SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DISTANCE TO TARGET FOR REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY

• US 20160063860A1
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lickfelt, Brian K., Sgueglia, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,412,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method and system for providing a distance to target vehicle finder function for remote keyless entry is provided. The method and system include enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device and transmitting a low power signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver. The method and system further includes determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device and enabling a low power vehicle finding response. The method and system also include transmitting a high power signal from the portable device to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power signal from the portable device, and enabling a high power vehicle finding response when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a distance to target vehicle finder function for remote keyless entry comprising:

enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device;

transmitting a low power signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver;

determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device;

enabling a low power vehicle finding response upon determination that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device;

transmitting a high power signal from the portable device to the vehicle upon determination that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power signal from the portable device; and

enabling a high power vehicle finding response upon determination that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a vehicle finder function includes determining whether a vehicle finding actuation input is received on the portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a low power signal includes at least one of transmitting an identification signal containing an identification code and transmitting an actuation signal containing a low vehicle finding actuation command.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether the onboard receiver of the vehicle receives the low power signal includes the vehicle onboard receiver receiving the identification signal, comparing the identification code with identification codes stored on an electronic control unit of the vehicle to identify matching codes, and a vehicle onboard transmitter sending a confirmation signal to the portable device upon finding matching codes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a low power vehicle finding response is dependent on the portable device receiving a confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter and the vehicle onboard receiver receiving an actuation signal containing a low vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein enabling a low power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of at least one of low beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, an electronic buzzer, and an electronic beeper.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting a high power signal includes transmitting an actuation signal containing a high power vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device to the vehicle onboard receiver when the portable device does not receive the confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein enabling a high power vehicle finding response includes enabling intermittent actuation of at least one of low beam headlights, high beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, the electronic buzzer, the electronic beeper, and a vehicle horn.

9. A system for providing a distance to target vehicle finder function for remote keyless entry comprising:

a portable device transmitter provided on a portable device transmitting a low power signal to a vehicle onboard receiver provided in a vehicle;

a vehicle finding control module provided on the portable device determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device; and

a vehicle finding response module provided in the vehicle enabling a low power vehicle finding response when the vehicle finding control module determines that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device;

wherein the portable device transmitter transmits a high power signal to the vehicle onboard receiver when the vehicle finding module does not determine that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device, and the vehicle finding response module enables a high power vehicle finding response when the vehicle finding control module determines the vehicle onboard receiver receives the high power signal from the portable device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable device enabling the vehicle finding function includes determining whether a user input has been received on a vehicle finding actuation input on the portable device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable device includes a signal transmission power control module varying the power of the signal that is transmitted from the portable device transmitter.

12. The system of claim 9, further including the vehicle onboard receiver receiving an identification signal sent from the portable device transmitter, the vehicle finding response module comparing the identification code with stored codes on a storage device within the vehicle to identify matching codes, and a vehicle onboard transmitter transmitting a confirmation signal to a portable device receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle finding response module enables a low power vehicle finding response dependent on the portable device receiver receiving the confirmation signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter and the vehicle onboard receiver receiving the actuation signal containing a low vehicle finding actuation command from the portable device transmitter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein further including an electronic control unit of the vehicle enabling intermittent actuation of at least one of low beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, an electronic buzzer, and an electronic beeper as a low power vehicle finding response.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable device transmitter transmitting a high power signal includes transmitting an actuation signal containing a high power vehicle finding actuation command to the vehicle onboard receiver when the portable device receiver does not receive the confirmation signal transmitted from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

16. The system of claim 15, further including the electronic control unit enabling the intermittent actuation of at least one of low beam headlights, high beam headlights, parking lights, auxiliary lights, signal lights, identification lights, the electronic buzzer, the electronic beeper, and a vehicle horn as a high power vehicle finding response.

17. A method for providing a distance to target vehicle finder function for remote keyless entry comprising:

enabling a vehicle finder function from a portable device;

transmitting a low power signal from the portable device to a vehicle onboard receiver based off of a user input of a lock input button on the portable device;

determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device;

enabling a low power vehicle finding response when it is determined that vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device;

transmitting an initial high power signal from the portable device on a different frequency than the low power signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the low power signal from the portable device;

transmitting a secondary high power signal from the portable device on a different frequency than the initial high power signal to the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver does not receive the initial high power signal from the portable device; and

enabling a high power vehicle finding response when it is determined that the vehicle onboard receiver receives the initial or secondary high power signal from the portable device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the low power signal from the portable device is dependent on the portable device receiving an acknowledgement signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining whether the vehicle onboard receiver receives the initial high power signal from the portable device is dependent on the portable device receiving the acknowledgement signal from the vehicle onboard transmitter.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein enabling the predetermined vehicle finding response includes at least one of:

the vehicle enabling a low power, low volume vehicle finding response mode, and a high power, high volume vehicle finding response mode.