Apparatus and method for wireless device detection

• US 8,744,482 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Margalef, Jordi Virgili, Deshpande, Sameer, Cuesta, Daniel Cirujano
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/342,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/67.11, 379/21, 340/5.72, 340/5.61, 340/436, 340/10.2, 340/903, 340/438, 340/12.54, 342/451, 342/42, 342/457, 342/50, 342/51, 701/117, 705/13
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for determining a locating a wireless device with respect to a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller for being operably coupled to a plurality of antennas in a vehicle and each antenna transmitting a first wireless signal to a wireless device to locate a primary antenna. The primary antenna being one of the plurality of antennas that transmitted the first wireless signal at a strongest signal strength. The controller being configured to store a first signal strength for a first control point that is positioned about the vehicle and away from the primary antenna. The controller being configured to determine the location of the wireless device based on a comparison of the first signal strength to the strongest signal strength.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a location of a wireless device with respect to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an on-board vehicle controller for being operably coupled to a plurality of antennas in a vehicle and each antenna transmitting a first wireless signal to the wireless device to locate a primary antenna, the primary antenna being one of the plurality of antennas that transmitted the first wireless signal at a strongest signal strength, the controller being configured to;

store a first signal strength for a first control point that is positioned about the vehicle and away from the primary antenna;

determine the location of the wireless device based on a comparison of the first signal strength to the strongest signal strength;

determine that the wireless device is positioned proximate to the primary antenna if the strongest signal strength is greater than the first signal strength; and

store a second signal strength for a second control point positioned about the vehicle and away from a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first antenna is different than the primary antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to determine that the wireless device is positioned away from the primary antenna and proximate to a second antenna of the plurality of antennas in the event the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to compare the second signal strength of the second control point to a signal strength associated with the first antenna in the event the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to determine that the wireless device is positioned proximate to the first antenna if the signal strength of the first antenna is greater than the second signal strength of the second control point.

5. A method for determining a location of a wireless device with respect to a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting from a plurality of antennas in the vehicle that is operably coupled to an on-board vehicle controller, a first wireless signal from each antenna to locate a primary antenna, the primary antenna being one of the plurality of antennas that transmitted the first wireless signal at a strongest signal strength;

providing a first signal strength for a first control point that is positioned about the vehicle and away from the primary antenna;

comparing the strongest signal strength to the first signal strength to determine the location of the wireless device;

determining that the wireless device is positioned proximate to the primary antenna if the strongest signal strength is greater than the first signal strength; and

providing a second signal strength for a second control point that is positioned about the vehicle and away from a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first antenna is different than the primary antenna.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining that the wireless device is positioned away from the primary antenna and proximate to a second antenna of the plurality of antennas if the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising comparing the second signal strength of the second control point to a signal strength of the first antenna in the event the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining that the wireless device is positioned about the first antenna if the signal strength of the first antenna is greater than the second signal strength of the second control point.

9. An apparatus for detecting a location of a wireless device with respect to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of antennas for being positioned about the vehicle, each antenna for transmitting a first wireless signal to the wireless device; and

an on-board vehicle controller for being operably coupled to the plurality of antennas and being configured to;

receive a plurality of second wireless signals from the wireless device, each second wireless signal being indicative of a signal strength for each first wireless signal transmitted by each antenna;

select a primary antenna from the plurality of antennas based on each second wireless signal, the primary antenna being indicative of the antenna that transmitted the first wireless signal at a strongest signal strength;

store a first signal strength for a first control point positioned about the vehicle and away from the primary antenna;

detect the location of the wireless device based on a comparison of the first signal strength to the strongest signal strength;

detect that the location of the wireless device is positioned proximate to the primary antenna if the strongest signal strength is greater than the first signal strength; and

store a second signal strength for a second control point positioned at a location about the vehicle and away from a first antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the first antenna is different than the primary antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to detect that the location of the wireless device is positioned away from the primary antenna and proximate to a second antenna of the plurality of antennas in the event the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to compare the second signal strength of the second control point to a signal strength of the first antenna in the event the first signal strength is greater than the strongest signal strength.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the on-board vehicle controller is further configured to detect that the location of the wireless device is positioned proximate to the first antenna if the signal strength of the first antenna is greater than the second signal strength of the second control point.