REMOTE STARTING OF ENGINES VIA VEHICLE KEYPADS

• US 20180215345A1
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Published: 08/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elangovan, Vivekanandh, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, King, Daniel M., Thivierge, JR., Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 10,407,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for remote starting of engines via vehicle keypads. An example vehicle includes a keypad, a communication module to communicate with a mobile device designated as a wireless key, and a vehicle activator. The vehicle activator is to remote start an engine in response to receiving a first code entered via the keypad when a battery of the mobile device is discharged and authorize control of the engine in response to the communication module establishing communication with the mobile device.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a keypad;

a communication module to communicate with a mobile device designated as a wireless key; and

a vehicle activator to;

remote start an engine in response to receiving a first code entered via the keypad when a battery of the mobile device is discharged; and

authorize control of the engine in response to the communication module establishing communication with the mobile device.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the keypad is located on an exterior surface of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, when the battery of the mobile device is discharged, the vehicle activator is to unlock a vehicle door via the keypad.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the vehicle activator unlocks the vehicle door in response to receiving the first code entered via the keypad.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the vehicle activator unlocks the vehicle door in response to receiving a second code entered via the keypad that is different than the first code.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle activator remote starts the engine before unlocking the vehicle door.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle activator is to enable remote starting of the engine via the mobile device when the battery of the mobile device is charged.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, the vehicle activator prohibits control of the engine in response to the communication module being unable to establish communication with the mobile device, wherein the communication module is unable to establish communication with the mobile device when the battery of the mobile device is discharged.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a charging station for recharging the mobile device.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the communication module establishes communication with the mobile device upon the charging station recharging the mobile device to a predetermined level.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle activator activates the charging station in response to receiving the first code entered via the keypad.

21. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle activator determines that the mobile device is discharged in response to identifying that the communication module is not in communication with the mobile device when the keypad receives the first code.

22. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle activator authorizes control of the engine in response to the communication module establishing communication with the mobile device and a start button within the vehicle being pressed by a user.

9. (canceled)

13. A method for remote starting vehicles via vehicle keypads, the method comprising:

receiving a first code entered via a keypad of a vehicle when a battery of a mobile device designated as a wireless key is discharged;

remote starting, via a processor, an engine in response to receiving the first code; and

authorizing control of the engine in response to a communication module of the vehicle establishing communication with the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further including unlocking a door of the vehicle via the keypad when the battery of the mobile device is discharged.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the door of the vehicle is unlocked in response to receiving the first code entered via the keypad.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the door of the vehicle is unlocked in response to receiving a second code entered via the keypad that is different than the first code.

17. The method of claim 13, further including prohibiting control of the engine in response to the communication module being unable to establish communication with the mobile device, wherein the communication module is unable to establish communication with the mobile device when the battery of the mobile device is discharged.

19. The method of claim 13, further including:

recharging the mobile device via a charging station of the vehicle; and

establishing communication between the communication and the mobile device upon the charging station recharging the mobile device to a predetermined level.

20. The method of claim 19, further including activating the charging station in response to receiving the first code entered via the keypad.

18. (canceled)