SMART VEHICLE SEARCHING SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING FUNCTION

• US 20120041618A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Sun, Chun-Yi, Lin, Jon-Hong, Lai, Hung-So, Lin, Wei-Chun
• Application Number:
  US13/196,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A smart vehicle searching system with automatic positioning function is disclosed. The smart vehicle searching system with automatic positioning function includes a vehicle having a control module for outputting a control signal; a vehicle searching module having a first global positioning system unit and connected to the control module for receiving the control signal; a smart phone having a second global positioning system unit and a data storage unit; and a transmission medium connected to the vehicle searching module and the smart phone. The first global positioning system unit is operated in response to the control signal. When the control signal is at a disabling state, the first global positioning system unit proceeds with the positioning operation to obtain the latest location data of the vehicle and transmit the location data to the smart phone through the transmission medium, thereby allowing the smart phone to record the location data in the data storage unit as a reference for the smart phone to search the vehicle.

Claims

1. A smart vehicle searching system with automatic positioning function, comprising:

a vehicle having a control module configured to output a control signal;

a smart phone;

a vehicle searching module connected to the smart phone and the control module for receiving the control signal; and

a transmission medium configured to connect the vehicle searching module and the smart phone for allowing the vehicle searching module and the smart phone to transmit data with each other;

when the control signal is at a disabling state, the vehicle searching module automatically proceeds with a positioning operation to obtain a latest location data of the vehicle and transmits the location data to the smart phone, thereby allowing the smart phone to record the location data as a reference for the smart phone to search the vehicle.

2. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle searching module comprises a first global positioning system unit and the first global positioning system unit is operating in response to the control signal.

3. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 2, wherein when the control signal is at an enabling state, the first global positioning system unit is automatically activated.

4. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle searching module further includes a first processing unit, wherein the first global positioning system unit and the first wireless communication unit are respectively connected to the first processing unit, thereby allowing the first processing unit to process the data of the first global positioning system unit and the first wireless communication unit.

5. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle searching module further includes a storage unit, wherein the first global positioning system unit, the first wireless communication unit, and the storage unit are respectively connected to the first processing unit, thereby allowing the first processing unit to process the data of the first global positioning system unit and the first wireless communication unit and record the data of the first global positioning system unit and the first wireless communication unit in the storage unit.

6. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 4, wherein the control module includes a second processing unit connected to the first processing unit of the vehicle searching module, and wherein the first processing unit is used to receive and process the control signal outputted from the second processing unit.

7. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the smart phone comprises a second global positioning system unit and a data storage unit.

8. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission medium includes:

a first wireless communication unit disposed in the vehicle searching module; and

a second wireless communication unit disposed in the smart phone for communicating with the first wireless communication unit.

9. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 8, wherein the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit are Bluetooth modules, WiFi modules, WiMax modules, Zigbee modules, UWB modules, or SRD modules.

10. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the smart phone is capable of providing global positioning function and wireless communication function.

11. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is generated by a passive keyless entry system or a body control module, and wherein the control signal is a key signal, a dashboard power signal, or an engine operation signal.

12. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle searching module is detachably connected to the control module of the vehicle.

13. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle searching module includes a first processing unit and the control module includes a second processing unit, wherein the transmission medium is configured to connect the first processing unit of the vehicle searching module and the second processing unit of the control module for allowing the first processing unit and the second processing unit to transmit data with each other.

14. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 1, wherein the smart phone is inserted into the vehicle searching module.

15. A smart vehicle searching system with automatic positioning function, comprising:

a vehicle having a control module;

a smart phone; and

a transmission medium configured to connect the vehicle and the smart phone for allowing the vehicle and the smart phone to transmit data with each other;

wherein when a state of the vehicle is an enabling state, the control module automatically transmits a starting signal to the smart phone through the transmission medium, and when the state of the vehicle is a disabling state, the smart phone automatically proceeds with a positioning operation to obtain a latest location data of the vehicle as a reference for the smart phone to search the vehicle.

16. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the enabling state of the vehicle is the state where a key to the vehicle is ON, or an engine of the vehicle is ignited.

17. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle further includes a chip key which constitutes a passive keyless entry system with the control module.

18. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the transmission medium includes a transmission line and a connector base.

19. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 18, wherein the connector base is a charging pod.

20. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the control module includes a global positioning system unit, and a smart phone includes a global positioning system unit and a data storage unit.

21. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the transmission medium includes two wireless communication units which are respectively mounted in the smart phone and in the control module and are configured to communicate with each other.

22. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the control module is a controller of a passive keyless entry system, and wherein the passive keyless entry system further includes a chip key.

23. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle further comprises an engine and a chip key including a first transceiver unit and a third processing unit, the chip key and the control module constitute a passive keyless entry system, the control module includes a second transceiver unit and a second processing unit, wherein the second processing unit is used to output a control signal and the passive keyless entry system is used to control the locking, unlocking, turning on, and turning off of the vehicle.

24. The smart vehicle searching system according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine and a chip key comprising a first transceiver unit and a third processing unit, the control module comprises a second transceiver unit, a second processing unit and a storage unit, the smart phone comprises a second global positioning system unit and a data storage unit, and the transmission medium further comprises a second wireless communication unit mounted in the smart phone and a third wireless communication unit mounted in the control module.