SECONDARY SENSING FOR INTELLIGENT PASSIVE ENTRY PASSIVE START POLLING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for communicating between a vehicle and an authorized user of the vehicle, said method comprising:
- providing the authorized user with a communications device;
providing at least one infrared sensor on the vehicle;
detecting living things within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle based on heat signatures signals received by the infrared sensor;
determining that the user may be within the predetermined vicinity of the vehicle based on a heat signature signal received from the living things by the infrared sensor;
transmitting a polling signal from the vehicle that is received by the device if the sensor receives the heat signature signal that may be from the user; and
transmitting a first command signal from the device to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a predetermined vehicle operation if the device receives the polling signal.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing a polling signal transmitted from a vehicle that is received by a key fob held by an authorized user of the vehicle as the user approaches the vehicle. When the key fob receives the polling signal, it will automatically transmit a command signal back to the vehicle for some vehicle operation to be performed. Battery power is conserved on the vehicle by using an infrared detector to first detect whether a living thing is in proximity to the vehicle prior to the vehicle transmitting the polling signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a vehicle and an authorized user of the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing the authorized user with a communications device; providing at least one infrared sensor on the vehicle; detecting living things within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle based on heat signatures signals received by the infrared sensor; determining that the user may be within the predetermined vicinity of the vehicle based on a heat signature signal received from the living things by the infrared sensor; transmitting a polling signal from the vehicle that is received by the device if the sensor receives the heat signature signal that may be from the user; and transmitting a first command signal from the device to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a predetermined vehicle operation if the device receives the polling signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for communicating between a vehicle and an authorized user of the vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing the authorized user with a key fob communications device; providing at least on infrared sensor on the vehicle; determining that the user may be within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle based on a heat signature signal received by the infrared sensor; transmitting a low frequency pulsed polling signal from the vehicle that is received by the key fob communications device if the key fob device is in the vicinity of the vehicle; and transmitting a command signal from the key fob device to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a predetermined vehicle operation when it receives the polling signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle communications system comprising:
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a communications device operable to be carried by an authorized user of the vehicle; at least one infrared sensor provided on the vehicle and being operable to detect heat signature signals from living things within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle, said at least one infrared sensor selectively determining that one of the heat signature signals may be from the user; and a polling module provided on the vehicle, said polling module transmitting a polling signal from the vehicle if the infrared sensor receives a heat signature signal from a living thing in the predetermined vicinity of the vehicle that may be the user, said communications device automatically transmitting a command signal from the device to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a predetermined vehicle operation if the device receives the polling signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification