SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RANGE-BOOSTED KEY FOB

• US 20170092030A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Badger, Charles Everett II
• Granted Patent: US 9,842,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

A vehicle key fob is provided having a module for wirelessly communicating with an associated mobile device, a dedicated input device for initiating a mobile link mode, a plurality of input devices for commanding an associated vehicle to perform a user-selected function, and a processor configured to, upon receiving an input at the dedicated input device, send a command signal for performing the user-selected function to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A vehicle key fob, comprising:

a module for wirelessly communicating with an associated mobile device;

a dedicated input device for initiating a mobile link mode;

a plurality of input devices for commanding an associated vehicle to perform a user-selected function; and

a processor configured to, upon receiving an input at the dedicated input device, send a command signal for performing the user-selected function to the mobile device.

2. The vehicle key fob of claim 1, further comprising at least one output device configured to provide a first output in response to receiving the input at the dedicated input device.

3. The vehicle key fob of claim 2, wherein the at least one output device is further configured to provide a second output in response to the processor sending the command signal to the mobile device.

4. The vehicle key fob of claim 2, wherein the at least one output device is further configured to provide a third output in response to the processor receiving a confirmation signal indicating completion of the user-selected function.

5. The vehicle key fob of claim 2, wherein the at least one output device includes a light emitting diode.

6. The vehicle key fob of claim 2, wherein the at least one output device includes a haptic device.

7. The vehicle key fob of claim 1, wherein the dedicated input device and the plurality of input devices are push buttons.

8. A wireless system, comprising:

a key fob configured to control a function of a vehicle upon receiving a first user input; and

a mobile device configured to receive, from the key fob, a signal commanding the vehicle to perform the function, the mobile device being further configured to send the signal to a remote server in communication with the vehicle.

9. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein upon receiving the signal from the remote server, the vehicle performs the function and sends a confirmation signal to the remote server, the remote server sending the confirmation signal to the mobile device for relay back to the key fob.

10. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein the key fob includes a plurality of input devices for receiving the first user input and a dedicated input device for receiving a second user input, the key fob being further configured to send the signal to the mobile device in response to receiving the second user input prior to the first user input.

11. The wireless system of claim 10, wherein the key fob further includes at least one output device configured to provide a first output in response to receiving the first user input and a second output in response to receiving the second user input.

12. The wireless system of claim 11, wherein the at least one output device includes a light emitting diode.

13. The wireless system of claim 11, wherein the at least one output device includes a haptic device.

14. The wireless system of claim 11, wherein the at least one output device is further configured to provide a third output upon receiving a confirmation signal indicating completion of the function.

15. The wireless system of claim 8, further comprising at least one of the vehicle and the remote server.

16. A method for extending a communication range of a key fob for a vehicle, comprising:

detecting, at the key fob, a first input for alerting a mobile device associated with the key fob;

subsequently detecting, at the key fob, a second input comprising a command to the vehicle to perform a function; and

in response to the subsequently detecting, sending the command to the mobile device for relay to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending an await command signal to the mobile device upon detecting the first input.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a first output, via the key fob, to indicate detection of the first input; and

providing a second output, via the key fob, to indicate detection of the second input.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a confirmation signal, from the mobile device, upon completion of the function by the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a third output, via the key fob, to indicate receipt of the confirmation signal.