Mobile device tracking for control of vehicle subsystems

• US 10,189,400 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Danowski, Christopher Anthony, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US15/231,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20180037155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/482 for locating vehicle in parking lot
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/74 using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mobile device tracking for control of vehicle subsystems. An example disclosed vehicle includes light panels embedded in the vehicle, wireless nodes, and an auxiliary body control module. The example auxiliary body control module, when a speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed, monitors a distance between a wireless device and the vehicle. In response to the distance satisfying a range threshold, the auxiliary body control module activates the light panels.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

light panels attached to the vehicle;

wireless nodes; and

an auxiliary body control module to;

when a speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed, monitor, via the wireless nodes, a distance between a tracking tag and the vehicle, the tracking tag configured to attach to an article of clothing that includes an LED pixel; and

in response to the distance satisfying a range threshold, activate the light panels and the LED pixel of the tracking tag.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light panels include LED pixels.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a color and a pattern produced by the light panels are configurable.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, therein the light panels are attached to at least one of a roof rack, a B panel, a C panel, or a D panel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless nodes include directional antennas.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the message causes the LED pixel of the tracking tag to match a color of the light panels.

7. A vehicle including:

a sliding door; and

an auxiliary body control module to;

monitor, with wireless nodes, a first distance from the vehicle to a first wireless device;

when the first wireless device is within a first range threshold of the vehicle, monitor a second distance from the vehicle to a second wireless device; and

when the second wireless device is within a second range threshold of the vehicle, open the sliding door.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the wireless nodes include directional antennas.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary body control module is to, when the second wireless device inside the vehicle, close the sliding door.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second range threshold is closer to the vehicle than the first range threshold.

11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second range threshold is five feet.

12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second wireless device is a tracking tag affixed to an item associated with a person to be tracked.

13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary body control module is communicatively coupled, via a wireless connection, to a body control module of the vehicle.

14. A vehicle comprising:

wireless nodes;

light panels attached to the vehicle;

a sliding door; and

an auxiliary body control module to;

monitor, via the wireless nodes, a first distance between a first wireless device and the vehicle and a second distance between a second wireless device and the vehicle;

in response to the first distance satisfying a first range threshold, activate the light panels;

when the second wireless device is within a second range threshold and the first wireless device is within a third range threshold of the vehicle, open the sliding door, the third range threshold closer to the vehicle than the first range threshold; and

when the first wireless device is inside the vehicle, close the sliding door.