Dual range vehicle remote

• US 7,397,344 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Conner, Bruce D., Honkanen, Matthew, Nantz, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang; Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/030,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.7, 340/825.49, 340/5.64
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for operating a controller of and a RKE system to provide for short distance functions that are actuatable from a key fob at a shorter distance from the vehicle than other long distance functions. This may include receiving a desired type of radio frequency signal; actuating a high gain mode of a receiver of the controller; detecting a message from an acceptable remote keyless entry transmitter; decoding a function code portion of the message; changing the receiver from the high gain mode to a lower gain mode if the function code is not a long distance function; decoding a remaining portion of the message; determining if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly; and performing the requested function if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly.

Claims

1. A method of operating a receiver in a remote keyless entry system in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a receiver having a high gain mode and a low gain mode;

(b) operating the receiver to receive a wireless signal from a remote keyless entry transmitter;

(c) decoding a function code portion of the wireless signal for identifying a keyless entry function;

(d) changing the gain mode of the receiver from a high gain mode to a low gain mode if the function code is not a long distance function, wherein;

the keyless entry function is a long distance function if the keyless entry function is in a de-activated state when the wireless signal is received, and wherein

the keyless entry function is not a long distance function if the keyless entry function is in an activated state when the wireless signal is received;

(e) decoding a remaining portion of the wireless signal;

(f) determining if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly; and

(g) performing a requested function of the function code if the remaining portion of the message was decoded properly.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

(h) determining if an additional wireless signal was received;

(i) decoding the additional wireless signal if the additional wireless signal was received;

(j) determining if the additional wireless signal was decoded properly if the additional wireless signal was received; and

(k) performing the requested function if the additional wireless signal was decoded properly.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of;

(l) determining if a second additional wireless signal was received;

(m) decoding the second additional wireless signal if the second additional wireless signal was received;

(n) determining if the second additional wireless signal was decoded properly if the second additional wireless signal was received; and

(o) performing the requested function if the second additional wireless signal was decoded properly.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is further defined by operating the controller in a polling state.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is further defined by operating the receiver to receive a wireless preamble signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a vehicle alarm function.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a remote engine start function.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) is further defined by the keyless entry function being a door lock function.