Automobile location detector

• US 8,994,548 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gaboury, Scott Howard, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Boran, Lisa Therese, Vojtisek, Mark George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/912,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20140361904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A system includes a receiver configured to receive a signal representing a sequence of user inputs to a portable electronic device and an audible device configured to generate a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs. A duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received within a predetermined time interval. A method includes receiving the signal provided to the portable electronic device within a predetermined time interval and generating the sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a signal representing a sequence of user inputs to a portable electronic device; and

an audible device configured to generate a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs, wherein a duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received within a predetermined time interval.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to transmit the signal representing the sequence of user inputs and store the sequence for a predetermined amount of time.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to receive the signal and generate a control signal in accordance with the sequence of user inputs,

wherein the audible device is configured to generate the sound based on the control signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to recreate the control signal in response to receiving a single user input provided to the portable electronic device within the predetermined amount of time.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the duration and volume of the audible sound is based at least in part on a voltage of the control signal output to the audible device.

6. The system in claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is configured to generate the control signal according to data received from the sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the audible sound based on at least in part on a received signal strength of the signal received from the portable electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the duration and volume of the audible sound independent of a duration and volume indicated by the signal transmitted from the portable electronic device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the audible sound based at least in part on a location of the receiver relative to a location of the portable electronic device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine a location of the portable electronic device relative to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the sound according to the location of the portable electronic device relative to the control unit.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a signal representing a sequence of user inputs provided to a portable electronic device within a predetermined time interval; and

generating a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs, wherein a duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a control signal in accordance with the sequence of user inputs to control the sound.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to recreate the control signal in response to receiving a single user input provided to the portable electronic device within the predetermined amount of time.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on a voltage of the control signal output to the audible device.

15. The method in claim 11, the control signal is generated according to data received from the sensor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the control signal is generated based on at least in part on a received signal strength of the signal received from the portable electronic device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the control signal is generated to increase the duration and volume of the sound independent of a duration and volume indicated by the signal transmitted from the portable electronic device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the control signal is generated to control the sound based at least in part on a location of the receiver relative to a location of the portable electronic device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the control signal is generated to control the sound according to the location of the portable electronic device relative to the control unit.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a signal representing a sequence of user inputs provided to a portable electronic device;

an audible device configured to generate a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs, wherein a duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received within a predetermined time interval; and

a control unit configured to receive the signal and generate a control signal in accordance with the sequence of user inputs provided to the portable electronic device, wherein the audible device is configured to generate the sound based on the control signal.