WO2017137647A1

WO2017137647A1 - Remote control method and system for vehicle functions

Info

Publication number: WO2017137647A1
Application number: PCT/ES2017/070068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaime MATEO PULIDO
Original assignee: Mateo Pulido Jaime
Priority date: 2016-02-08
Filing date: 2017-02-06
Publication date: 2017-08-17
Also published as: ES2629355A1; ES2629355B1

Abstract

A remote control method and system for functions of vehicles (10) define a warning mode, which can be turned on or off, by means of a warning indicator based on a value corresponding to an open or closed state of the vehicle (10), determined on the basis of a previous interaction consisting in opening, closing or operating an element of the vehicle (10). The system comprises a first device (11) incorporated into the vehicle (10) and that transmits a first signal, and a second, control device (12) that is located outside the vehicle (10), can be carried by the user (13) and is designed to receive the signal. In this second device (12), when the signal is received, a timer is activated and, if a second signal that differs from the previous signal is received from the first device (11), the warning mode of the warning indicator changes state.

Description

PROCEDURE AND REMOTE FUNCTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN

VEHICLES

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the automotive industry, specifically to the technical field of remote control systems of existing devices in a vehicle to open and close the doors, windows, the trunk and other parts of the vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for controlling the opening and closing operations of doors, windows, trunk, etc. in the vehicle in order to be able to notify the user, whether or not inside the vehicle, at any time about the status (open / closed) of each of the parts under remote control of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is currently no device that allows drivers to know the status of their vehicle. Thus the user can only resort to his memory with the dependability of reliability that this implies, in the face of the daily repetition of a routine, which without a doubt can be conditioned based on the events that usually occur or the impossibility of differentiating between what has been done. one day and the previous one, leading the user to act automatically and without notion of what happens. In addition, this fact puts the vehicle in danger of being maliciously manipulated or stolen.

The problem to be solved is the lack of knowledge of drivers about whether they have closed their vehicle after parking it. The need arisen from the problem, is demonstrated in the usual practice among drivers, of having to return to their vehicle to close again, due to the existing possibility of having forgotten to close it, with the risk of theft that it implies.

Among the controls that are used today to close / open a car, it should be noted: The smart watch that the Mercedes car manufacturer is betting on and that it has developed together with Pebble Technology. Its appeal is based on a series of functionalities, accessible through this watch, and parameters on the state of the vehicle.

The advantages of this device are:

o Real-time knowledge of the location of the vehicle and other parameters.

o Functionalities in application mode that can be developed, or Allows its use while driving,

o Remote vehicle control.

The disadvantages that can be found in your application are: o Need for an added device to benefit from its utilities.

o That it is a watch, it can condition the owner of the vehicle by not being able to carry his watch and have the need to carry two watches on top or only the one associated with the car. o Personal object or of all, the clock is associated with a car and there is no more than one per car. This can present problems in situations where one does not use the same car every day or is shared, having to exchange watches in addition to keys.

o The device implies the direct and continuous connection between the clock and the car, requiring a system that allows communication between them. A great technological investment for the manufacturer. o It presents a risk of being hacked by its connection through the Internet putting the vehicle user in danger.

o The economic outlay associated with this technology is high, limiting its installation to the highest range models.

o It can result in a distraction for the driver of the vehicle if he makes inappropriate use of the watch. The key that BMW presents linked to its new model of its range I of electric cars presents the possibility for the driver to interact with the car through it and receive information about different parameters of his vehicle.

The advantages of this device are:

o The device with which it is presented is necessary and does not imply carrying extra gadget devices for the driver.

o Presents information about the vehicle.

o Possibility of modifying certain parameters such as temperature. The disadvantages that can be found in its application are: o The link with the range of electric cars can initially reduce the ability to integrate in other models, due to the type of information more oriented towards this type of vehicles.

o Not only associated to the electric range but only to the highest range model presented so far, due to the technological investment that this new car and key connection system means through telephone networks or the Internet.

o The cost of technological investment is a high cost for buyers that is reflected in the increase in the cost of the car or as an excessively expensive extra.

o This type of connection by such accessible means may run the risk of being pirated, with the possibility of vehicle theft or risk of drivers.

o The excessive price of a device for everyday use in case of loss or breakdown of any of its components.

