SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A LAND VEHICLE DOOR WHEREIN HAND-HELD AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES OF THE SYSTEM COMMUNICATE VIA INDUCTIVE COUPLING

• US 20170236346A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVIS-USA LLC
• Original Assignee: JVIS-USA LLC
• Inventors: Murar, Jason T., Preisler, Darius J., Syrowik, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,395,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• 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 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system for remotely controlling the position of a land vehicle door includes a mobile communication device operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a first, short-range, electromagnetic field within a first range of the mobile device and a hand-held communication device, such as a key fob, operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a second, short-range, electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the first range. Control logic is coupled to the devices. The control logic is operative to detect when a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the first range and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the first range.

Claims

1. A system for remotely controlling the position of a land vehicle door which is capable of moving between a closed position in which the door covers a vehicle opening and an opened position in which the door uncovers the opening to provide access to the opening, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle for movement therewith and operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field within a first range of the mobile device;

a hand-held communication device operative to produce a response signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the first range wherein the devices wirelessly communicate via inductive coupling, the mobile device being operative to remove identification data from the response signal, the identification data identifying the hand-held device; and

control logic coupled to the devices, wherein the hand-held and mobile communication devices are capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving, respectively, command signals as long as a pedestrian carrying the hand-held device is within a second range of the mobile device, the second range being greater than the first range, and the command signals contain the identification data and command data which identifies a pedestrian command for the vehicle to automatically perform an operation, the mobile device being operative to remove the identification data and command data from the command signals, the control logic being operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device based on the identification data, the control logic being operative to detect when a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the second range and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the second range.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is a passive device powered by electromagnetic energy from the first field.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is an active device including an energy storage device for supplying power to the hand-held device.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is a semi-passive device including an energy storage device for supplying power to the hand-held device when the hand-held device is located within the second range.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device includes a transmitter coupled to the control logic to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the mobile device when the pedestrian carrying the hand-held device is within the second range.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the devices include a transceiver and wherein the transceivers communicate via two-way wireless communication and wherein the transceiver of the hand-held device is coupled to the control logic to wirelessly transmit command signals to the mobile device when the pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is within the second range.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the hand-held device includes a user interface coupled to the control logic and wherein the control logic is operative to determine whether the pedestrian has activated the interface to control the transmitter to transmit the command signal.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user interface includes a push button dedicated to opening the vehicle door.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is a key fob.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device is a near-field communication device.

12. A key fob for use in a system which remotely controls the position of a land vehicle door which is capable of moving between a closed position in which the door covers a vehicle opening and an opened position in which the door uncovers the opening to provide access to the opening, the system having a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle for movement therewith and operative to produce an excitation signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field within a first range of the mobile device, the key fob comprising:

a hand-held communication device operative to produce a response signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the key fob is located within the first range wherein the devices wirelessly communicate via inductive coupling, the mobile device being operative to remove identification data from the response signal, the identification data identifying the key fob; and

control logic coupled to the key fob, wherein the key fob and the mobile communication device are capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving, respectively, command signals as long as a pedestrian carrying the key fob is within a second range of the mobile device, the second range being greater than the first range, and the command signals contain the identification data and command data which identify a pedestrian command for the vehicle to automatically perform an operation, the mobile device being operative to remove the identification and command data from the command signals, the control logic being operative to determine if the key fob is an authorized key fob based on the identification data and the control logic being operative to detect when a pedestrian carrying an authorized key fob is located within the second range and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized key fob is located within the second range.

13. The key fob as claimed in claim 12, wherein the key fob is a passive device powered by electromagnetic energy from the first field.

14. The key fob as claimed in claim 12, wherein the key fob is an active device including an energy storage device for supplying power to the key fob.

15. The key fob as claimed in claim 14, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

16. The key fob as claimed in claim 12, wherein the key fob is a semi-passive device including an energy storage device for supplying power to the key fob when the key fob is located within the second range.

17. The key fob as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the control logic to wirelessly transmit a command signal to the mobile device when the pedestrian carrying the key fob is within the second range.

18. The key fob as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a transceiver wherein the transceiver communicates via two-way wireless communication and wherein the transceiver is coupled to the control logic to wirelessly transmit command signals when the pedestrian carrying an authorized key fob is within the second range.

19. The key fob as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a user interface coupled to the control logic and wherein the control logic is operative to determine whether the pedestrian has activated the interface to control the transmitter to transmit the command signal.

20. The key fob as claimed in claim 19, wherein the user interface includes a push button dedicated to opening the vehicle door.