System and method for controlling a function using a variable sensitivity receiver

• US 7,609,146 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad, King, Ronald O., Tang, Tom Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang; Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/161,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 340/5.7, 455/136, 455/138, 455/241, 455/240.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A system and method of controlling a function using a variable sensitivity receiver, including a vehicle having the same. The method may include receiving a wireless control signal segment from a remote transmitter using the variable sensitivity receiver, decoding the wireless control signal segment using a controller in electronic communication with the variable sensitivity receiver, performing an attenuation step when the decoding is successful, generating a count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed, and determining whether to perform the function based at least in part on the count when the count is greater than or equal to a predetermined value or when the decoding is unsuccessful. The wireless control signal segment may include a request for the function and/or a partial request for the function. The attenuation step may include attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a function using a variable sensitivity receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a first wireless control signal segment from a remote transmitter using the variable sensitivity receiver, wherein the first wireless control signal segment comprises at least one of a request for the function and a partial request for the function;

decoding the first wireless control signal segment using a controller in electronic communication with the variable sensitivity receiver;

performing an attenuation step when the decoding is successful, wherein the attenuation step comprises attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a first predetermined amount;

generating a first count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed;

comparing the first count to a predetermined value; and

determining whether to perform the function based on when the first count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a distance between the variable sensitivity receiver and the remote transmitter based on when the first count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the function is a vehicle function.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote transmitter is a remote keyless entry fob.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second wireless control signal segment from the remote transmitter with the variable sensitivity receiver being attenuated by the first predetermined amount;

decoding the second wireless control signal segment using the controller in electronic communication with the variable sensitivity receiver; and

performing an additional attenuation step in response to successfully decoding the second wireless control signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein performing the additional attenuation step comprises attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a second predetermined amount.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

generating a second count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed with the additional attenuation step;

comparing the second count to the predetermined value; and

determining whether to perform the function based on when the second count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

5. A system for controlling a function using a variable sensitivity receiver, the system comprising:

a variable sensitivity receiver for receiving a first wireless control signal segment generated by a remote transmitter, wherein the first wireless control signal segment comprises at least one of a request for the function and a partial request for the function;

a controller electronically coupled to the variable sensitivity receiver for decoding the first wireless control signal segment; and

an attenuation circuit electronically coupled to the controller and the variable sensitivity receiver for attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a first predetermined amount when decoding is successful;

wherein the controller is configured to generate a first count for tracking sensitivity attenuation of the variable sensitivity receiver, to compare the first count to a predetermined value, and to determine whether to perform the function based on when the first count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distance between the variable sensitivity receiver and the remote transmitter based on when the first count is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the function is a vehicle function.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote transmitter is a remote keyless entry fob.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the variable sensitivity receiver is electronically coupled to an antenna.

17. The system of claim 5 wherein the variable sensitivity receiver is configured to receive a second wireless control signal segment from the remote transmitter while being attenuated by the first predetermined amount and the attenuation circuit is configured to attenuate sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a second predetermined amount in response to the controller successfully decoding the second wireless control signal segment.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a second count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed while attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by the second predetermined amount;

compare the second count to the predetermined value; and

determine whether to perform the function based on when the second count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

10. A system for controlling a vehicle function using a variable sensitivity receiver, the system comprising:

a variable sensitivity receiver for receiving a first wireless control signal segment from a remote vehicle keyless entry fob, wherein the first wireless control signal segment comprises at least one of a request for a vehicle function and a partial request for a vehicle function;

a controller electronically coupled to the variable sensitivity receiver for decoding the first wireless control signal segment; and

an attenuation circuit electronically coupled to the controller and the variable sensitivity receiver for attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a first predetermined amount when decoding is successful;

wherein the controller is configured to generate a first count for tracking sensitivity attenuation of the variable sensitivity receiver, to compare the first count to a predetermined value, and to determine whether to perform the vehicle function when the first count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller further determines a distance between the variable sensitivity receiver and the remote vehicle keyless entry fob based on when the count is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the remote vehicle keyless entry fob is an active remote vehicle keyless entry fob.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the remote vehicle keyless entry fob is a passive remote vehicle keyless entry fob.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the variable sensitivity receiver is configured to receive a second wireless control signal segment from the remote transmitter while being attenuated by the first predetermined amount and the attenuation circuit is configured to attenuate sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by a second predetermined amount in response to the controller successfully decoding the second wireless control signal segment.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a second count for tracking an amount of attenuation performed while attenuating sensitivity of the variable sensitivity receiver by the second predetermined amount;

compare the second count to the predetermined value; and

determine whether to perform the function based on when the second count is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.