After analyzing some examples of vehicles that have their own intelligent physical device to remotely control the opening / closing of doors, there are also cited existing systems in the market based on the use of mobile applications: The German brand BMW is not limited to the development of smart keys but tries to cover the entire market with its application for ¡Phone and Android that allows to have certain features on the vehicle.

The advantages offered by the application are: o It offers some of the functionalities that other systems have without the need for a specific device.

o Control over the vehicle improving safety and comfort. o Possibility of opening and closing the vehicle through the application.

The application also has some drawbacks, such as these: o In order to use the application, in addition to requiring a smartphone where you can use it, the vehicle must be equipped with the 6AP Remote Services option and an activation on its website.

o The high cost of this type of extras.

o Outside the United States, the generalization and reception of these types of roadside assistance systems by operator is scarce. This being the original use of the necessary technology, there is currently no widespread implementation in the brand's vehicles.

o It is necessary to comment that the application is limited, with the restrictions already mentioned, to the vehicles of the brand.

The service offered by Volvo, On Cali, consists of a paid subscription that offers certain information and features in the vehicle. The application is introduced into the service as a facility and without being at any time the purpose of the service, but one more way to access the advantages acquired.

The advantages offered by the application are: o Control of the state of different vehicle parameters in real time with certain limitations,

o Knowledge of the state of the closing of the vehicle with the possibility of modifying it from the application. o Availability of the application on large platforms,

Iphone, Google and Windows,

o Location of the vehicle.

The disadvantages that are observed in the application are:

o Annual subscription payment service.

o Availability depending on the year of registration and the vehicle model that may limit the features offered by the service.

o The time elapsed while the vehicle is idle will condition the frequency with which the information is updated. There may be a situation where you stop updating until the vehicle is not used again, losing the application until then.

Therefore, the technical problem is to provide users with a device through which they can easily know the status (open / closed) of the doors, windows, trunk, etc., of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention serves to solve the problem mentioned above, solving the problems presented by the solutions mentioned in the prior art, by providing a system that can be informed by means of an indicator, installed in the control (key) of the vehicle or integrated in a terminal of user (such as a mobile phone), if the vehicle (or any part of it: trunk, windows, convertible roof, ...) is closed or open, informing the user in real time quickly and easily of the state of your vehicle.

The present invention comprises two devices, one located in the vehicle and another in the command / terminal that the user has to open / close the vehicle, which communicate with each other. The device installed in the user control has communication means that allow to connect to the control panel or control unit vehicle electronics (Electronic Control Unit: ECU) and interact with the opening and closing means provided in the vehicle.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method of remote control of functions in vehicles (for example, opening and closing of doors, auxiliary opening, opening and closing of the trunk, etc.), which comprises the following steps:

Define an alert mode for an alarm indicator, which can be turned on (ON) or off (OFF), based on a vehicle status value. The state of the vehicle can be worth or defined as Open or Closed, and that state is determined by a previous interaction of the user with a system or means of opening and closing provided in the vehicle. The interaction can therefore be: open, close or operate an element of the vehicle (for example, open / close luggage compartment).

Update the vehicle status value, to Open or Closed, provided by a first remote control device incorporated in the vehicle itself.

- Transmitting a first radio frequency signal from that first device to a second remote control device that, unlike the first device, is external to the vehicle. The second device is portable by a user, being able to be integrated in a control or electronic key of the vehicle that the user carries or in a mobile terminal such as his smartphone or a tablet. This second device verifies the (first) radio frequency signal received from the first device to verify that it comes from the vehicle under control.

