Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

William D Route

Wesley A Rogers

John T Auman

A portable infrared signal generator is actuatable by a motor vehicle operator at a distance from the vehicle to generate digitally coded infrared signal pulses in accordance with either a first or a second predetermined digital code. A receiver on the motor vehicle is effective to receive the infrared signal pulses, decode them and actuate apparatus responsive to the first digital code to unlock a power door lock and power a light effective to illuminate at least a part of the vehicle or responsive to the second digital code to actuate an alarm. Both the first and second digital codes contain a common identifying portion substantially unique to the particular motor vehicle, which portion may be permanently stored in the generator and receiver by the connections of the input/output terminals of a microprocessor chip mounted on a printed circuit board to one of two voltage sources on the printed circuit board. The receiver includes a photodiode connected in a circuit to operate in the photovoltaic mode so that the infrared pulses can be distinguished from strong background illumination for operation in daylight as well as at night. The receiver further includes a lens and reflector for receiving the infrared pulses over a wide incoming angle. The apparatus may include a sleep mode in which the reception of a predetermined number of signals not containing the code unique to the motor vehicle actuates apparatus to prevent unlocking of the doors and to actuate the alarm.

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Washington, MI, United States of America

William D Route