Vehicle unlocking systems devices and methods

• US 10,312,721 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Orris, David Joseph, DeCia, Nunzio, Orris, Stephen Jay, Herman, David A., Linden, Howard Paul Tsvi, Scheufler, Nicholas Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/615,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20180351388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 340 542, 340 553, 340 561, 340 572, 3404256, 307104, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/103 Near field communication [NFC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00579 Power supply for the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for unlocking a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a power system, a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device, and a door applique. The door applique comprises a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device, and a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power system;

a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and

a door applique comprising;

a wireless charger coupled to the power system and configured to charge the remote unlocking device until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full; and

a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is embedded in the door applique.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is a first period, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to, responsive to a second period elapsing subsequent to the first period, enable the remote unlocking device or a different remote unlocking device to be charged by the wireless charger.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second period is longer than the first period.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to authenticate the remote unlocking device and responsively charge the remote unlocking device.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a power system;

a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and

a door applique comprising;

a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device; and

a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, and is configured to align a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a power system;

a remote unlock system controlled by a remote unlocking device; and

a door applique comprising;

a wireless charger coupled to the power system, configured to charge the remote unlocking device; and

a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval.

10. A method comprising:

wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of a period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of the vehicle; and

unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger is embedded in the door applique.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

authenticating the remote unlocking device; and

responsively charging the remote unlocking device after authentication.

15. A method comprising:

wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of a vehicle; and

unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, and wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, the method further comprising;

aligning a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger.

16. A method comprising:

wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device with a wireless charger, wherein the remote unlocking device controls a remote unlock system of a vehicle; and

unlocking the vehicle with the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is coupled to a door applique of the vehicle having a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device, and wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein wirelessly charging a remote unlocking device comprises wirelessly charging the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval.

17. A vehicle door applique comprising:

a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle until a predetermined period elapses, wherein the predetermined period is less than a total amount of period required to charge the remote unlocking device from empty to full; and

a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device.

18. The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device outside the vehicle while the vehicle is locked.

19. The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger comprises a charge coil positioned less than 3 mm from an outside surface of the door applique.

20. The vehicle door applique of claim 17, wherein the wireless charger is further configured to authenticate the remote unlocking device and responsively charge the remote unlocking device.

21. A vehicle door applique comprising:

a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle; and

a ridge configured to engage the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the ridge is positioned above a handle of a door of the vehicle, and is configured to align a battery of the remote unlocking device with a charge coil of the wireless charger.

22. A vehicle door applique comprising:

a wireless charger coupled to a power system of the vehicle, configured to charge a remote unlocking device of the vehicle; and

a ride configured to engage the remote unlocking device;

wherein the wireless charger is configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a limited time, and wherein the wireless charger is further configured to charge the remote unlocking device for a maximum of two minutes in a ten minute time interval.