Method for detecting an identifier for starting a motor vehicle

• US 10,169,941 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Comfort And Driving Assistance
• Original Assignee: Valeo Comfort And Driving Assistance
• Inventors: Menard, Eric, Masson, Fabienne, Delaunay, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Chakraborty, Raj
• Application Number:
  US15/509,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20170243422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00547 starting ignition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/12 of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method (PR) for detecting an identifier (Id) for starting a motor vehicle (V), said motor vehicle comprising a first antenna (A1) and said identifier (Id) comprising a second antenna (A2). The method (PR) is characterized in that it comprises:

• • transmitting, by said first antenna (A1), a first Bluetooth Low Energy™ signal (Sg1) to said identifier (Id) at a nominal power (P1);
  • measuring the power (P1′) of said corresponding signal (Sg1′) received by the second antenna (A2) of said identifier (Id);
  • comparing said measured power (P1′) with a threshold power (Ps), said threshold power (Ps) corresponding to a threshold distance (ds) from said first antenna (A1) that is less than the radius (r1) of a circle (C1) inscribed within the passenger compartment (H) of the motor vehicle (V), said circle (C1) being centered on said first antenna (A1);
  • authorizing the starting of the motor vehicle (V) if the measured power (P1′) is greater than or equal to said threshold power (Ps).

Claims

1. A method for detecting an identifier for starting a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle comprising a first antenna and said identifier comprising a second antenna, said method comprising:

transmitting, by said first antenna, a first Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal toward said identifier at a nominal power;

measuring the power of a corresponding Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal received by the second antenna of said identifier;

comparing said measured power with a threshold power corresponding to a threshold distance from said first antenna using a regression curve of power as a function of distance;

determining whether the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power;

enabling the starting of the motor vehicle when the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power;

positioning said identifier at a reference position; and

adjusting the second antenna of the identifier for use with the first antenna on the first use of the identifier with the motor vehicle, and/or on request;

wherein;

the first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle and the adjustment comprises;

transmitting, by the first antenna, a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the second antenna,

measuring the power of a corresponding reception signal received by the second antenna, and sending the measured power toward said first antenna,

comparing the measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance, using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when the offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset,

the threshold distance is smaller than a radius of a circle inscribed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, said circle being centered on said first antenna, and

the regression curve is a substantially exponential decaying curve.

2. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, according to which the threshold distance is equal to twenty centimeters, plus or minus ten centimeters.

3. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on the first use of the identifier with the motor vehicle, the method further comprises the display by the identifier on a screen of a message inviting the user of said identifier to position said identifier in the reference position and to launch said adjustment.

4. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, according to which said first antenna is placed at the reference position.

5. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising enabling the starting of the motor vehicle solely if the identifier is placed at the reference position of the motor vehicle.

6. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is a cellphone.

7. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

positioning said identifier at a reference position; and

adjusting the first antenna of said identifier for use with the second antenna.

8. The detection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle and the adjustment comprises:

transmitting, by the second antenna, a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the first antenna;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received by said first antenna;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance, using a regression curve of power as a function of distance;

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power; and

when the offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

9. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of first calibration signals are sent and a plurality of power measurements are made,

the measured power is compared with said theoretical power,

the measured power is equal to the mean of the measured powers lying within a range that depends on the standard deviation of the plurality of power measurements.

10. A system for detecting an identifier for starting a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle comprising a first antenna and a computer comprising a processing unit and said identifier comprising a second antenna and a processing unit, said system comprising:

said identifier; and

said first antenna,

said identifier being configured for;

receiving a first Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal transmitted by said first antenna at a nominal power,

measuring the power of said corresponding Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal received by the second antenna, and

comparing said measured power with a threshold power corresponding to a threshold distance from said first antenna using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power;

where the threshold distance is smaller than a radius of a circle inscribed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, said circle being centered on said first antenna,

wherein the regression curve is a substantially exponential decaying curve,

said first antenna of the motor vehicle being configured for;

transmitting a first Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal toward said identifier at a nominal power,

said computer being configured for enabling the starting of the motor vehicle if the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power

wherein;

said identifier is adapted to be positioned at a reference position and said first antenna is adapted for calibrating the second antenna on a first use with the motor vehicle and/or on request,

when said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment;

the first antenna is configured for;

sending a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the second antenna,

the second antenna is configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received, and

sending said measured power toward said first antenna,

the processing unit of the computer is configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance, using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

11. The detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the threshold distance is equal to twenty centimeters, plus or minus ten centimeters.

12. The detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the first antenna is further configured for;

sending a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the second antenna,

the second antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received,

the processing unit of the identifier is further configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power (Pt),

when an offset exists, sending said offset to said first antenna, and

modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

13. The detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second antenna is configured to adjust the first antenna.

14. The detection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the second antenna is further configured for;

transmitting a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the first antenna,

the first antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received, and

sending said measured power toward said second antenna,

the processing unit of the identifier is further configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

15. The detection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the second antenna is further configured for;

transmitting a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the first antenna,

the first antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received,

the processing unit of the computer is also adapted for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

16. A system for detecting an identifier for starting a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle comprising a first antenna and a computer comprising a processing unit and said identifier comprising a second antenna and a processing unit, said system comprising:

said identifier; and

said first antenna,

said identifier being configured for;

receiving a first Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal transmitted by said first antenna at a nominal power, and

measuring the power of said corresponding Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal received by the second antenna,

said first antenna of the motor vehicle being configured for;

transmitting a first Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal toward said identifier at a nominal power,

said computer is configured for;

comparing said measured power with a threshold power corresponding to a threshold distance from said first antenna using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

where the threshold distance is smaller than a radius of a circle inscribed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, said circle being centered on said first antenna,

determining whether the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power, and

enabling the starting of the motor vehicle when the measured power is greater than or equal to said threshold power,

wherein;

the regression curve is a substantially exponential decaying curve,

said identifier is adapted to be positioned at a reference position and said first antenna is adapted for calibrating the second antenna on a first use with the motor vehicle and/or on request,

when said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment;

the first antenna is configured for;

sending a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the second antenna,

the second antenna is configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received, and

sending said measured power toward said first antenna,

the processing unit of the computer is configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance, using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

17. The detection system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the first antenna is further configured for;

sending a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the second antenna,

the second antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received,

the processing unit of the identifier is further configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power (Pt),

when an offset exists, sending said offset to said first antenna, and

modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

18. The detection system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second antenna is configured to adjust the first antenna.

19. The detection system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the second antenna is further configured for;

transmitting a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the first antenna,

the first antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received, and

sending said measured power toward said second antenna,

the processing unit of the identifier is further configured for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.

20. The detection system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first antenna is placed at a predefined distance from the reference position of the motor vehicle, and according to which, for the adjustment:

the second antenna is further configured for;

transmitting a first calibration signal at the nominal power toward the first antenna,

the first antenna is further configured for;

measuring the power of said corresponding reception signal received,

the processing unit of the computer is also adapted for;

comparing said measured power with a theoretical power corresponding to said predefined distance using a regression curve of power as a function of distance,

determining whether there is an offset between said measured power and said theoretical power, and

when an offset exists, modifying the nominal power of the first transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy™

signal as a function of said offset, or modifying the threshold power as a function of said offset.