Vehicle access system
First Claim
1. An access unit configured to control access to a vehicle via communication with a further access unit, the access unit comprising:
- a first transmitter configured to transmit a polling signal; and
a first receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to said polling signal;
wherein the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver;
wherein the first transmitter is configured to pulse the polling signal with a time interval between transmissions;
wherein a distance between the access unit and the further access unit is continuously measured, and wherein the first transmitter increases the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit increases, and/or decreases the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit decreases; and
wherein the further access unit comprises a controller that is configured to initiate unlocking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range, and wherein the controller is configured to initiate locking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to the threshold range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an access unit for communicating with a further access unit to control access to a vehicle. The access unit comprises at least a first transmitter for transmitting a polling signal; and at least a first receiver for receiving an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to the polling signal. At least the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and at least the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver. The invention also relates to a vehicle access system which is a combination of the access and further access units. The invention also relates to methods of operating a vehicle access system and a vehicle access unit.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An access unit configured to control access to a vehicle via communication with a further access unit, the access unit comprising:
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a first transmitter configured to transmit a polling signal; and a first receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to said polling signal; wherein the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver; wherein the first transmitter is configured to pulse the polling signal with a time interval between transmissions; wherein a distance between the access unit and the further access unit is continuously measured, and wherein the first transmitter increases the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit increases, and/or decreases the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit decreases; and wherein the further access unit comprises a controller that is configured to initiate unlocking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range, and wherein the controller is configured to initiate locking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to the threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15)
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11. An access unit configured to control access to a vehicle via communication with a further access unit, the access unit comprising:
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a first transmitter configured to transmit a polling signal; and a first receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from the further access unit in response to said polling signal; wherein the first transmitter is a first ultra-wideband transmitter and the first receiver is a first ultra-wideband receiver; wherein the first transmitter is configured to pulse the polling signal with a time interval between transmissions; wherein the first transmitter is configured to modify a length of the time interval between transmissions of the polling signal in response to speed with which the access unit and the further access unit travel towards or away from each other determined from the communication between the access unit and the further access unit, wherein the speed is determined based on a time of flight of communications between the access unit and the further access unit, the first transmitter being configured to set the length of the time interval in dependence on the determined speed; and wherein the further access unit comprises a controller that is configured to initiate unlocking of at least one vehicle door when a distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range, and wherein the controller is configured to initiate locking of at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to the threshold range.
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12. A method of operating a vehicle access system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a polling signal from an access unit; transmitting an authentication signal from a further access unit upon receipt of said polling signal; continuously measuring a distance between the access unit and the further access unit; wherein the polling signal and the authentication signal are ultra-wideband signals; wherein the polling signal is pulsed and a time interval is introduced between pulses, and wherein the time interval increases as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit increases, and/or wherein the time interval decreases as the distance between the access unit and the further access unit decreases; and unlocking at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is less than or equal to a threshold range, and locking at least one vehicle door when the distance between the access unit and the further access unit is greater than or equal to the threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification