Method for unlocking a vehicle door for an authorized user

• US 10,266,151 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Wind, Darryl P., Sobecki, Justin E., Deuel, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/482,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20170210342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 340442, 340445, 340447, 340 561, 340 102, 340 572, 455420, 4554141
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2619 built in the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• 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 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00325 and the lock having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]

Abstract

A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle includes providing a control at the vehicle, providing a near field communication device at the vehicle, and wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. Responsive to the near field communication device of the vehicle communicating with the smartphone, it is determined whether or not the smartphone is an authorized device. The smartphone is authenticated as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the smartphone being authenticated as an authorized device, the locking mechanism is actuated, at least in part via the control, to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door;

providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door;

providing a control at the equipped vehicle;

providing a near field communication device at the equipped vehicle;

wherein the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle comprises a near field communication application specific integrated chip that communicates utilizing a near field communication (NFC) standard;

wherein the near field communication device is located at one selected from the group consisting of (i) an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and (ii) the door handle assembly disposed at the equipped vehicle;

providing a near field communication-enabled smartphone;

wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication-enabled smartphone as a user of the near field communication-enabled smartphone approaches the equipped vehicle, a wakeup communication;

responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle receiving the wakeup communication from the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the near field communication-enabled smartphone is within a threshold distance, waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle;

responsive to waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, with the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle;

responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle is an authorized device;

authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle; and

responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a communication from the authorized device to the near field communication device, controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle comprise controlling the at least one accessory via a vehicle communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle communication bus comprises a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) bus.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle communication bus comprises a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling at least one accessory comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) opening a decklid of the equipped vehicle, (ii) activating an alarm of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activating a light of the equipped vehicle, (iv) starting the equipped vehicle'"'"'s engine and (v) loading personalized presets of a user of the authorized device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the near field communication device is located at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control is at least partially located at the door handle assembly of the equipped vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the control comprises a microcontroller disposed at the door handle assembly.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle is located at the door handle assembly disposed at the equipped vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising providing an illumination source having at least one light emitting diode as an integrated part of the door handle assembly.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the illumination source comprises disposing the at least one light emitting diode at an end region of the handle portion.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination source is operable to provide ground illumination when the door handle assembly is disposed at the vehicle door.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein, responsive to a communication from the authorized device to the near field communication device of the door handle assembly of the equipped vehicle when the door handle assembly is disposed at the vehicle door, actuating, at least in part via the control, the at least one light emitting diode of the illumination source.

15. The method of claim 11, providing an antenna at the door handle assembly, wherein the antenna is associated with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly.

16. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door;

providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door;

providing a control at the equipped vehicle;

wherein the control is at least partially located at the door handle assembly of the equipped vehicle;

providing a near field communication device at the door handle assembly;

wherein the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle comprises a near field communication application specific integrated chip that communicates utilizing a near field communication (NFC) standard;

providing an antenna at the door handle assembly, wherein the antenna is associated with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly;

providing a near field communication-enabled smartphone;

wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication-enabled smartphone as a user of the near field communication-enabled smartphone approaches the equipped vehicle, a wakeup communication;

responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle receiving the wakeup communication from the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the near field communication-enabled smartphone is within a threshold distance, waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle;

responsive to waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the door handle assembly, with the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle;

responsive to the near field communication device of the door handle assembly communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly is an authorized device;

authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly;

responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device; and

controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle via a vehicle communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the at least one accessory comprises activating a light of the equipped vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the at least one accessory comprises loading personalized presets of a user of the authorized device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the control comprises a microcontroller disposed at the door handle assembly.

20. A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle, said method comprising:

providing a door handle assembly at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle equipped with the door unlocking system, wherein the door handle assembly comprises a handle portion disposed at the vehicle door and movable to open the vehicle door;

providing a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the vehicle door;

providing a control at the equipped vehicle;

providing an illumination source having at least one light emitting diode as an integrated part of the door handle assembly;

providing a near field communication device at the door handle assembly;

wherein the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle comprises a near field communication application specific integrated chip that communicates utilizing a near field communication (NFC) standard;

providing an antenna at the door handle assembly, wherein the antenna is associated with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly;

providing a near field communication-enabled smartphone;

wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication-enabled smartphone as a user of the near field communication-enabled smartphone approaches the equipped vehicle, a wakeup communication;

responsive to the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle receiving the wakeup communication from the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the near field communication-enabled smartphone is within a threshold distance, waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle;

responsive to waking up the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle, wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the door handle assembly, with the near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle;

responsive to the near field communication device of the door handle assembly communicating with the smartphone that is within the threshold distance from the equipped vehicle, determining whether or not the smartphone that is within the threshold distance and that is communicating with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly is an authorized device;

authenticating the smartphone as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly;

responsive to the smartphone that is in communication with the near field communication device of the door handle assembly being authenticated as an authorized device, actuating, at least in part via the control, the locking mechanism to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device; and

controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the illumination source comprises disposing the at least one light emitting diode at an end region of the handle portion.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is operable to provide ground illumination when the door handle assembly is disposed at the vehicle door.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the control comprises a microcontroller disposed at the door handle assembly.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling, at least in part via the control, at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle comprises controlling the at least one accessory via a vehicle communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein controlling the at least one accessory comprises loading personalized presets of a user of the authorized device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein controlling the at least one accessory comprises activating a light of the equipped vehicle.