System for passive entry and passive start for a motor vehicle

• US 9,045,102 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Italia SRL (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Italia SRL (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Caratto, Danilo, Piazzano, Carlo, Ginevro, Samuele
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/141,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role

Abstract

A system for passive entry and/or passive start for a motor vehicle is described, which includes an antenna group and an electronic control unit designed to be coupled to the vehicle, the electronic control unit for controlling the antenna group to cooperate with a portable recognition device carried by a user to enable the entry and/or start of the vehicle. The antenna group has at least a first antenna and a second antenna, designed to operate within the frequency range, and according to the communication protocol, of the Bluetooth standard, and having a respective radiation lobe; wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged so that their radiation lobes are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for passive entry and/or passive start for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an antenna group;

an electronic control unit designed to be coupled to the motor vehicle, the electronic control unit being configured to control the antenna group to cooperate with a portable recognition device carried by a user to enable the entry and/or start of the motor vehicle;

wherein the antenna group includes at least a first antenna and a second antenna, designed to operate within a frequency range, and according to a communications protocol of the Bluetooth standard, and each having a respective radiation lobe; and

a casing designed to be rigidly coupled to the motor vehicle and configured to house, in an integrated manner, the first and second antennas and the electronic control unit;

wherein the casing is designed to be arranged inside an interior compartment of the motor vehicle, in a front middle position, so that the respective radiation lobes of the first and second antennas are directed towards a first and a second door of the motor vehicle, arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the motor vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas are adapted to operate according to the Low Energy protocol of the Bluetooth standard.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna group includes a third antenna, designed to operate within the frequency range, and according to the communications protocol, of the Bluetooth standard, and having a respective radiation lobe intended to include a rear portion of the motor vehicle with respect to the longitudinal symmetry axis.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable recognition device is selected within the group comprising:

an electronic key;

a cellular phone, a smartphone, a palmtop, a tablet, a PDA—

Personal Data Assistant, a laptop.

17. A motor vehicle including the system for passive entry and/or passive start according to claim 1.

3. A system for passive entry and/or passive start for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an antenna group; and

an electronic control unit designed to be coupled to the motor vehicle, the electronic control unit being configured to control the antenna group to cooperate with a portable recognition device carried by a user to enable the entry and/or start of the motor vehicle;

wherein the antenna group includes at least a first antenna and a second antenna, designed to operate within a frequency range, and according to a communications protocol of the Bluetooth standard, and each having a respective radiation lobe;

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged so that the respective radiation lobes thereof are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the motor vehicle;

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to cooperate with the first and second antennas to perform a locating operation for locating the portable recognition device with respect to the motor vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a casing, designed to be rigidly coupled to the motor vehicle, and configured to house, in an integrated manner, the first and second antennas and the electronic control unit.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive signals from the first and second antennas, and to perform the locating operation according to a comparison of intensity of the signals received from the first and second antennas, the location referring to a position of the portable recognition device outside the motor vehicle with respect to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the motor vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to cause the actuation of a device for closing the motor vehicle, corresponding to the located position of the portable recognition device.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive signals from the first and second antennas, and to perform the locating operation according to the comparison of intensity of the signals received from the first and/or second antenna with at least one preset threshold, the location referring to a position of the portable recognition device inside the motor vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a housing element for accommodating the portable recognition device, designed to be arranged inside the motor vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to perform the locating operation according to a temporal variability of the intensity of the signals received from the first and/or second antenna.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to cause the start of the motor vehicle, according to the positive location of the portable recognition device inside the motor vehicle.

12. A system for passive entry and/or passive start for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an antenna group; and

an electronic control unit designed to be coupled to the motor vehicle, the electronic control unit being configured to control the antenna group to cooperate with a portable recognition device carried by a user to enable the entry and/or start of the motor vehicle,

wherein the antenna group includes at least a first antenna and a second antenna, designed to operate within a frequency range, and according to a communications protocol of the Bluetooth standard, and each having a respective radiation lobe;

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged so that the respective radiation lobes thereof are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the motor vehicle;

wherein the antenna group includes an auxiliary antenna, operating within the low frequency range LF;

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to cooperate with the first and second antennas to perform a locating operation for locating the portable recognition device with respect to the motor vehicle, and with the auxiliary antenna as an aid for the locating operation.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the auxiliary antenna is designed to operate at a frequency between 100 kHz and 150 kHz.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the auxiliary antenna is designed to operate according to the short-range wireless communication technology NFC—

Near Field Communication.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a casing, designed to be fixedly coupled to the motor vehicle, and configured to house, in an integrated manner, the first and second antennas and the electronic control unit;

the casing further being designed to house, in an integrated manner, the auxiliary antenna.