The second device then activates, with the reception of the first radio frequency signal, a timer. If, before the end of the timer, a second radio frequency signal is received, transmitted from the first device to the second device, other than the first, the alert mode is changed: from ON to

OFF or OFF to ON, as appropriate, of the alarm indicator. If no (second) radio frequency signal other than the first is received for the duration of the timer, the alarm indicator remains in the (ON, OFF) mode it is in.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a remote function control system in vehicles, comprising a first device incorporated in a vehicle and a second device, incorporated in a command external to the vehicle, both devices configured to communicate by radio frequency (and in a preferred embodiment, using a frequency band different from the operating frequency of the vehicle control unit). The first and second devices of the remote control system comprise a microcontroller, a memory and a transceiver connected to the microcontroller. Additionally, the second device comprises an alarm indicator. The system implements the remote control procedure described above:

The first device updates in time the status value of the vehicle, open or closed, and transmits, through its transceiver, a first radio frequency signal to the second device, which verifies that it comes from the vehicle under control.

The second device activates, with the reception of the first signal by its transceiver, a timer and if, before that timer reaches the end of its configured time count, it receives a second signal from the first device other than the first, it changes the alert mode of your alarm indicator: turning it off or on as appropriate.

This timer defined here, which is activated with the reception of the first signal in the second device and that puts its transceiver waiting to receive a possible second signal different from the first signal received, sets a time limit to detect a signal from vehicle closure or end of operation of vehicle element (for example, boot closure). If such a signal is not received, during the duration of the timer, the second device goes into a sleep mode of minimum consumption, deactivating the transceiver that was waiting to receive a second signal.

Additionally, in a possible case, a previous or initial timer is established to detect if the vehicle is within the reach of the remote closing / opening command of the vehicle (and, therefore, within the reach of the second device integrated in that command) . This initial timer serves as a counter to the transceiver of the second device while waiting to receive a first signal from

(the first device installed in) the vehicle.

Some of the technical advantages presented by the invention over the prior art solutions are: Real-time operation: the control device offers the user the ability to know the status of the vehicle at any time by updating the device's alarm indicator (for example), the user can instantly see the indicator luminous indicating the current state of the vehicle.

Autonomous operation: the system can operate independently, only through external signals. In its operation, the system does not interfere with the opening mechanisms existing in the vehicle, but only requires external signals that exist in the usual operation of the vehicle's closing means. These external signals of the system are: the signal of variation or update of the state of the closing of the vehicle using the (first) device of the system installed in the vehicle and the pulsation or interaction signals of the user for the opening closing or auxiliary opening (in addition of the voltage detection signal when making contact with the vehicle) using the means of your remote control or mobile phone where the second system device is integrated. The basis of this advantage is the possibility of operating the system over the current opening / closing systems existing in vehicles without implying variations in the encoded signals of those systems. This system works as a complementary system to the opening / closing of the vehicle itself, allowing an installation as an addition without compromising communication systems and operating completely in parallel independently.

Low consumption, the device installed in the vehicle control is powered by its power supply. In most cases it is a 3V battery, with a capacity of approximately 225mAh, or else a battery with similar characteristics. It is sought not to affect, by adding the device, the duration of the batteries of the remote control / key / mobile used by the user to open / close the vehicle.

Costs: as in all industries today, the price of components must increasingly be adjusted to achieve benefits. The case of the automobile industry is no exception and to improve the attractive system, it can be implemented with electronic components existing in the market at an economical price. Small size so that the device can be installed in the usual command of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that expressly relate to an embodiment of said invention which is presented as a non-limiting example thereof is described very briefly below.

FIGURE 1.- Shows a remote control system of vehicle functions with a user control and a control device in the vehicle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control procedure for the opening of vehicles implemented in the user control, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control procedure for the opening of vehicles implemented in the device installed in the vehicle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 4.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control procedure of the vehicle closure implemented in the user control, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control method of vehicle closure implemented in the device installed in the vehicle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control procedure of the auxiliary opening in vehicles implemented in the user control, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 7.- Shows a block diagram of the remote control procedure of the auxiliary opening in vehicles implemented in the device installed in the vehicle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 8.- Shows a block diagram of the procedure for activating indicators and timers in the user control involved in the remote control of the auxiliary opening in vehicles, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 9.- Shows a block diagram of the remote contact control procedure in the vehicle implemented in the user control, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 10.- Shows a block diagram of the architecture of the first device, according to a possible embodiment.

FIGURE 1 1.- Shows a block diagram of the architecture of the second device, according to a possible embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Next, possible embodiments of the proposed system for real-time communication between entities by instant messaging are described.

