SMART KEY LOCATOR
First Claim
1. A smart key adapted to pair with a vehicle, the smart key comprising:
- a transmitter adapted to send a locating beacon signal;
a receiver adapted to receive pairing information from the vehicle; and
an electronic control unit in communication with the transmitter and the receiver, the electronic control unit programmed to determine when the smart key is paired to the vehicle with the pairing information received by the receiver, the electronic control unit further programmed to execute transmission of the locating beacon signal by the transmitter when the smart key is not paired to the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a vehicle smart key adapted to pair with a vehicle, a system for locating a lost vehicle key, and a method of locating a lost key. The smart key, system, and method of the present disclosure enable a user of a vehicle to locate a missing or lost key for the vehicle. The smart key adapted to pair with a vehicle includes a transmitter, a receiver and an electronic control unit. The transmitter is adapted to send a locating beacon signal. The electronic control unit is programmed to execute transmission of the locating beacon signal by the transmitter when the smart key is not paired to the vehicle.
11 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A smart key adapted to pair with a vehicle, the smart key comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to send a locating beacon signal; a receiver adapted to receive pairing information from the vehicle; and an electronic control unit in communication with the transmitter and the receiver, the electronic control unit programmed to determine when the smart key is paired to the vehicle with the pairing information received by the receiver, the electronic control unit further programmed to execute transmission of the locating beacon signal by the transmitter when the smart key is not paired to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for locating a lost vehicle key, the system comprising:
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a vehicle having a vehicle transmitter, a vehicle receiver, and a vehicle electronic control unit, the vehicle electronic control unit in communication with the vehicle transmitter and the vehicle receiver, the vehicle electronic control unit programmed to generate pairing information and to transmit the pairing information with the vehicle transmitter; a vehicle key having a key transmitter, a key receiver, and a key electronic control unit, the key transmitter adapted to send a locating beacon signal, the key receiver adapted to receive information, including pairing information, from the vehicle, and the key electronic control unit in communication with the key transmitter and the key receiver, the key electronic control unit programmed to determine when the smart key is paired to the vehicle with the pairing information received by the key receiver, the key electronic control unit further programmed to execute transmission of the locating beacon signal by the key transmitter when the smart key is not paired to the vehicle; and a portable computing device having a device receiver adapted to receive the locating beacon signal, and a device electronic control unit in communication with the device receiver, the device electronic control unit programmed to determine the proximity of the portable computing device to the vehicle key based on the locating beacon signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of locating a lost key for a vehicle utilizing a portable computing device comprising:
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determining if the key is paired with the vehicle; and transmitting a beacon locating signal from the key when the key is not paired with the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification