MULTIFUNCTION RECEIVER

• US 20130021149A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: SHIBAGAKI, Yuuji
• Application Number:
  US13/548,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20130021149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0418 Sharing hardware components like housing, antenna, receiver or signal transmission line with other vehicle systems like keyless entry or brake control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0435 Vehicle body mounted circuits, e.g. transceiver or antenna fixed to central console, door, roof, mirror or fender
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0445 Means for changing operating mode, e.g. sleep mode, factory mode or energy saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A vehicle includes a multifunction receiver that receives signals from a wireless key system and a tire pressure monitoring system. When a power supply of the vehicle is activated and the vehicle is traveling or stopped, the multifunction receiver is set to receive signals from the tire pressure monitoring system. When the power supply of the vehicle is deactivated, the multifunction receiver is set to receive signals from the wireless key system regardless of the travel state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A multifunction receiver shared by an electronic key system, which verifies authenticity of an electronic key of a vehicle, and a tire pressure monitoring system, which monitors air pressure of a tire of the vehicle, the multifunction receiver comprising:

a power supply state detection unit that detects whether or not a power supply of the vehicle is activated;

a travel state detection unit that detects whether or not the vehicle is traveling or stopping; and

a signal reception mode setting unit that sets a signal reception mode of the multifunction receiver to a tire pressure monitoring mode for receiving a signal from the tire pressure monitoring system and a key mode for receiving a signal from the electronic key system, wherein

the reception mode setting unit sets the multifunction receiver to the tire pressure monitoring mode when the power supply state detection unit detects that the power supply of the vehicle is activated and the travel state detection unit detects that the vehicle is traveling or stopping, and

the reception mode setting unit sets the multifunction receiver to the key mode when the power supply state detection unit detects that the power supply of the vehicle is deactivated.

2. The multifunction receiver according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic key system verifies the authenticity of the electronic key with an ID signal transmitted from the electronic key, and

the tire pressure monitoring system monitors the air pressure of the tire with a tire pressure signal transmitted from a tire pressure detection unit arranged in the tire.

3. The multifunction receiver according to claim 1, wherein

the travel state detection unit detects a travel state of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed or an engine speed and generates travel state information indicating the travel state of the vehicle, and

the reception mode setting unit determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling or stopping based on the travel state information.

4. The multifunction receiver according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle includes an ignition switch,

the power supply state detection unit acquires power supply information from the ignition switch, and

the reception mode setting unit determines whether or not the power supply of the vehicle is activated based on the power supply information.

5. The multifunction receiver according to claim 1, wherein the tire pressure monitoring mode and the key mode receive signals having the same frequency.

6. The multifunction receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit connected to the reception mode setting unit, wherein the control unit controls the reception mode setting unit to switch the signal reception mode of the multifunction receiver.

7. A method for operating a multifunction receiver shared by an electronic key system, which verifies authenticity of an electronic key of a vehicle, and a tire pressure monitoring system, which monitors air pressure of a tire of the vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting whether or not a power supply of the vehicle is activated;

detecting whether or not the vehicle is traveling or stopping;

setting the multifunction receiver to a mode for receiving a signal from the tire pressure monitoring system when detecting that the power supply of the vehicle is activated and the vehicle is traveling or stopping; and

setting the multifunction receiver to a mode for receiving a signal from the electronic key system when detecting that the power supply of the vehicle is deactivated.