Figure 1 shows a remote control system of functions in vehicles, such as the function of activating the vehicle contact to start, open and / or close the doors or windows of the vehicle, open / close the trunk, etc., comprising a first remote control device (11) incorporated in the vehicle (10) and a second remote control device (12), which is external to the vehicle (10) and that the driver or a user (13) of the vehicle (10) It can be integrated in your mobile phone or in the smart key or vehicle control (10). The first and second remote control devices (11, 12) of the system comprise a microcontroller, a memory and a transceiver - both connected to the microcontroller, the transceiver configured to communicate with each other said first and second control devices (1 1, 12) remote. The second remote control device (12), which the user (13) can Carrying on top also includes an alarm indicator, luminous and / or audible, to notify the user (13), even at a distance, of the status of the vehicle's functions (10). Next, in Figures 2-8, the basic steps of the remote control processes of different functions, opening and closing, and putting the vehicle contact (10), implemented, by parts, in the first and second devices are shown remote control (1 1, 12) of the system. Figure 2 shows the basic steps of the remote control of the vehicle opening

(10) carried out in the second device (12) of the system, incorporated in the key or the command that the user carries to open and close the vehicle (10). When the user (13) presses the opening button (21) of the control that operates the opening / closing means provided in the vehicle (10), the second remote control device (12) of the system, incorporated in said command, enters in the routine associated with this action that activates the transceiver of the second device (12) to put it on hold for a signal sent by the first remote control device (1 1), installed in the vehicle (10). It is checked if the vehicle (10) is within the operating radius (22) of the remote control, because it can be the case (23) that the button is pressed without being within the range of the remote control and then the second device (12) deactivate your transceiver as a measure of efficiency and minimize necessary consumption. The reception of a first signal in the second device (12) disables its deactivation and this condition is used as confirmation of the vehicle status. The received signal is stored in the second device (12) and thus the status of the indicator (24), luminous or audible, which it includes is updated. In this case of opening the vehicle, the signal translates into the activation - ON - of the indicator, intermittently as an alarm indicative to the user (13) that the vehicle closing system (10) is open. The second device (12), after receiving the open vehicle signal, enters a second mode in which, by means of a counter or timer, it sets the time that the transceiver is activated while waiting for a second signal. This time is linked to the time associated in the vehicles to the automatic closing before the inactivity of physical opening of the vehicle (10) by the user (13). If the second device (12) receives the signal associated with the closed state of the vehicle closing system in This period, because it closes due to lack of physical interaction (25), the counter is stopped and the transceiver of the second device (12) is deactivated. In the event that the timer reaches its end without receiving the closing signal, the transceiver is deactivated (26) because the time limit marked so that it awaits reception is terminated. The second device (12) proceeds to enter a standby (27) or stand-by mode in which a minimum consumption is maintained, associating the activation thereof with the interaction of the user (13) with the associated closing system of the vehicle (10) In this mode, the user (13) is still informed of the status of the vehicle (10) by means of the alarm indicator, based on the information obtained from the interaction (28) with the first device (1 1) in the opening process in the vehicle (10) described below.

The basic steps of the remote control of the opening of the vehicle (10) carried out in the first device (11) of the system, located in the vehicle (10), are shown in Figure 3. The first device (1 1) is associated with the state of the opening / closing means of the vehicle (10), the change of the state value acting as an activator of the first device (1 1), or, if it does not change , the updating of the value in time, of said state / position of the means for opening (31) and the emission (32) of the corresponding value taking place, depending on the position of the closing of the vehicle (10). This activation produced by an opening signal of the vehicle opening / closing means (10) activates the first device (1 1), which enters the corresponding routine in which it activates its transceiver for a certain time for the maximum possible duration. of the vehicle opening process (10). Since in the vehicle (10) the consumption is negligible, it makes no sense to reduce the operating time. In this period, which conforms to the type of vehicle (10), the first device (1 1) emits a signal (33) corresponding to the state of the vehicle closing (10). At the end of this period and if there is no variation in the means of closing the vehicle (10), the first device (1 1) returns to standby mode (34), in which consumption is minimized, keeping as a medium of activation the condition of change in the state of the means of closing the vehicle

