초록 ▼

A key in a vehicle socket closes contacts to reset a vehicle microcontroller to a neutral state. Ribs disposed in a particular pattern in the key operate switches in a particular pattern in the vehicle to provide an address for the vehicle with the vehicle inactive but powered. When the vehicle rece

A key in a vehicle socket closes contacts to reset a vehicle microcontroller to a neutral state. Ribs disposed in a particular pattern in the key operate switches in a particular pattern in the vehicle to provide an address for the vehicle with the vehicle inactive but powered. When the vehicle receives such individual address from a pad within a first particular time period thereafter, the vehicle is operated by commands from the pad. The pad operates the vehicle as long as the vehicle receives commands from the pad within the first particular period after the previous command from the pad. During this period, the vehicle has a first illumination to indicate that it is being operated. When the pad fails to provide commands to the vehicle within such first particular time period, the vehicle becomes inactive but powered and provides a second illumination. While inactive but powered, the vehicle can be addressed and subsequently commanded by any of the pads including the pad previously addressing the vehicle. The vehicle becomes de-activated and not illuminated if (a) the vehicle is not selected by any of the pads during a second particular time period after becoming inactivated but powered or, alternatively, (b) all of the vehicles become inactivated but powered and none is selected during the second particular period. The key can thereafter be actuated again to operate the vehicle to the inactive but powered state.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] In combination for use in a system including a plurality of pads each operable to provide an address and commands,a key,a vehicle having a socket for receiving the key,a plurality of switches disposed in the vehicle adjacent the socket, each of the switches having first and second

[ We claim:] [1.] In combination for use in a system including a plurality of pads each operable to provide an address and commands,a key,a vehicle having a socket for receiving the key,a plurality of switches disposed in the vehicle adjacent the socket, each of the switches having first and second contacts, the first contact in each switch being movable relative to the second contact in the switch between a first position providing a closure with the second contact and a second position providing an opening with the second contact,the key being insertable into the vehicle socket, the key having bumps at strategic positions along the length of the key to move the first contacts of the switches in the vehicle at the strategic positions to the first position, the pattern of the bumps for the key being individual to the key to provide the vehicle with an address dependent upon the pattern of the bumps in the key, andmeans in the vehicle for responding to an address transmitted to the vehicle from one of the pads corresponding to the address established in the vehicle by the key and for responding to commands transmitted to the vehicle from the pad.