Re: Fail-safe for keyless entry

[Tony Hwang <dragon40@xxxxxxx>]

Robert Green wrote:
> I've got the typical minivan keyless entry keychain fob but it's got a
> serious design problem.
>
> The buttons depress too easily and often accidentally when the fob is pushed
> into a pocket or a purse.  It's happened more than once, so it's time to do
> something about it.
>
> The real estate inside the fob is very cramped.  It runs off a CR2032 coin
> cell battery, and the circuit traces are simple enough so that I could
> scrape off the 3VDC+ line and bridge it with a small switch.  That way, I
> could just put in a tiny pushbutton that had to be depressed as well as the
> desired command button each time a command was sent.  That approach makes it
> a two-handed operation, whereas a slide type ON/OFF switch could still be
> worked with one hand.
>
> The problem is that I don't see any space in the fob for the kinds of
> switches I am used to.  The ideal solution, of course, would be for the
> manufacturer to put something that's found even on most throwaway $10 MP3
> players - a hold button that locks out the buttons when so desired.  You'd
> think with what they charge for a replacement fob they'd include something
> like that.
>
> I *might* be able to work a small slide or lever switch inside the fob, but
> it's tight.  In the interim, I made a clamshell type case made of hard clear
> plastic bubble packing material and one of those retracting string keychain
> things so I can slide it out to activate it and then let the rewinding
> mechanism withdraw it.  So far, the hard plastic sheath has reduced the
> accidental openings, but it's butt ugly, ungainly and not a very good
> solution.  Plus, it came unglued more than once.  There's a lot of
> interesting stresses in pockets and pocketbooks.   Ideas, anyone?
>
> Thanks in  advance!
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
Hmm,
More likely you'll end up dead fob. I'd rather carry it in a little
sturdy pouch if I need to.