(10) In the context of the invention, when talking about the activation of the first device (11) by a change in the state of the closing means, it is also understood that the mere fact of updating the state variable in time, although either at the same previous value of that variable, it also causes the activation of the first device (11). That is, in short, the activation of the first device (11) is associated with the update, which may or may not imply a change in the value of the state of the means of opening / closing the vehicle. Figure 4 shows the basic steps of the remote control of the closing of the vehicle (10) carried out in the control by the second device (12) of the system. When the user (13) presses the close button (41) of the command in which the second device (12) is installed, it enters the routine associated with this action that activates the transceiver. In this way, a signal sent by the first device (11) placed in the vehicle (10) is expected, and it may be the case that the button is pressed without being within the range of the command (43) and then the second device (12) deactivates the transceiver as a measure of efficiency and minimizes unnecessary consumption. The reception of a first signal in the second device (12) disables its deactivation and this is used as confirmation of the state of the vehicle (10). The signal is stored in the second device (12), thus updating the status of the light or sound indicator it includes. In this case, being the vehicle closing, the signal translates into deactivation of the indicator (44), so that the intermittent signal is inactive informing the user (13) that the vehicle (10) was closed, avoiding the permanent indicator consumption, which reduces the battery life of the remote. The second device (12) after receiving the signal from the vehicle, first checks if the vehicle (10) is within the radius (42) of the remote. If the second device (12) receives the signal associated with the closed state in a first period, the counter is stopped and the transceiver of the second device (12) is deactivated. The second device (12) proceeds by entering a sleep mode (45) in which a minimum consumption is maintained, associating the activation thereof with the interaction of the user with the associated closing system of the vehicle. In this mode, the user will continue to be informed of the status of the vehicle through the indicator. Figure 5 shows the basic steps of the remote control of the closing of the vehicle (10) carried out in the first device (1 1) of the system, located in the vehicle (10). The first device (1 1) is associated with the state of the closing system (51) of the vehicle (10), acting in response to the update, which may or may not imply a change in the value of said state as activator of the first device (1 1) and producing the corresponding transmission (52), depending on the position of the vehicle closing. This activation produced by a closing signal of the vehicle closing system activates the first device (1 1) and causes it to enter the corresponding transceiver activation routine for a certain time (53) for the possible maximum duration of the process of vehicle closure (10). Since in the vehicle (10) the consumption is negligible, it makes no sense to reduce the operating time. In this period the first device (11) emits a signal corresponding to the state of the vehicle closing. At the end of this period and if there is no variation in the vehicle closing system (10), the first device (11) returns to standby mode (54), in which consumption is minimized while maintaining as a means of activation the change in the vehicle's closing system.

Figure 6 shows the basic steps of the remote control of the auxiliary opening of the vehicle (10) carried out in the control by the second device (12) of the system. In the context of the invention, opening-auxiliary is understood as an opening mechanism that allows the trunk or any other part of the vehicle to be opened, for example, the roof of the car roof, which is not the same drive as the normal opening, of the doors, of the vehicle. When the user presses the auxiliary opening button (61) of the command associated to the vehicle (10), on which the second device (12) is installed, it enters the routine associated with this action that will activate the transceiver. In this way, a signal sent by the first device (11) placed in the vehicle (10) is expected, and it may be the case that the button is pressed without being within the range of the command (63) and then the second Device (12) deactivates the transceiver as a measure of efficiency and minimizes necessary consumption. The reception of a first signal in the second device (12) disables its deactivation and is used as confirmation of the vehicle status (10). The steps are the same as in Figure 2, including checking whether the vehicle (10) is within range (62) or out of range (63) of the command. In this case, being the opening-auxiliary of the vehicle, the signal translates into the activation (64) of the indicator, intermittently as an alarm indicative to the user (13) that the vehicle's closing system is open (even partially). The second device (12), after receiving the open vehicle signal, enters a second mode in which, by means of a counter, it sets the time that the transceiver is kept waiting for a second signal. This time is linked to the associated time considered for the use of this type of auxiliary openings, or it will be an indefinite time, with the subsequent automatic closing (65) of the vehicle (10) before the physical interaction on the vehicle (10) by of the user (13). If the second device (12) receives the signal associated with the closed state of the vehicle closing system during this period, the counter is stopped and the transceiver of the second device (12) is deactivated and the light indicator is deactivated (66). If the physical closing does not occur, the automatic closing is not activated, that is, if the period of time associated with the automatic closing (68) ends without receiving the closing signal, the transceiver is also deactivated. After the end of the period (68) or if the vehicle does not have the function of automatic closing of the auxiliary opening (69), the second device (12) proceeds into a sleep mode (67) in which a consumption is maintained minimum, associating its activation with the interaction of the user with the associated closing system of the vehicle. In this mode, the user (13) is still informed of the status of the vehicle (10) by means of the indicator of the second device (12).

Figure 7 shows the corresponding steps of the remote control of the auxiliary opening of the vehicle (10) carried out in the first device (1 1) of the system, located in the vehicle (10), and which are the same (71, 72, 73, 74) respectively to the steps (51, 52, 53, 54) shown in Figure 5. This auxiliary opening diagram of the first device (1 1) has no performance difference with that of the normal opening, set The detection is limited to open and closed.

Figure 8 shows the corresponding steps of the remote control of the auxiliary opening of the vehicle (10) carried out in the second device (12) of the system from the user control (13). When the user (13) presses the auxiliary opening button (200) provided on the control, the transmitter (201) of the second device (12) and an initial timer (202) that act to detect that the vehicle (10) is activated is within the reach of the user control (13). In turn, a timer (203) can be activated which acts as a means of reducing the battery consumption of the remote control by establishing a time limit for the detection of a closing of the auxiliary opening, in case it has automatic closing when the physical closure of it. When a signal (204) is received in the second device (12) from the first device (1 1) that the vehicle (10) has been opened, said second device (12) Turn on (207) the light on the remote. And when a second signal (205) is received from the first device (11) because the vehicle (10) has been closed, the second device (12) turns off (208) the indicator light. When the initial timer (202) reaches the end of the configured period without having received a first signal (204) or the timer (203) expires without receiving a second signal (205) and if there is no variation in the closing system of the vehicle (10), the second device (12) enters a sleep mode (209) in which a minimum consumption is maintained. The activation of the second device (12), which causes it to exit that sleep mode, as described previously in other processes remotely controlled from this second device (12), is associated with a new user interaction (13) with any function of the vehicle closing system (10).

Figure 9 shows the basic steps of the remote control of the start of the vehicle (10) performed from the command by the second device (12) of the system. When the user makes "contact" (81) with the control or contact key associated with the vehicle (10), whether physical by turning the key or pressing a button by presence, where the second device (12) is installed, it enters in the routine associated with this action in which the saved state of the vehicle (10) is stopped showing (82), leaving idle / off -OFF- and avoiding possible risk inferences for the driver. In this way, the operation of the second device (12) is canceled, as is the case with the closing systems associated with the vehicle when performing this interaction with them. At the moment when the user performs the inverse operation, of removing the "contact" (83), the second device (12) reactivates the indicator (84), allowing him access again to the state that was saved from the vehicle (10) : closed (85) or open (86), being usual that it is open and in which case the indicator (88) is turned on. In case the vehicle status (10) is closed (85), the indicator remains off (87). Next, the second device (12) proceeds by entering a sleep mode (89) in which a minimum consumption is maintained, associating the activation thereof with the interaction of the user with the associated closing system of the vehicle. In this mode the user is still informed of the status of the vehicle through the indicator. In this case, from interaction with the contact of the vehicle (10), the action by the first device (1 1) is void since communication between the two does not intervene devices, but between the second device (12) and the vehicle control unit (10). The interaction of the second device (12) with the vehicle contact (10) can be activated, for example, when a voltage signal is detected in the smart key - control command - in which the second device (12) is housed when The key contact.

