Method and apparatus for configuring passive entry system operation modes

• US 7,629,873 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Channappa, Shubha, Gilbert, Carl L., Ghabra, Riad
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Syed; Nabil H
• Application Number:
  US11/127,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.25, 340/5.24, 340/5.22, 340/5.72, 340/426, 340/5.1, 340/825.22, 340/426.13
• US Class Current: 340/5.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method is provided for configuring an operation mode of a passive entry system of a vehicle. A configuration mode of a vehicle based communication module is enabled by depressing a predetermined combination of actuation buttons on a portable communication device to broadcast a configuration mode command signal. A passive entry configuration is selected by depressing a respective actuation button on the portable communication device when in the configuration mode. The portable communication device broadcasts a corresponding command signal to the vehicle based communication module identifying the selection. The corresponding command signal is received from the portable communication device and the selected passive entry configuration is adopted in response thereto.

Claims

1. A method for configuring an operation mode of a passive entry system of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

enabling a configuration mode of a vehicle based communication module by depressing a predetermined combination of actuation buttons on a portable communication device to broadcast a configuration mode command signal;

selecting a passive entry configuration by depressing a respective actuation button on said portable communication device when in said configuration mode, said portable communication device broadcasting a corresponding command signal to said vehicle based communication module identifying said selection; and

receiving said corresponding command signal from said portable communication device and adopting said selected passive entry configuration in response thereto;

wherein each configurable passive entry function has a corresponding actuation button on said portable communication device, and wherein a respective configurable passive entry function is selected by depressing a respective actuation button when in said configuration mode that corresponds to the respective configurable passive entry function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of polling for an automatic door unlocking function and deactivation of polling for an automatic door unlocking function.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of polling for an automatic door locking function.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises deactivation of polling for an automatic door locking function.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of a passive door unlocking function without polling.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises deactivation of a passive door unlocking function without polling.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of polling for a passive trunk unlocking function.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises deactivation of polling for a passive trunk unlocking function.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of polling for all passive entry vehicle functions.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises deactivation of polling for all passive entry vehicle functions.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises activation of all passive entry vehicle functions without polling.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said passive entry configuration comprises deactivation of all passive entry vehicle functions without polling.

13. A configurable passive entry system comprising:

a portable communication device having passive entry functionality and remote keyless entry functionality, said portable communication device having a plurality of actuation buttons for broadcasting remote entry signals therefrom; and

a vehicle based communication module for receiving broadcast signals from said portable communication module and for controlling a passive entry configuration of a passive entry vehicle function;

wherein said a predetermined combination of buttons on said portable communication device are depressed for broadcasting a configuration mode command signal to said vehicle based communication device for enabling a configuration mode of said vehicle based communication module; and

wherein each configurable passive entry function has a corresponding actuation button on said portable communication device, and wherein a respective configurable passive entry function is selected by depressing a respective actuation button when in said configuration mode that corresponds to the respective configurable passive entry function for changing a configuration of the selected configurable passive entry function.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said vehicle based communication module includes a controller that configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating polling for an automatic door unlock function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating polling for an automatic door lock function.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating polling for all vehicle passive entry functions.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating an automatic door unlock function without polling.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating a trunk unlatch operation without polling.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller configures said passive entry operation for activating and deactivating all vehicle passive entry functions without polling.