VEHICLE KEYLESS OPERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110040424A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arai, Hideaki, Lickfelt, Brian K., DiSalvo, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• 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 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A keyless function system and method includes a portable device having a vehicle function actuator thereon for initiating operation of a vehicle function. The portable device transmits an actuation signal to the vehicle when the vehicle function actuator is actuated. The receiver onboard the vehicle receives the actuation signal from the portable device. A controller onboard the vehicle and operatively connected to the receiver determines at least one of: whether the vehicle is located at a predetermined location or whether the portable device is located less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The controller selectively commands performance of the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received by the receiver based on at least one of: whether the vehicle is at the predetermined location or the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A keyless function method for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving an actuation signal from a portable device for performing a vehicle function;

determining a location of at least one of the vehicle or the portable device; and

selectively performing the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received based on the location as determined in the preceding step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location includes determining the location of the vehicle, and wherein selectively performing the vehicle function based on the location includes:

determining whether the location of the vehicle matches a predetermined location; and

performing the vehicle function is based on the determination of whether the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location.

3. The method of claim 2 further including:

calculating a distance between the portable device and the vehicle when determined that the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location; and

determining whether the distance calculated in the preceding step is less than a predetermined distance, wherein performing the vehicle function based on the determination of whether the location includes performing the vehicle function when the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location only when determined that the distance is less that the predetermined amount.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein calculating the distance between the portable device and the vehicle includes receiving a received signal strength indication (RSSI) from the portable device to indicate the distance between the portable device and the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein performing the vehicle function based on the determination of whether the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location includes always performing the vehicle function when determined that the vehicle is not at the predetermined location.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein performing the vehicle function based on the determination of whether the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location occurs only when an inhibit mode is on;

otherwise, the vehicle function is performed regardless of whether the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location.

7. The method of claim 2 further including:

selecting the predetermined location through an interface of a vehicle navigational system.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether the location of the vehicle matches the predetermined location includes an onboard vehicle communication system communicating with a communication device located at or adjacent the predetermined location.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle function is at least one of powered opening of a powered tailgate, powered opening of a powered sliding door or powered opening of a trunk.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle function is powered opening of a powered tailgate.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location includes determining the location of the portable device relative to the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein selectively performing the vehicle function based on the location includes determining whether the location of the portable device is more than a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 further including:

calculating a distance between the location of the portable device and the vehicle; and

determining whether the distance calculated in the preceding step is less than a predetermined distance.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein calculating the distance between the portable device and the vehicle includes receiving a received signal strength indication (RSSI) from the portable device to indicate the distance between the portable device and the vehicle.

15. A keyless function system for a vehicle, comprising:

a portable device having a vehicle function actuator thereon for initiating operation of a vehicle function, the portable device transmitting an actuation signal to the vehicle when the vehicle function actuator is actuated;

a receiver onboard the vehicle for receiving the actuation signal from the portable device; and

a controller onboard the vehicle and operatively connected to the receiver, the controller configured to determine at least one of;

whether the vehicle is located at a predetermined location or the portable device is less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle, the controller further configured to command performance of the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received by the receiver based on at least one of;

whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location or the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to command performance of the vehicle function when determined that the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle if the vehicle is located at the predetermined location.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller calculates the distance between the portable device and the vehicle based on a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the actuation signal.

18. The system of claim 15 further including:

a vehicle closure mounted on the vehicle; and

a closure motor mounted on the vehicle for powered opening of the vehicle closure, wherein the vehicle function is powered opening of the vehicle closure by the closure motor, the controller sending a command signal to the motor to open the vehicle closure when the actuation signal is received by the receiver only if the vehicle is not determined to be in the predetermined position or if both the vehicle is determined to be in the predetermined position and the portable device is determined to be less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the vehicle closure is a powered tailgate.

20. The system of claim 15 further including:

an inhibit switch onboard the vehicle for inhibiting use of the determination as to whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location when in an ON position, the controller operatively connected to the inhibit switch and configured to always command performance of the vehicle function when the inhibit switch is in the ON position regardless of whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller includes or is operatively connected to a vehicle communication system that determines and communicates a location of the vehicle to the controller so the controller is able to determine whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the vehicle communication system is a GPS navigational system including a GPS receiver and antenna and a touch screen interface, the predetermined location set or adjusted through the touch screen interface of the GPS navigational system.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location, and further configured to command performance of the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received by the receiver based on whether the vehicle is located at the predetermined location.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle and further configured to command vehicle performance of the vehicle function when the actuation signal is received by the receiver based on whether the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

25. A method for performing a vehicle function from a remote portable device based a vehicle location and a portable device location, comprising:

receiving an actuation signal from a portable device for performing a vehicle function;

determining whether the vehicle location matches a predetermined location;

determining whether the portable device location indicates that the portable device is less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle;

performing the vehicle function if one of;

the vehicle location does not match the predetermined location, or both the vehicle location matches the predetermined location and the portable device location indicates that the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle; and

inhibiting the vehicle function if the vehicle location matches the predetermined location and the portable device location indicates that the portable device is not less than the predetermined distance.

26. The method of claim 25 further including:

providing an inhibit mode switch on the vehicle, wherein inhibiting the vehicle function occurs only when the inhibit mode switch is in an ON position, otherwise performing the vehicle function occurs regardless of whether the vehicle is at the predetermined location and regardless of whether the portable device location indicates that the portable device is less than the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the vehicle function is powered opening of a closure of the vehicle.