Figure 10 shows the block architecture of the first device (1 1), located in the vehicle (10), according to a possible implementation. The core of the first device (11) is a microcontroller or microprocessor (1 10) that controls a transceiver (11 1), which can be integrated into the microprocessor itself (110), which emits / receives signals to / from the second device ( 12) through an antenna (1 12). The microprocessor (1 10) connects to peripheral components, such as a memory (1 13), read-only, EEPROM, and the clock (1 14), via serial or SPI ports - the English, Serial Peripheral Interface -. The first device (1 1) is connected, also through respective SPI ports, to the vehicle control unit (10), both to the indicator port of the vehicle's closure (115) (10) and to the low voltage power supply (116 ) that feeds said first device (11).

Figure 11 shows the block architecture of the second device (12), integrated in the user control (13), according to a possible implementation.

Similarly, the second device (12) has a microprocessor (120) and an integrated transceiver (121) that emits / receives signals to / from the first device

(1 1) through an antenna (122). The microprocessor (120) is connected to a memory (123) EEPROM and the clock (124) via SPI ports. The microprocessor (120) of the second device (12) controls the closing and opening of the vehicle (10) remotely by means of remote drive means (125), to which this microprocessor (120) is also connected by SPI ports. The remote actuating means (125) communicate with the closing / opening means existing in the vehicle (10) and depending on its status, the microprocessor (120) of the second device (12) turns the light indicator (126) on or off. , usually an LED. In addition, the microprocessor (120) of the second device

(12) monitors the battery status (127) of the user's smart key or control

(13). A possible implementation of the second remote control device (12), in more detail, may comprise the following electronic components:

Type 8051 microcontroller, which can be used as a reference for a general micro model, with its internal components, timers, switches, CPU, RAM, etc ...

A specific radio transceiver for the working frequency range.

An A / D converter, for the conversion to radio frequency emission of the data.

- EEPROM memory.

Frequency crystal

- Additionally, a low frequency timer and oscillator, and a Watchdog module to reduce the consumption in the passive operations of the controllers.

The memory (1 13, 123) EEPROM or the storage module, in general, that the first and second remote control device (1 1, 12) have outside the microprocessor (1 10, 120) is not used to store the state of the vehicle (10). As explained above, each time an interaction of the user control (13) with the vehicle (10) occurs, it is when the second device (12) proceeds to request information from the first device (1 1) for the knowledge of the vehicle status (10). It is therefore necessary that the second device (12), not the first device (1 1), wait for a signal containing the requested state. That status information is normally stored in a bit of the microprocessor (120) of the second device (12). The signal received with the vehicle status (10) is used to determine whether or not to illuminate the indicator light (126) on the second device (12). In the memory (123) of the second device (12), what is linked is a value or another that represents the status of the indicator light (126), ON or OFF, depending on whether the state of the vehicle (10) read in the Signal received has been OPEN or CLOSED. The second device (12), therefore, is only activated when it receives the requested information signal, after a request for information on the status of one or more vehicle functions (10), in the transceiver (121) incorporated in the key or on the user's mobile phone (13). It is true that the possibility of activation or deactivation can only be associated with an interaction in the second device (12), but remains in the state that remains the vehicle (10) without requiring further requests by the user (13) of the knowledge of the state of the vehicle (10). To make requests for information on the status of the vehicle (10) to the first device (1 1), each time the user (13) wants to check the status of the vehicle, the second device (12) must be within the range of the frequency band used for communication of the user control (13) with the vehicle (10).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frequencies to which the chosen radio transceiver can best be adjusted are the frequencies in the range 868-915MHz. The choice of these frequencies allows to vary between one or the other according to the specific laws of each country. The band 868-915MHz is included in most countries as a free band, or for use with a free license, because they are among those considered as ISM frequencies and / or those recommended for short-range devices (Short Range Devices) . With the choice of this band, the product's commercialization possibilities are guaranteed in the vast majority of countries, making simple configurations on the band of the same microcontroller, which may be required depending on the geographical area in which it will operate. With this frequency band, a range greater than that of the vehicle control itself is also achieved, allowing the correct operation of the two system devices with a very low overall consumption.

