Hysteresis of switching from park to drive based on vehicle speed

• US 7,734,391 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Desai, Tejas B., Dash, Sanjaya Kumar, Farrell, Brian, Deniau, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/848,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 34042615-42617, 340/447, 340/456, 340/442, 340/441, 342/82, 342/89, 342/128, 307 101- 103, 307/10.6, 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0012 arrangements for identifying the type of modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/06 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/14 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits

Abstract

A communication for a vehicle (10) has a first transmitter (34) for transmitting a first signal relating to a first vehicle system (22) and a second transmitter (42) for transmitting a second signal relating to a second vehicle system (38). (FIG. 1) A single receiver (46) has a first reception mode (50) and a second reception mode (54). The first reception mode (50) is receptive to the first signal while the second reception mode (54) is receptive to the second signal. A control unit (58) switches the receiver (46) between the first reception mode (50) and the second reception mode (54).

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal relating to a first vehicle system;

a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal relating to a second vehicle system that is different than the first vehicle system, said first and second signals each having a modulation that is different than the other;

a sensor configured to send a switching signal in response to a sensed condition;

a receiver in communication with said sensor and having a first reception mode and a second reception mode, said first reception mode receptive to said first signal and not said second signal and said second mode receptive to said second signal and not said first signal;

a control unit for switching said receiver between said first reception mode and said second reception mode in response to said switching signal;

wherein said control unit is programmed to switch between said first reception mode and said second reception mode based upon at least one sensed condition; and

wherein said control unit is programmed to switch from said first reception mode to said second reception mode when said at least one sensed condition is at a first value relating to vehicle speed and is programmed to switch from said second reception mode to said first reception mode when said at least one sensed condition is at a second value relating to vehicle speed different from said first value.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first signal is transmitted by an amplitude modulation and said second signal is transmitted by a frequency modulation.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first transmitter for transmitting a first signal relating to a first vehicle system comprises a remote vehicle port actuation system.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said second vehicle transmitter system comprises a tire pressure monitoring system.

5. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a first transmitter for transmitting a first signal relating to a first vehicle system;

a second transmitter for transmitting a second signal relating to a second vehicle system, said first and second signals each having a modulation that is different than the other;

a sensor configured to send a switching signal in response to a sensed condition;

a receiver in communication with said sensor and having a first reception mode and a second reception mode, said first reception mode receptive to said first signal and not said second signal and said second mode receptive to said second signal and not said first signal; and

a control unit for switching said receiver between said first reception mode and said second reception mode in response to said switching signal, wherein said control unit is programmed to detect a first condition relating to a presence of a key in a vehicle ignition and a second condition relating to a gear position of a vehicle transmission, said control unit switching between said first reception mode and said second reception mode based upon said first condition and said second condition.

6. A communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a first transmitter for transmitting a ASK signal relating to a remote vehicle port actuation system;

a second transmitter for transmitting a FSK signal relating to a tire pressure monitoring system;

a receiver having a first reception mode and a second reception mode, said first reception mode receptive to said ASK signal and said second mode receptive to said FSK signal;

a control unit programmed to switch said receiver between said first reception mode and said second reception mode based upon a sensed condition; and

wherein said control unit is programmed to switch between said ASK mode and said FSK mode based upon said sensed condition, which includes vehicle speed, said ASK mode being a default mode, said control unit switching said receiver to FSK mode in response to a predetermined vehicle speed.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said ASK signal is transmitted by an amplitude modulation and said FSK signal is transmitted by a frequency modulation, said first and second modes respectively corresponding to said ASK and said FSK modes.

8. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said at least one sensed condition relates to a presence of a key in a vehicle ignition, said control unit programmed to switch said receiver from said ASK mode to said FSK mode in response to said presence of the key in the vehicle ignition.

9. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said at least one sensed condition relates to a gear position of a vehicle transmission, said gear position including park and non-park conditions, said control unit programmed to switch said receiver from said FSK mode to said ASK mode in response to said park condition and from said FSK mode to said ASK mode in response to said non-park condition.

10. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said at least one sensed condition relates to a presence of a key in a vehicle ignition and a gear position of a vehicle transmission.

11. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said control unit is programmed to switch said receiver from said FSK mode to said ASK mode when said vehicle speed is lower than said predetermined vehicle speed.

12. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said control unit is programmed to detect a first set of conditions and a second set of conditions different from said first set of conditions, said control unit placing said receiver in said first reception mode when said first set of conditions exist and placing said receiver in said second reception mode when said second set of conditions exist.