Buttonless Vehicle Key Having Gesture Recognition

• US 20140379175A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: MITTERMEIER, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 9,346,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2045 by hand gestures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0096 Electronic keys comprising a non-biometric sensor
• 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 device and method are provided for controlling functions of a vehicle on the basis of gestures. A radio key is configured to control at least one function in a vehicle. The radio key includes a gesture detection module, which is configured to detect a movement sequence of the radio key; and a control module, which is configured to initiate the execution of a function associated with the detected movement sequence in the vehicle. The radio key can be configured to ascertain a position of the radio key in relation to the vehicle, so that the function associated with the detected movement sequence in the vehicle can be dependent on the position of the radio key.

Claims

1. A radio key for use in controlling at least one function in a vehicle, comprising:

a gesture detection module, which is configured to detect a movement sequence of the radio key; and

a control module, which is programmed to initiate the execution of a function in the vehicle associated with the detected movement sequence of the radio key.

2. The radio key according to claim 1, wherein the control module is further programmed to:

determine whether the detected movement sequence corresponds to a first of at least one predefined gesture event; and

if the detected movement sequence corresponds to the first predefined gesture event, initiate the execution of a function associated with the first predefined gesture event in the vehicle.

3. The radio key according to claim 2, further comprising:

a memory module, which is configured to store a plurality of predefined gesture events;

wherein

the control module is further programmed to determine whether the detected movement sequence corresponds to a first of the plurality of predefined gesture events.

4. The radio key according to claim 1, wherein the gesture detection module comprises a gyroscope and/or an acceleration sensor.

5. The radio key according to one of claim 4, further comprising:

a communication module, which is configured to transmit a transmission signal associated with the first predefined gesture event, said transmission signal being capable of informing the vehicle that the first predefined gesture event was detected on the radio key.

6. The radio key according to one of claim 2, further comprising:

a communication module, which is configured to transmit a transmission signal associated with the first predefined gesture event, said transmission signal being capable of informing the vehicle that the first predefined gesture event was detected on the radio key.

7. The radio key according to claim 1, wherein:

the radio key is configured to recognize that the radio key is located in a predefined vicinity of the vehicle; and

the gesture detection module only detects the movement sequence of the radio key when the radio key is located in the predefined vicinity of the vehicle.

8. The radio key according to claim 7, wherein:

the radio key is configured to ascertain a position of the radio key in relation to the vehicle; and

the function associated with the detected movement sequence in the vehicle is dependent on the position of the radio key.

9. The radio key according to claim 1, wherein:

the radio key is configured to ascertain a position of the radio key in relation to the vehicle; and

the function associated with the detected movement sequence in the vehicle is dependent on the position of the radio key.

10. The radio key according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one function in the vehicle comprises one or more of the following functions;

(1) a function with respect to a lighting of the vehicle;

(2) a function with respect to outside mirrors, doors, windows, or a trunk of the vehicle;

(3) a function with respect to an alarm system of the vehicle;

(4) a function with respect to an air-conditioning system of the vehicle; and

(5) a function with respect to an information and communication system of the vehicle.

11. The radio key according to claim 10, wherein:

the at least one predefined gesture event describes a movement sequence of the radio key with regard to one or more of the following;

(1) a movement direction;

(2) a chronological sequence of movement directions;

(3) a movement speed; and

(4) a chronological development of the movement speed.

12. The radio key according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one predefined gesture event describes a movement sequence of the radio key with regard to one or more of the following;

(1) a movement direction;

(2) a chronological sequence of movement directions;

(3) a movement speed; and

(4) a chronological development of the movement speed.

13. The radio key according to claim 1, further comprising an armband to fasten the radio key to an arm of a user.

14. The radio key according to claim 1, wherein the radio key does not have any mechanical buttons for controlling a function in the vehicle.

15. A supervision unit for a vehicle, wherein the supervision unit is configured to control at least one function in the vehicle, the supervision unit comprising:

a supervision unit communication module, which is configured to receive a signal associated with a movement sequence of a radio key from the radio key; and

a supervision unit control module, which is configured to initiate the execution of a function of the vehicle associated with the received signal.

16. The supervision unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a supervision unit memory module;

wherein

the supervision unit memory module is configured to store an association between a plurality of different received signals and a corresponding plurality of functions of the vehicle.

17. The supervision unit according to claim 16, wherein:

the supervision unit is configured to ascertain a position of the radio key in relation to the vehicle; and

the supervision unit memory module is configured to store, for each of a plurality of different positions of the radio key, an association between the plurality of received signals and a corresponding plurality of functions of the vehicle.

18. A system for controlling at least one function of a vehicle, comprising:

a radio key comprising a gesture detection module configured to detect a movement sequence of the radio key;

a supervision unit in the vehicle, the supervision unit comprising a supervision unit communication module configured to receive a signal associated with a movement sequence of the radio key, wherein;

a control module of the radio key and/or a supervision control module of the supervision unit are programmed to initiate the execution of a function of the vehicle associated with the detected movement sequence of the radio key or the received signal of the supervision unit communication module; and

a configuration unit configured to;

(i) define a gesture event of the radio key;

(ii) associate a predefined gesture event with a transmission signal;

(iii) associate a transmission signal with a function of the vehicle; and

/or

(iv) associate a predefined gesture event with a function of the vehicle.

19. A method of controlling at least one function of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting a movement sequence of a radio key;

determining whether the detected movement sequence corresponds to a first of at least one predefined gesture event; and

initiating a function of the vehicle associated with the predefined gesture event if the detected movement sequence corresponds to the first predefined gesture event.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the acts of:

determining a position of the radio key with respect to the vehicle; and

wherein the function of the vehicle associated with the first predefined gesture event varies depending on the position of the radio key with respect to the vehicle.