Claims

A procedure for remote control of functions in vehicles, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

i. define an alert mode, which is selected between on and off, of an alarm indicator based on a status value, which is selected between open and closed, of a vehicle (10), where the vehicle status value comes determined by a previous interaction, which is selected between open, close and operate vehicle element (10);

I. update the vehicle status value, provided by a first remote control device (1 1) incorporated in the vehicle (10);

Neither. transmitting a first radio frequency signal from the first remote control device (11) to a second remote control device (12), external to the vehicle (10) and portable by a user (13), which verifies said first radio frequency signal to the receive it;

iv. upon receiving the first radio frequency signal, activate a timer (203) on the second remote control device (12) and, if received on the second remote control device (12) before the timer (203) finishes a second Radio frequency signal from the first remote control device (11), other than the first radio frequency signal, change the alert mode of the alarm indicator.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, existing in the vehicle (10) an electronic switchboard operating at an operating frequency, each radiofrequency signal transmitted by the first device (1 1) is in a band of a frequency different from the operating frequency of the electronic control unit of the vehicle (10).

The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first device (1 1) is activated when there is an update of the vehicle status value (10), transmits (32) the updated value and emits a signal (33) corresponding to the state of closing or end of operation of the vehicle element (10) for a period of time that, once finished, if there is no variation of the state, causes the first device ( 1 1) enter a sleep mode (34) of minimum consumption.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second device (12) is activated when the user (13) operates an opening and closing means or element operating means provided in the vehicle (10) and check if the vehicle (10) is within a range (22) or not; if the vehicle (10) is not within a range of action (22), the second device (12) enters a sleep mode (27) of minimum consumption; otherwise, the second device (12) activates the timer (203).

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the timer (203) in the second device (12) ends, the second device (12) enters a sleep mode (27) of minimum consumption.

6. The method according to any of claims 4-5, characterized in that an initial timer (202) is additionally activated in the second device (12) which establishes a time limit to detect if the vehicle (10) is inside the operating radius (22) receiving the first radio frequency signal.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the initial timer (202) of the second remote control device (12) starts a time count from a first user interaction (13) with the second device ( 12) remote control.

8. A function remote control system in vehicles, comprising a first remote control device (1 1) incorporated in a vehicle (10) and a second remote control device (12), incorporated in a command external to the vehicle ( 10) portable by a user (13), configured to communicate with the first remote control device (11), where: the first and second remote control devices (1 1, 12) comprise a microcontroller (1 10, 120) and a memory (1 13, 123) and a transceiver (1 11, 121) connected to the microcontroller (1 10, 120), the second remote control device (12) further comprises an alarm indicator (126);

characterized by:

The transceiver (11 1) of the first device (11) comprises an antenna (1 12) for transmitting at least a first radio frequency signal; the transceiver (121) of the second device (12) comprises an antenna (122) to receive at least the first radio frequency signal from the first device (11);

The microcontroller (120) of the second device (12) is configured to update in the memory (123) of the second device (12) a vehicle status value (10) provided by the microcontroller (1 10) of the first device (1 1 ), value that is selected between open and closed and that is determined by a previous user interaction (13), interaction that is selected between opening, closing and operating vehicle element (10);

the microcontroller (120) of the second device (12) is further configured to verify the first radio frequency signal received through the antenna (122) and activate with said reception a timer provided in the second device (12);

If before the end of the activated timer in the second device (12) the antenna (122) of the second device (12) receives a second signal from the first device (1 1) different from the first signal, the microcontroller (120) of the second device (12) is configured to change an alert mode in the alarm indicator (126), which is selected between on and off based on the vehicle status value (10).

The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the second remote control device (12) is incorporated in a key smart.

10. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the second remote control device (12) is incorporated in an intelligent mobile.

The system according to any of claims 8-10, characterized in that the transceiver of the first remote control device (11) is a transmitter and the transceiver of the second remote control device (12) is a receiver.

12. The system according to any of claims 8-1 1, characterized in that the alarm indicator comprises a light indicator.

13. The system according to any of claims 8-12, characterized in that the alarm indicator comprises a sound indicator.

14. The system according to any of claims 8-13, characterized in that the first and second remote control devices (1 1, 12) interact with opening and closing means provided in the vehicle (10).

15. The system according to any of claims 8-14, characterized in that the microcontroller of the second device (12) monitors the state of a battery (127) provided in the user control (13).