alternately operating in at least two modes is used. The same information is therefore transmitted using two or more modulation techniques in succession. The receiving unit also has circuitry and has listening cycles ensuring eventual synchronization with the transmitting unit. If one mode fails due to distance or ambient noise, the other can then attempt to establish a link.

Abstract: A digital processor-based remote controller of a wireless remote control system includes a small number of manual input devices, such as keys and scroll wheels, and a graphical user interface. The remote controller can have a single scroll wheel with internal push-to-activate switch, and a small display. This configuration minimizes the size of the remote controller, while allowing for a large number of different control commands to be transmitted to the controlled system. In addition, the remote controller can be configured by the user for both right- and left-handed operation.

Abstract: A color-to-temperature converter senses temperatures of a device, translates the temperatures into light of different colors, and emits or displays the light. The color-to-temperature converter includes a tri-color light emitting diode (LED) assembly with inputs corresponding to red, green, and blue monochromatic LEDs within the assembly. The processor of the converter separately controls the intensity of each monochromatic LED of the assembly, and the outputs of the monochromatic LEDs converge to appear as one color to an observer. In typical operation, the relationship between the temperature input and the converged color imparts to the observer an intuitive understanding of the consequences of the sensed temperatures to operation of the device whose temperatures the converter monitors.

Abstract: A light-to-speech transforming circuit is coupled to an indicator light of a legacy security system. The transforming circuit detects flashes of the indicator light, interprets sequences of the flashes, and correlates the sequences to specific events monitored by the security system. The events are then correlated to speech segment data of various audible announcements. The segment data is used to drive a speaker, so that the user can hear the announcements. The transforming circuit can include a learning feature, whereby it prompts the user to cause specific events of the security system, such as zone violations, and then prompts the user to speak the announcements corresponding to the events. The transforming circuit records the flashing sequences and the announcements corresponding to the sequences, and delivers the announcements when the corresponding events occur during operation of the security system.

Abstract: A remote starting system operable with a passive anti theft security system. The passive anti theft security system includes a first coil connected to a passive anti theft controller, which is used for transmitting a first signal to a first transponder. The first transponder has a third coil and a first code. The first transponder is responsive to the first signal and transmits the first code to the first coil. The remote starting system comprises a second transponder, which has a second code and a fourth coil. The fourth coil has two terminal ends wound about the second transponder. The system further comprises a relay that selectively shorts or opens the terminal ends of the fourth coil so as to selectively enable and disable the second transponder.

Abstract: A vehicle security system for performing selectable vehicle security functions that are programmable in a wireless manner. The system has a microcontroller controlling a vehicle security interface including at least a siren control unit and a vehicle head/signal light controlling unit. A physically independent remote programming unit is used for transmitting function-programming information to the microcontroller, and a radio receiver is connected to the microcontroller for receiving function-programming information transmitted by the remote programming unit. The remote programming unit includes a switch array for setting up a security function code pattern representing the selected security functions. The remote programming unit also includes a radio transmitter for sending, in an electromagnetic transmission, the function-programming command in a signal string representing the security function code pattern to the microcontroller.